There are three documents in regular use for pet travel between the UK and the EU: the Animal Health Certificate, the EU Pet Passport, and the Great Britain Pet Health Certificate. Most of the confusion comes from mixing them up — they have similar names, overlapping rules, and quite different purposes. This guide explains which one you need depending on which way you're crossing the Channel and where you live.
The quick decision #
Two questions:
1. Where do you live? Great Britain or the EU.
2. Which direction are you travelling? GB → EU, EU → GB, or GB → Northern Ireland.
That gives you five common combinations:
| Your situation | What you need |
|---|---|
| Live in GB, going to EU | Animal Health Certificate (AHC) |
| Live in GB, going to Northern Ireland only | Free NI pet travel document (apply at gov.uk) |
| Live in GB, returning to GB from EU | The AHC you travelled out on (still within 6 months), or a pre-2021 UK pet passport |
| Live in EU, coming to GB | EU pet passport OR Great Britain Pet Health Certificate |
| Live in EU, returning to EU from GB | EU pet passport (the GB-to-EU outbound restrictions only apply to GB residents) |
The rest of the page goes into each of these in detail.
If you live in Great Britain and you're going to the EU #
You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
The AHC is the document that replaced the UK pet passport scheme after Brexit. Issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) in the UK before each trip. Every outbound trip needs a fresh one.
The headline facts:
- Validity: 10 days from issue to EU entry, then 6 months for onward EU travel and re-entry to GB.
- Cost: roughly £80–£250 depending on the provider and notice given.
- Capacity: up to 5 pets on one certificate.
- Where to get one: any UK vet practice with an Official Veterinarian (OV) on staff. Not every practice has one — ring ahead.
Since 22/04/2026, the AHC is the only document that works for outbound travel from GB to the EU. EU pet passports — even ones issued to you personally before that date, from a holiday-home vet in France or during a previous EU stay — are no longer valid for entry to the EU as a GB resident.
Travelling to Northern Ireland instead of the EU? Different rules apply — see What about Northern Ireland? below.
→ Full details on the AHC, including the 7-step process and where people get caught out, in our AHC: The 2026 UK Guide.
If you live in Great Britain and you're returning to GB from the EU #
The good news: re-entering GB doesn't need a fresh document. Three options work.
1. The AHC you travelled out on.
The AHC remains valid for re-entry to GB for 6 months after EU entry, provided the rabies vaccination stays current. As long as you're inside that window, it covers the return leg.
2. A pre-2021 UK pet passport.
If your pet has a UK pet passport issued in GB before 1 January 2021, it's still accepted as an entry document for bringing a pet into GB. It's not valid for outbound any more, but for inbound it has one remaining use.
3. An EU pet passport.
Yours, if you had one issued before 22/04/2026, still works for the return leg to GB. (It just doesn't work for the outbound leg back to the EU on a future trip.) An EU pet passport issued to a friend or relative who's accompanying your pet also works, provided the pet's microchip matches.
For dogs, don't forget the tapeworm treatment: required by a vet abroad, 24–120 hours before re-entering GB. Exceptions are dogs returning from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway, where this isn't needed.
What about Northern Ireland? #
Northern Ireland is technically part of the UK but operates under different pet travel rules because of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Three points worth knowing if NI is part of your trip.
Travelling from GB to Northern Ireland only. You don't need an AHC. A free, lifetime Northern Ireland pet travel document (apply at gov.uk) is enough. The pet must be microchipped and you must be a GB resident over 16.
Travelling from GB to Northern Ireland and then on to the Republic of Ireland or the rest of the EU. The NI travel document doesn't cover this. You need an AHC, same as any other EU trip.
Travelling between Northern Ireland and Great Britain in either direction. No document needed at all.
NI rules for travel into and out of the EU follow EU pet passport rules in some cases, since NI is treated as part of the EU for pet travel purposes. NI residents have their own set of rules, and they're not what this page covers — DAERA Northern Ireland (daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/travelling-pets) has the current detail.
→ Full NI guide coming soon: Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document: The 2026 Guide.
If you live in the EU and you're coming to Great Britain #
You have two main options.
Option 1: EU pet passport.
If your pet already has an EU pet passport issued in an EU country (or in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Andorra, San Marino, or a handful of other listed countries), it's a valid entry document for GB. Lifetime document — you can keep using it for future trips provided rabies stays current. This is the easier route if your pet already has a passport.
Option 2: Great Britain Pet Health Certificate (GB PHC).
A separate, single-use document for entering GB. Issued by an OV in your country of departure. Your pet must enter GB within 10 days of the certificate being issued. Use this if your pet doesn't have an EU pet passport.
Either way, your pet needs to meet GB entry rules:
- ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination at least 21 full days old.
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs (not cats or ferrets), administered by a vet 24–120 hours before arrival in GB. Exception: dogs from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland don't need it.
If you live in the EU and you're returning to the EU from GB #
If your main home is in the EU, the 22/04/2026 restrictions on EU pet passports don't apply to you — those changes affected GB residents only. Your EU pet passport continues to work normally for outbound travel into the EU, as long as it's still in date and rabies is current.
You don't need an AHC for the return leg, even though your trip started in GB. The AHC is required for GB residents going outbound to the EU; an EU resident travelling back to their home country uses their pet passport.
The three documents explained #
If you want to understand what each document is rather than just which one applies.
Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
The document for GB residents going outbound to the EU. Issued by a UK Official Veterinarian. Replaced the UK pet passport scheme after Brexit. Single-use — fresh one needed for every outbound trip.
- Pages: typically 9 to 12 pages of A4
- Validity: 10 days from issue to EU entry, then 6 months for onward EU travel and re-entry to GB
- Cost: £80–£250+
- Capacity: up to 5 pets
Critical detail people miss: the 10-day window runs from issue to entry, not departure. A slow ferry, a layover or an overnight stop eats into the window.
Worth flagging if you cross-check this yourself: GOV.UK's operational pages (bring-pet-to-great-britain/which-pet-travel-document) may still reference the older 4-month figure for AHC re-entry to GB. The 6-month rule is the current one, per the 22 April 2026 update.
EU Pet Passport
The lifetime document for people whose main home is in an EU country. Issued by an authorised vet in the EU (or in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and a few other listed countries).
- Validity: lifetime, as long as rabies vaccinations stay current
- Where it works: travel within EU countries, plus entry to GB
Since 22/04/2026, EU pet passports can only be issued to people resident in the EU. Existing passports held by GB residents are no longer valid for travel into the EU. They are still accepted for travel into GB.
Great Britain Pet Health Certificate (GB PHC)
The single-use document for bringing a pet into GB from outside. Issued by an OV in the country of departure. Useful when the pet doesn't have an EU pet passport — and it's also the primary entry document for most non-EU countries (USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, UAE and others), often with extra steps such as a rabies blood test for countries not on the "listed" register.
- Validity: 10 days from issue to GB entry
- Single-use: yes — a fresh one needed for each trip into GB
- Who issues it: any OV in any country authorised by their government to sign GB import paperwork
This is the inbound equivalent of an AHC, but it can be issued anywhere in the world rather than only in the UK.
Side-by-side comparison #
| Document | Direction | Who can hold it | How long it lasts | Single-use? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal Health Certificate (AHC) | GB → EU outbound; GB return within 6 months | Anyone using a UK OV | 10 days to entry, then 6 months | Yes |
| EU Pet Passport | Within EU; EU → GB | EU residents only | Lifetime, while rabies stays current | No |
| GB Pet Health Certificate | Anywhere → GB | Anyone using an OV abroad | 10 days to entry | Yes |
| NI Pet Travel Document | GB → NI only | GB residents over 16 | Lifetime | No |
| UK Pet Passport (pre-2021) | EU and certain listed countries → GB only | Passport issued in GB before 1 Jan 2021 | Lifetime, while rabies stays current | No |
Common mix-ups #
"I have an old UK pet passport from before 2021."
For outbound travel to the EU, no longer valid — use an AHC. For bringing a pet back to GB from the EU, a UK pet passport issued in GB before 1 January 2021 is still accepted as an entry document. So it has one remaining use.
"I have an EU pet passport from when I lived in France."
If you're now a GB resident, no longer valid for taking your pet into the EU. Still valid for the return leg back to GB. For outbound, you need an AHC.
"I split my time between a house in Kent and a house in France. Which am I?"
EU pet passports can only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU. Holiday homes and seasonal visits don't qualify, regardless of how much time you actually spend there. If your registered address and main residence is in GB, you're a GB resident for pet travel purposes — and you need an AHC for outbound travel.
"I'm going to Northern Ireland and then continuing on to Dublin."
You need an AHC, not a Northern Ireland pet travel document. The NI document only covers Northern Ireland itself. Crossing into the Republic of Ireland means you've entered the EU.
FAQ #
Can I use my old UK pet passport for any travel at all?
For outbound travel from GB, no. For bringing a pet into GB from the EU, a UK pet passport issued in GB before 1 January 2021 is still accepted as a valid entry document.
What if I have dual residency between GB and the EU?
EU pet passports can only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU. Holiday homes and seasonal visits don't qualify. If your registered home address is in GB, you need an AHC for outbound travel.
What's the difference between an AHC and a GB pet health certificate?
Direction. An AHC takes a pet out of GB to the EU. A GB pet health certificate brings a pet into GB from outside. The requirements overlap but they're different documents for different journeys.
I'm a GB resident going to Switzerland. Do I need an AHC?
Yes. Switzerland is treated the same as EU countries for outbound pet travel from GB. The same AHC works.
Can I get an EU pet passport if I move to Ireland or France permanently?
Once you're resident in the EU, yes — your destination country's authorised vet can issue one. Each EU country has its own process.
I'm an EU resident bringing my pet to GB. Which is easier — pet passport or GB pet health certificate?
Pet passport, if your pet already has one. Lifetime document, no vet appointment needed for each trip. The GB PHC is single-use, needs an OV appointment in your departure country, and has to be issued within 10 days of arrival.
Sources #
- GOV.UK: New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents (21/04/2026) — gov.uk/government/news/new-eu-rules-for-pet-travel-for-gb-residents
- GOV.UK: Taking your pet abroad — Pet passport — gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/pet-passport
- GOV.UK: Apply for a Northern Ireland pet travel document — gov.uk/apply-for-northern-ireland-pet-travel-document
- GOV.UK: Bringing your pet to Great Britain — Which travel document — gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/which-pet-travel-document
- GOV.UK: Great Britain pet health certificate — gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/great-britain-pet-health-certificate
- GOV.UK: Bringing your pet to Great Britain — gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain
- EU Your Europe portal: Pets and other animals — europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/pets-and-other-animals
- DAERA Northern Ireland: Travelling with pets — daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/travelling-pets