Taking your dog or cat abroad: UK rules explained
Updated 19 September 2026 · 4 min read
Taking your pet on holiday, or moving abroad with them, starts weeks before you travel. Here's what the rules ask for when you take a dog or cat from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales) to an EU country or to Northern Ireland, in the order you need to do it. The rules can change, so check GOV.UK before you book.
Start early: the order matters
- Microchip. Your pet must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If they're already chipped, check the details are up to date.
- Rabies vaccination. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old, and you must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination before you travel. Keep the boosters up to date and there's no wait next time.
- Animal health certificate. Your vet issues it, signed by an official vet, within 10 days before you travel. You need a new one for every trip, and one certificate can cover up to 5 pets.
- Tapeworm treatment, for dogs going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland: a vet must give it between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive.
How long the animal health certificate lasts
- 10 days, to enter the EU
- Then 6 months, for travel between EU countries
- And 6 months, to come back into Great Britain
What about pet passports?
A pet passport issued in Great Britain can't be used to take your pet into the EU. You need an animal health certificate for each trip instead.
Travelling to Northern Ireland
From Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you need a Northern Ireland pet travel document. It's free, you apply online, and it lasts for as long as you own the pet. Your pet must be microchipped, but with the document they don't need a rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment.
Coming back to Great Britain
Dogs need a tapeworm treatment from a vet before the journey back to Great Britain from most countries, given between 24 hours and 5 days before you arrive. You don't need one coming back from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland. Book the vet abroad before you go, and check the return rules on GOV.UK.
ID while you're away
A pet that gets lost somewhere new doesn't know the way back to where you're staying. Keep their collar and tag on, and if your number is engraved, write it as +44 7700 900123 so it can be called from abroad.
A QR tag opens your pet's profile on any phone, in any country, with no app. You can put a local contact in as the emergency contact while you're away, and turn on lost mode if they go missing.
Staying in the UK instead? Our UK dog holiday checklist covers packing, car travel and beaches.
Quick answers
Can I still use a pet passport to take my dog to France?+
Not one issued in Great Britain. For each trip to an EU country, your vet issues an animal health certificate within 10 days before you travel.
How long before travelling does my dog need a rabies jab?+
At least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination, and your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated.
How long is an animal health certificate valid?+
10 days to enter the EU, then 6 months for travel within the EU, and 6 months to come back into Great Britain.
Do I need anything to take my dog to Northern Ireland?+
Yes: a free Northern Ireland pet travel document, which you apply for online, and a microchip. With the document, no rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment is needed.
Sources
- Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad (GOV.UK)
- Getting an animal health certificate (GOV.UK)
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs (GOV.UK)
- Travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet (GOV.UK)
This guide is general information, not legal or veterinary advice. How we write our guides