If you are planning to travel to Europe with your dog or cat, there is an important 2026 pet travel update to know about before you book your trip.
On April 22, 2026, new European Union pet travel rules took effect for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats, and ferrets. These rules affect how pets enter and move within the EU, especially when the pet owner lives outside the EU.
The biggest change? European pet passports are now meant for pet owners who are resident in the EU. This matters most for travelers from Great Britain and the United States who previously hoped to get or use an EU-issued pet passport to make repeat trips to Europe easier.
For pet owners who live in Great Britain — England, Scotland, or Wales — travel to the EU now generally means getting an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip. For U.S. pet owners traveling from the United States to the EU, the process centers around an EU animal health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS before travel.
Northern Ireland is different and has its own guidance. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU pet travel rules, and Northern Ireland residents may still be able to obtain a valid EU pet passport from participating veterinary practices.
Below, we break down what changed, which pet travel document you need, how the 10-day and 6-month validity rules work, and what U.S. and U.K. pet owners should do before traveling to the EU with a dog, cat, or ferret.
Last updated: May 15, 2026. This article is for general planning purposes only. Always confirm your exact route with official government sources, your veterinarian, and your airline or ferry operator before travel.
As of April 22, 2026, European pet passports are only issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU. If you live in Great Britain, you should no longer use an EU pet passport to enter the EU with your dog, cat, or ferret — even if the passport was issued in the EU before the rule change. Instead, GOV.UK says GB residents should get an Animal Health Certificate for each trip from Great Britain to the EU.
If you live in the United States and are traveling to the EU with a dog, cat, or ferret, you generally need an EU animal health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS. Your pet must also have a working microchip, a valid rabies vaccination that meets EU timing rules, and any additional treatment required by your destination country.
In simple terms: EU residents use EU pet passports. Great Britain residents use an Animal Health Certificate for EU trips. U.S. residents use a USDA-endorsed EU health certificate when traveling from the United States to the EU.
EU Pet Passports: What Changed on April 22, 2026?
The April 2026 EU pet travel changes apply to the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats, and ferrets. “Non-commercial” generally means your pet is traveling with you or with someone you authorize, the pet is not being sold or transferred to a new owner, and the pet’s movement is connected to your own travel.
The basic health requirements did not disappear. Dogs, cats, and ferrets traveling to the EU still need proper identification, a valid rabies vaccination, and the correct pet travel document. Depending on your route, dogs may also need tapeworm treatment before entering certain countries.
- EU pet passports are now only issued to EU residents. A European pet passport is an EU-standard identification document for dogs, cats, and ferrets, and it is now only issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU.
- Great Britain residents should not use EU pet passports to enter the EU. If you live in England, Scotland, or Wales, GOV.UK says you should not use a pet passport to travel into the EU, even if it was issued in the EU. Your pet may be refused entry.
- GB Animal Health Certificates are still single-use for EU entry, but now last longer once you arrive. For Great Britain-to-EU travel, an AHC is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, 6 months for onward travel within the EU, and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain, as long as the rabies vaccination remains valid.
- U.S. travelers generally need a USDA-endorsed EU health certificate. If you live in the United States and are traveling from the U.S. to an EU country with your dog, cat, or ferret, you should work with a USDA-accredited veterinarian and USDA APHIS to complete and endorse the correct EU health certificate.
- Extra paperwork is needed if someone else travels with your pet. If an authorized person transports your pet instead of you, the pet owner’s journey must generally take place within 5 days before or after the pet’s journey, and written authorization must travel with the pet’s document.
- The five-pet limit is clearer. For non-commercial travel, the standard limit is five pets, with limited exceptions for events such as competitions, exhibitions, or sporting events. GOV.UK also notes that for GB-to-EU travel, the limit is now five pets per private vehicle unless an exception applies.
For most families traveling with one or two pets, the biggest practical change is simple: do not assume an EU pet passport is an option if you live outside the EU. Your pet travel document depends on where you live and where your trip begins.
Which Pet Travel Document Do You Need?
The right document depends on your residency, your departure country, your first EU country of entry, and whether your trip is non-commercial. Here is the simple version for most dog, cat, and ferret owners.
You should get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from your vet for each trip from Great Britain to the EU. Great Britain means England, Scotland, and Wales.
Northern Ireland is different. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU pet travel rules, and Northern Ireland residents may be able to obtain a valid EU pet passport from participating veterinary practices.
You generally need a USDA-endorsed EU animal health certificate before traveling from the United States to the EU with your dog, cat, or ferret.
You can generally use an EU pet passport for travel between EU countries, as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination and other required health information are up to date.
“Europe” and “the EU” are not always the same for pet travel rules. This article focuses on EU rules, plus closely related travel guidance for Great Britain, Northern Ireland, Norway, and U.S. travelers entering the EU. Always check the official rules for every country on your route.
What This Means for Great Britain Pet Owners
If you live in Great Britain — England, Scotland, or Wales — the practical answer is simple: plan on getting an Animal Health Certificate for each trip to the EU with your dog, cat, or ferret.
Even if your pet already has an EU pet passport, GOV.UK says people who live in England, Scotland, or Wales should not use a pet passport for travel into the EU. If you use one, your pet may be refused entry.
- Get an Animal Health Certificate from your vet before each trip.
- Make sure your pet is microchipped before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccine used for travel.
- Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination is valid.
- Wait the required period after a primary rabies vaccination before travel. In most cases, at least 21 days must pass after the primary rabies vaccination is completed.
- Enter the EU within 10 days of the AHC being issued.
- Use the AHC for onward EU travel and re-entry to Great Britain for up to 6 months, as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination remains valid.
- Check whether your dog needs tapeworm treatment for your destination.
How long is a GB Animal Health Certificate valid?
For Great Britain residents traveling to the EU, an Animal Health Certificate is valid for:
- 10 days for entry into the EU
- 6 months for onward travel within the EU after entry
- 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain
This does not mean one AHC can be reused for multiple separate trips from Great Britain to the EU. GOV.UK describes the AHC as single-use for EU entry, so you should expect to get a new AHC for each new trip from Great Britain to the EU.
Can GB residents still use an EU pet passport to return to Great Britain?
GOV.UK says there are no major changes to pet travel requirements for re-entry into Great Britain, and GB residents may still be able to use an EU pet passport for the return journey to Great Britain if the passport is valid and completed correctly.
That is different from using an EU pet passport to enter the EU. The key point is that GB residents should get an Animal Health Certificate when traveling from Great Britain to an EU country.
What This Means for Northern Ireland Pet Owners
Northern Ireland is different from Great Britain for pet travel. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU pet travel rules, and DAERA states that Northern Ireland residents can obtain a valid EU pet passport from participating veterinary practices.
If you live in Northern Ireland, do not rely on Great Britain guidance alone. Check DAERA’s current pet travel guidance before you travel, especially if your route involves Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland, another EU country, or re-entry into Northern Ireland.
If you are a Northern Ireland resident, you may be able to use an EU pet passport. If you live in England, Scotland, or Wales, you should not use an EU pet passport to enter the EU and should get an Animal Health Certificate instead.
What This Means for U.S. Pet Owners Traveling to Europe
If you live in the United States and are taking your dog, cat, or ferret to the EU, you generally cannot get an EU pet passport simply to make future trips easier. Instead, you need the correct EU animal health certificate before each new trip from the United States to the EU.
For U.S. travelers, the EU health certificate must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS before your pet travels. The original endorsed certificate must travel with your pet.
If you are specifically traveling from the United States to Europe with your dog, we also recommend reading our step-by-step guide: How to Take Your Dog to Europe From the United States. It walks through the full process in order, including microchip rules, rabies timing, USDA APHIS endorsement, airline planning, and returning to the U.S.
- Look up the USDA APHIS requirements for the first EU country your pet will enter.
- Confirm your pet has a working microchip. For EU travel, the microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination used for travel, or the microchip must be scanned before the rabies vaccination is given.
- Make sure your pet’s rabies vaccination meets EU timing rules.
- Work with a USDA-accredited veterinarian to complete the correct EU health certificate.
- Have USDA APHIS endorse the certificate within the required travel window.
- Enter the EU through an approved travelers’ point of entry where your pet’s documents and identity can be checked.
- If you are returning to the United States with a dog, also check current CDC dog import rules before you leave the U.S.
Microchip and Rabies Vaccination Timing
The microchip and rabies order matters a lot for EU pet travel.
USDA APHIS explains that rabies vaccinations do not count under EU rules if the vaccination was given before the microchip was implanted, or if the microchip was not scanned before the vaccination was given.
For a first or primary rabies vaccination, your pet generally needs to wait at least 21 days before entering the EU. If the rabies vaccine is a valid booster with no lapse in coverage, the timing may be different, but you should have documentation showing the vaccine history.
Microchip first, then rabies vaccination. If your pet was vaccinated before being microchipped, that rabies vaccination may not count for EU travel.
How USDA APHIS Endorsement Works
If you are traveling from the United States to the EU with your dog, cat, or ferret, your EU health certificate must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS before travel.
- Visit a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Your vet confirms your pet’s microchip, rabies vaccination, travel dates, first EU country of entry, and required paperwork.
- Your vet completes the EU health certificate. The certificate must be filled out, signed, and dated correctly for your specific route and destination.
- Your vet submits the certificate to USDA APHIS. In many cases, veterinarians submit certificates electronically through VEHCS, the Veterinary Export Health Certification System. If a hard-copy submission or return shipment is needed, your vet or USDA APHIS can confirm the correct endorsement office and shipping steps.
- USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. For many EU destinations, APHIS must ink-sign and emboss the certificate.
- The original endorsed certificate travels with your pet. The USDA-endorsed hard copy should accompany your pet when you arrive in the EU.
For non-commercial U.S.-to-EU pet travel, USDA APHIS country pages generally state that APHIS endorsement must happen within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU. Build in enough time for the vet appointment, APHIS review, any overnight return shipping, and any corrections.
Do not wait until the last minute. If a certificate has an error, it may need to be corrected before endorsement.
As soon as you know your travel dates, contact a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Your vet and APHIS can help confirm the correct certificate, timing, and destination-specific requirements for your route.
Can You Visit Multiple EU Countries With One Pet Travel Document?
Yes, in many cases, one valid EU animal health certificate can cover onward travel within the EU after your pet has entered the EU and passed the required documentary and identity checks.
According to the European Commission, the EU animal health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of documentary and identity checks at a travelers’ point of entry. For further movement into other EU countries, the certificate is valid from the date of those checks for up to 6 months, or until your pet’s rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first.
That means if you fly from the United States to France, clear your pet’s entry checks in France, and then continue to Italy or Spain on the same trip, you generally do not need a brand-new EU health certificate for each EU country.
Similarly, if you travel from Great Britain to France with an Animal Health Certificate, that AHC can generally be used for onward travel within the EU for up to 6 months, as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination remains valid.
If your dog is traveling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland, treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is required between 24 and 120 hours before scheduled entry. The treatment must be administered by a veterinarian and recorded in the relevant section of your pet’s health certificate or passport.
Cats and ferrets do not need this tapeworm treatment.
Always check the rules for every country on your itinerary. Some destinations may have additional requirements, and airlines, ferry companies, and train operators may have their own pet travel policies on top of government rules.
Simple Timeline for Traveling to the EU With a Dog, Cat, or Ferret
Pet travel paperwork can feel overwhelming, but the order is usually the most important part. Start early, confirm your route, and make sure the microchip and rabies vaccination records are correct before the certificate appointment.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| As soon as you start planning | Check the official rules for your departure country, first EU country of entry, airline or ferry company, and return route. For U.S. travelers, use USDA APHIS. For GB travelers, use GOV.UK. |
| Before rabies vaccination | Make sure your pet has a working microchip. For EU travel, the microchip must be implanted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination used for travel. |
| At least 21 days before travel | If your pet needs a primary rabies vaccination, plan for the required waiting period before EU entry. If your pet has a valid booster with no lapse in coverage, ask your veterinarian what documentation is needed. |
| Before your certificate appointment | Confirm your exact route, first EU country of entry, pet’s microchip number, rabies records, and any country-specific requirements. U.S. travelers should work with a USDA-accredited veterinarian. GB travelers should book with a vet who can issue an AHC. |
| Within the official certificate window | Get the correct Animal Health Certificate or EU health certificate completed and endorsed as required for your route. U.S. travelers should allow time for USDA APHIS endorsement and return shipping if needed. |
| 24–120 hours before entering certain countries | Dogs traveling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland need tapeworm treatment within the required window. This must be recorded by a veterinarian. |
| At EU entry | Enter through an approved travelers’ point of entry and be ready to show your pet’s documents, microchip details, rabies record, and tapeworm treatment if required. |
| Before returning home | Check re-entry rules for your home country. GB travelers should confirm Great Britain return requirements. U.S. travelers returning with dogs should also check current CDC dog import rules. |
Official Pet Travel Resources to Bookmark
Because pet travel rules can change quickly, it is best to verify your exact route with official sources before booking flights, ferries, hotels, or other travel plans.
- GOV.UK: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad — read here
- GOV.UK: New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents — read here
- European Union: Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU — read here
- European Commission: Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country — read here
- USDA APHIS: Take a pet from the United States to another country — read here
- USDA APHIS: Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) — read here
- DAERA: Travelling with pets from Northern Ireland — read here
- CDC: Bringing a dog into the United States — read here
Related DJANGO Pet Travel Guides
International travel with a dog takes extra planning, but it is absolutely possible when you start early and follow the right steps. Keep your pet’s documents organized, confirm airline or ferry rules before booking, and always check the latest official guidance for your exact route.
Shop Pet Carriers Read More Dog Travel Articles
FAQ: EU Pet Passport Rules 2026
Are EU pet passports still valid in 2026?
Yes, but they are meant for pet owners who are resident in the EU. A European pet passport can be valid for life as long as the pet’s required health information, including rabies vaccination, remains up to date.
If you live in Great Britain, GOV.UK says you should not use a pet passport to travel into the EU, even if it was issued in the EU. Your pet may be refused entry.
Can U.S. pet owners get an EU pet passport?
In general, no. EU pet passports are issued to pet owners who are resident in the EU. U.S. residents traveling from the United States to the EU generally need an EU animal health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS.
Do U.K. pet owners need an Animal Health Certificate for the EU?
If you live in England, Scotland, or Wales, yes. You should get an Animal Health Certificate for each trip from Great Britain to an EU country with your dog, cat, or ferret.
Northern Ireland is different. Northern Ireland continues to follow EU pet travel rules, and Northern Ireland residents may be able to obtain a valid EU pet passport from participating veterinary practices.
How long is an Animal Health Certificate valid?
For Great Britain-to-EU travel, an Animal Health Certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, 6 months for onward travel within the EU, and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain, as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination remains valid.
That does not mean you can reuse the same AHC for multiple separate trips from Great Britain to the EU. You should expect to get a new AHC for each new trip from Great Britain to the EU.
Can I travel to more than one EU country with my dog using one health certificate?
Yes, in many cases. Once your pet enters the EU with the correct certificate and passes the required documentary and identity checks, the EU animal health certificate can generally be used for onward travel between EU countries for up to 6 months, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first.
Always check each country on your itinerary, especially if your dog is traveling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland, where tapeworm treatment rules may apply.
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment for EU travel?
Dogs traveling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland need treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours before scheduled entry. The treatment must be administered by a veterinarian and recorded in the pet’s health certificate or passport.
Cats and ferrets do not need this tapeworm treatment.
Does my pet need a microchip before rabies vaccination for EU travel?
Yes. For EU travel, your pet must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination used for travel. If your pet was vaccinated before being microchipped, or if the microchip was not scanned before vaccination, that rabies vaccination may not count for EU travel.
How does USDA APHIS endorsement work for U.S. pet travel to the EU?
A USDA-accredited veterinarian completes your pet’s EU health certificate and submits it to USDA APHIS for endorsement. For many EU destinations, APHIS must ink-sign and emboss the certificate, and the original endorsed certificate must travel with your pet.
Start early and ask your veterinarian how they handle VEHCS submission, APHIS endorsement, and return shipping if a hard copy is needed.
Can someone else travel with my pet to the EU?
Yes, but there are extra rules. If an authorized person travels with your pet instead of you, the owner’s journey generally must take place within 5 days before or after the pet’s journey, and written authorization must travel with the pet’s document.
Can I travel to the EU with more than five pets?
For non-commercial travel, the standard limit is five dogs, cats, or ferrets. There are limited exceptions, such as travel for competitions, exhibitions, sporting events, or training for those events, but you will need supporting documentation and all other pet travel requirements still apply.
How early should I start planning EU pet travel?
Start as early as possible, especially if your pet needs a new microchip, rabies vaccination, booster documentation, tapeworm treatment, or a USDA-endorsed health certificate. At minimum, allow time for the rabies waiting period, the veterinary appointment, certificate endorsement, airline or ferry requirements, and any route-specific rules.