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British pet owners planning to travel to the European Union with their animals have encountered unexpected financial burdens following recent changes to travel documentation requirements. As of Wednesday, the longstanding EU pet passport scheme no longer applies to UK citizens. Instead, pet owners must obtain an animal health certificate prior to each trip, a process that comes with additional costs every time they travel.
Several pet owners expressed frustration to the BBC, highlighting the steep expenses involved in securing the new certificates, as well as poor communication about the changes. Some reported being caught off guard by the new regulations only days before their planned holidays, with at least one owner forced to cancel a trip despite having already made arrangements and bookings. The Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) advises those intending to travel with pets to the EU to check the latest guidance on the government’s website and to verify entry requirements for their destination country.
Official guidance from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) clarifies that EU pet passports are now exclusively for residents of EU member states. Those issued to UK residents prior to the new rules are no longer valid for travel to EU countries. This shift also affects assistance dogs. Guide Dogs for the Blind emphasized to the BBC the importance of the UK rejoining the pet passport scheme, noting that “the cost and complexity of obtaining an Animal Health Certificate for every journey has prevented many guide dog owners from being able to work, attend important events and travel independently.”
Among those impacted, Jane Keles had to cancel a planned visit to her mobile home in northern France with her husband and two Dachshunds after learning only shortly before departure that their EU pet passports were invalid. Faced with additional costs of up to £500 to rearrange travel using the new documentation, she is reconsidering the practicality of keeping their French property. Similarly, Mike Walton, who holds an Irish passport but resides in the UK, finds himself challenged by the new system. Despite his dogs having EU pet passports with comprehensive health information, his local vet does not provide animal health certificates, complicating compliance with the updated rules. He has been quoted prices approaching £300 for certificates for his two Bichon Frisé dogs, alongside mandatory rabies vaccinations.
The APHA has reiterated that while new rules have come into force, traveling with pets to the EU remains possible, provided the proper certificates are obtained in advance. Pet owners are encouraged to secure animal health certificates to avoid delays at border crossings and ensure smooth travel to their EU destinations
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