UK in Talks to Rejoin EU Pet Passport Scheme, Aiming to Ease Travel Rules for Pet Owners

The United Kingdom is pursuing a return to the European Union’s pet passport system, a change that could remove post-Brexit travel barriers for pet owners heading to Europe. The issue is expected to be raised during the EU–UK summit scheduled for May 20, 2025, in London.

Before the UK’s departure from the EU, pet owners could use a single EU-issued passport to travel with dogs, cats, and ferrets across member states. That system ended in January 2021. Since then, British travellers have been required to obtain a new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each EU trip. These certificates must be issued within 10 days of travel, cost up to £200 per trip, and require updated vaccinations and health checks.

Industry stakeholders say the change has discouraged many pet-owning tourists from travelling to Europe, especially to destinations such as France, Spain, Portugal, and Italy, where British holidaymakers often bring pets along for extended stays.

A return to the EU system would reduce administrative burdens, eliminate recurring veterinary costs, and streamline entry at borders. Operators of pet-friendly services such as Eurotunnel, Channel ferries, and EU-based tourism providers, have expressed their support for the move.

However, progress depends on wider negotiations. Sources suggest the EU may tie pet passport reinstatement to broader sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreements, potentially involving long-standing disputes over fisheries. British officials have acknowledged that no deal is guaranteed, and a comprehensive framework would likely be required for the EU to approve re-entry.

Despite the complexities, both British pet owners and EU tourism operators are optimistic. Reinstating the pet passport could help revive cross-border travel volumes that have declined since 2021 and restore a level of convenience that many had taken for granted.