Thursday, May 22, 2025

Travellers from currently facing a maze of complex new pet travel rules introduced after Brexit, including mandatory vaccinations, microchipping, and detailed health certifications. These regulations, designed to protect animal and public health, have created significant challenges for pet owners planning to travel to the European Union and Northern Ireland. However, ongoing discussions between UK and EU officials offer hope for streamlined procedures and eased restrictions, aiming to restore smoother, less burdensome travel for pets in the near future.

Since Brexit reshaped the relationship between the United Kingdom and the European Union, travellers from the UK have encountered numerous hurdles, from stricter limitations on their stay in EU countries to complex bureaucratic obstacles at border crossings. One notable example of these challenges unfolded recently when passengers flying with Ryanair found themselves stranded overnight in Portugal because their UK-registered aircraft suffered a mechanical fault. Adding to the complication, EU regulations prevented an EU-registered plane from flying them back to the UK. This incident highlights some of the operational difficulties arising from Brexit’s new rules.

While human travellers have endured delays and restrictions, their four-legged companions face even more stringent measures. Pet owners must now comply with a series of medical and administrative requirements before bringing their animals to Europe. Surprisingly, some of the toughest rules apply to travel between Great Britain and Ireland, which had long been considered a straightforward journey. Pets travelling to Ireland must receive rabies vaccinations and tapeworm treatment—prerequisites that were never necessary before Brexit. These canine constraints stem from agreements the UK government accepted as part of the new trade and travel framework negotiated with the EU.

As diplomatic efforts continue under the banner of a “Brexit reset,” both sides are exploring ways to ease these restrictions for pet owners. Here, we break down the current landscape of pet travel for UK residents, covering what has changed, what remains the same, and what to expect in the near future.

Before the UK officially left the European Union, pet owners enjoyed relative ease when travelling with their animals across Europe. The system of pet passports allowed cats, dogs, and even ferrets to move between the UK and EU member states with minimal fuss. These passports provided proof that the animal had undergone required vaccinations and treatments, enabling smooth transit without lengthy quarantine or additional paperwork.

In addition, no special restrictions existed for moving pets between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Because Northern Ireland remained aligned with certain EU regulations after Brexit, travel there from Great Britain was mostly unaffected. However, the “border in the Irish Sea” created by the Brexit deal introduced a regulatory distinction that made pet travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland subject to stricter rules.

Today, travellers with pets from the UK must follow a more complex process before their animals can enter the European Union or Northern Ireland.

These new procedures require careful planning and compliance with strict timelines. Any deviation can result in quarantine or refusal of entry for the pet.

The tapeworm treatment rule specifically targets dogs travelling to Ireland and a few other EU countries such as Finland, Malta, and Norway. These countries require that dogs undergo veterinary treatment for tapeworm no less than twenty-four hours and no more than five days before arrival. The treatment must be properly documented in either the Animal Health Certificate or the pet passport.

This regulation aims to prevent the spread of the parasite and safeguard animal health across national borders. It represents an additional layer of regulation that travellers with dogs were not accustomed to before Brexit, especially when travelling to Ireland, which has traditionally maintained a close relationship with Great Britain.

When entering an EU country with a pet, travellers must arrive at a designated point of entry where customs officials can inspect the documentation. All transport operators flying or sailing to the EU from the UK are considered recognised points of entry, which simplifies matters slightly.

At the border, officials will stamp and verify the animal’s paperwork, including the microchip details, vaccination certificates, and tapeworm treatment records. Failure to present valid documents may lead to delays, refusal of entry, or the requirement to quarantine the animal.

Returning to the UK with a pet requires the same level of scrutiny as the outbound journey. Owners must present valid health certificates confirming that the pet meets all UK entry requirements, including microchipping, rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment for dogs.

Interestingly, the rules for travel from the EU and Northern Ireland into Great Britain remain relatively straightforward. Many pet owners find it easier to register their pets’ residency and national status within the EU due to less restrictive travel rules in that direction. This arrangement benefits individuals who spend time living or working on both sides of the Irish Sea or mainland Europe.

Travel between Northern Ireland and Great Britain represents a unique case. Pets moving from Northern Ireland to Great Britain continue to enjoy relatively simple transit because Northern Ireland’s status under the Northern Ireland Protocol keeps many EU regulations in place.

However, pets travelling in the opposite direction—from Great Britain to Northern Ireland—must comply with the more rigorous EU health and safety standards, including rabies vaccinations and tapeworm treatments. This has caused some frustration for pet owners in Great Britain who previously viewed the journey to Northern Ireland as uncomplicated.

Following recent discussions aimed at improving UK-EU relations post-Brexit, there is optimism about easing the stringent pet travel regulations. The “Brexit reset” talks focus on simplifying travel protocols, reducing paperwork, and increasing the validity period of health certificates.

Many pet owners and animal welfare organisations advocate for reforms that would restore some of the flexibility lost after Brexit. The goal is to allow easier travel for families and individuals without compromising the health and safety of animals or the biosecurity of participating countries.

Until such changes are officially enacted, travellers with pets from the UK must remain vigilant about compliance with current regulations to avoid disruptions or penalties.

Travellers from England, Scotland, Ireland, and the UK face complex new pet travel rules post-Brexit due to health and safety regulations. Ongoing talks aim to simplify these requirements and offer relief soon.

Brexit has complicated pet travel for travellers from the UK, imposing new requirements such as microchipping, rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment, and costly animal health certificates for each EU trip. Northern Ireland’s unique status adds complexity, especially for pets travelling from Great Britain. Despite these challenges, ongoing negotiations between the UK and EU aim to simplify pet travel rules, providing hope for a more seamless future.