I’ve just released a new YouTube Video explaining everything you need to know about how to take your dog abroad and briefly summarised it below…
If you’re going to Northern Ireland, you don’t need to do anything.
If you’re going directly to Republic of Ireland, France or any other EU country there are 4 main things that you will need…
must be up to date. If your pet needs a new vaccination, you must wait at least 21 days after the vaccination is administered. For example, if your pet gets the vaccine on 1st of September, you can travel on the 22nd September.
must be easily scanned and match the paperwork in step 4.
Only if you’re going direct to Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta. If you’re going anywhere else, your dog won’t need this. If your dog does need it, it must be given no less than 24 hours before and no more than 5 days before you travel. It must also be registered in the paperwork in step 4.
The Animal Health Certificate can have up to 5 animals per certificate and must be obtained no later than 10 days before you travel. It can be used for onward travel within EU for up to 4 months and allows return to UK for up to 4 months. It can only be used once. Any future travel into the EU will require another certificate.
The EU Pet Passport lasts for the entire life of the pet as long as the rabies vaccine is kept up to date using an EU or NI vaccine serial number. EU Pet Passports cannot be issued in England, Wales or Scotland, they must be obtained from NI, Ireland or any other EU country. Your dog will require another rabies vaccine at the time of obtaining the EU pet passport as the serial number has to be an EU or NI number – you must factor in this extra cost.
If your trip is shorter than 5 days or you are returning back from Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta, you won’t need to do anything 
If you’re returning back to the UK from any other EU country, your dog will need a tapeworm treatment. It must be given no less than 24 hours before and no more than 5 days before you return. It must also be registered in the paperwork in step 4.
I used Causeway Vets in Bushmills, Northern Ireland. The total cost per dog was £112 including a new rabies vaccine. EU pet passports can also be obtained from vets in the Republic of Ireland, France and most EU countries. They make more sense financially if you plan on taking your dog or cat abroad more often.Â
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'.
Hopefully you find some value in my videos & blogs, if there's something you want to ask me, fire away.
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Rob, Staffordshire, UK
