UK Pet Passports Are Coming Back: Everything You Need to Know

Great news for pet owners! The government has announced plans to reintroduce the UK pet passport, making it easier for dogs and cats to travel from the UK to the EU once again.

Following Brexit, as of January 2021, pet owners have had to use Animal Health Certificates (AHCs), lengthy, single-use documents that must be issued every time a pet travels abroad to the EU.

Now, following new trade discussions with the EU in May 2025, the government has announced its intention to bring back the pet passport system. Although exact details and timings haven't been finalised yet, the change could mean a much smoother travel experience for pet owners in the near future.

At PassPets, we specialise in pet travel documentation and our team of Official Veterinarians have helped thousands of pet owners travel to the EU with our low cost Animal Health Certificate service - just £99 per certificate. We'll be ready to issue UK pet passports as soon as they are available.

Below, we’ve answered the most common questions about what this means for UK pet owners — and how you can prepare (and still travel confidently in the meantime).

UK Pet Passport FAQ

When will UK pet passports be reintroduced?

The government hasn't confirmed exact dates, but we expect them to be reintroduced sometime in 2026 or early 2027. We'll keep this blog post updated as soon as more information is released.

If you’d like us to keep you informed about any updates, sign up to our email list here:

We’ll only contact you when there are important changes to pet travel requirements, and we'll never share your details with third parties.

How will the UK pet passport work?

We expect UK pet passports to work much like they did before January 2021. Dogs, cats and ferrets will need to be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination, which will be recorded in the pet passport.

The pet passport will then remain valid for travel to and from the EU for as long as the rabies vaccination is valid - usually three years for most UK administered rabies vaccinations, however occasionally one year depending on the manufacturer of the rabies vaccination your vet uses. It can be used for multiple trips, unlike AHCs, which are single-use.

For dogs, the tapeworm treatment required before re-entering the UK will need to be recorded in the pet passport between 24 and 120 hours before arrival back in the UK (except for dogs coming directly from Ireland, Norway, Finland, or Malta, which require tapeworm treatment before departure out from the UK).

Who will be able to issue pet passports?

Only Official Veterinarians - UK vets who hold the extra DEFRA qualification to issue pet travel documents - will be able to issue UK pet passports.

Will pet passports replace Animal Health Certificates completely?

Most likely, yes - for dogs, cats or ferrets travelling from the UK to the EU with their owners.

However, Export Health Certificate or other certificates will still be required for commercial pet travel, travel to countries outside of the EU or for other species (e.g. rabbits, birds).

So pet passports will likely only apply to EU travel, not to destinations like the USA, Australia or Canada.

Will I need to get a new microchip or rabies vaccination for a pet passport?

If your pet is already microchipped and has a valid rabies vaccination, with adequate evidence of these, you shouldn’t need to repeat these. If the Official Veterinarian is happy with the evidence provided, they should be able to simply record your pet’s existing vaccination details into the new passport.

How long with pet passports be valid for?

A UK pet passport will remain valid as long as your pet’s rabies vaccination is valid.

Most UK rabies vaccines (e.g. Nobivac or Canigen) last three years, but some, such as Rabisin, can only be valid for one year.

Will my old pet passport still work if I have one from before Brexit?

If you still have an old GB pet passport from before 2021, it's unlikely your vet will be able to update it with new rabies vaccination details. You'll almost certainly need to get a new UK pet passport once the scheme launches.

Will UK pet passports be accepted in all EU countries?

It is highly likely that UK pet passports will be accepted across all EU countries, as well as Switzerland and Norway, just like Animal Health Certificates are today.

How do I get a pet passport?

Our team of Official Veterinarians will be ready to issue you with a UK pet passport as soon as they become available. In the meantime, we continue to offer low cost AHCs from our branches in London, Havant or Bristol.

How can I stay informed about the latest pet travel rules?

Join our email list below to get the latest updates about the return of pet passports and any changes to EU travel requirements. We’ll only email you when there’s genuinely useful news - no spam, ever.

Does PassPets offer Animal Health Certificates?

Yes! We issue Animal Health Certificates for pets travelling from the UK to the EU. We charge £99 for the first pet and £50 per any additional pets, and we have branches in London, Havant and Bristol. Visit our homepage for more information or contact us and speak to one of our pet travel experts.