After years of post-Brexit hassle, UK pet owners can finally breathe a sigh of relief—pet passports are making a comeback, making travel to the EU cheaper and easier! Road trips across Europe & Ireland with your dog or cat are now back on the cards! Say what you like about the UK government, but every time we elect a new one, it seems we end up worse off in some way. Regardless of how you voted in the Brexit referendum, there’s no denying it was a disaster for European travel—especially with pets. Fortunately, a new agreement between the UK and EU, announced in May 2025, has reinstated the pet passport system, simplifying travel for pets and their owners across Europe.
Before Brexit, UK-issued pet passports allowed cats, dogs, and ferrets to travel freely within the EU, provided they were microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. However, post-Brexit changes reclassified the UK as a ‘Part 2 listed’ country under the EU Pet Travel Scheme. This shift meant that UK pet owners had to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip, a process that was both time-consuming and costly, often exceeding £200 per journey.
The recent UK–EU agreement brings welcome relief to pet owners. As part of a broader deal aimed at improving trade and travel relations, the reinstatement of the pet passport system means UK-issued pet passports are once again valid for travel to EU countries. This change removes the need for repeated Animal Health Certificates (AHCs), easing both the administrative burden and financial strain on pet owners.
Pet passports have always been significantly cheaper than AHCs and, provided rabies vaccinations are kept up to date, can last the lifetime of your pet.
With the return of the pet passport, UK pet owners can look forward to:
Simplified travel: No more last-minute vet appointments for AHCs—the passport streamlines the process.
Cost savings: Removing the need for AHCs cuts down on travel expenses considerably.
Extended validity: Pet passports are valid for multiple trips, as long as vaccinations are current.
That said, certain requirements still apply. Pets must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and dogs travelling to specific countries may need tapeworm treatment.
The return of the pet passport is a welcome development, signalling a shift towards more convenient and affordable pet travel. It’s fantastic news for anyone planning a campervan, motorhome or caravan adventure to Ireland, France and beyond!
As the new system is introduced, be sure to check in with your vet to ensure your pet meets all necessary travel requirements.
There’s no confirmed date just yet, but an official announcement on the UK pet passport is expected within the next few weeks.
European road trips to destinations like France, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Germany and Portugal will become much more appealing with the return of the UK pet passport. I’m personally planning a trip to France, Italy and Spain later this year—keep an eye out for my Road Trip France guide book, available in June 2025!
The UK is packed with dog-friendly destinations! You’ll find plenty of them in the No Fuss Travel Guides: Dog Friendly Weekends Away UK guide book. From coast to countryside, there’s something for every pet-loving traveller right here at home.
Collie dog lover, keen traveler and travel guide writer. In 2022, I launched No Fuss Travel Guides with 'North Coast 500 - The Road Trip of a Lifetime' which became an Amazon best seller. I've since worked with tourism boards including Visit Wales and have been featured in The Guardian 'Best of Travel'.
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Rob, Staffordshire, UK
