Planning a holiday or move abroad with your pet? Wondering how to bring your dog or cat with you — and what’s involved? What is a Pet Passport? Whether it’s a short break in the EU or relocating to another country, you’ll need to follow the right steps to ensure your pet travels safely and legally.
Here’s everything you need to know about pet passport, travel requirements, and how we at Skeldale Veterinary Clinic can help make the process simple and stress-free.
Pet Passports and EU Travel Requirements
Thanks to EU legislation, it’s now possible to travel with pets throughout most of Europe using a pet passport. This applies to dogs, cats, and ferrets, and covers trips to EU countries, Northern Ireland, and Norway, as well as entry into the EU from non-EU countries.
To obtain a pet passport, your pet must:
- Be microchipped (or have a valid ear tattoo applied before July 2011)
- Be vaccinated against rabies within the required timeframe
- Have tapeworm treatment (if entering tapeworm-free areas like Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway or NI)
- Be examined and certified by an authorised veterinarian
The passport includes all relevant information about your pet — identity, rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatments — and your contact details. It remains valid for life, as long as vaccinations and treatments are kept up to date.
At Skeldale Vet Clinic, we handle the full check-up with both you and your pet to ensure everything is in order for your trip abroad. Ready to travel worry-free?
What About Non-EU Travel?
If you’re travelling into the EU from outside, or to a non-EU country, your pet may need an EU Animal Health Certificate, issued by a certified vet within 10 days of travel. Requirements may vary, especially for long-distance travel (e.g. to the US or Canada), and some countries have strict entry laws.
Important: Rules differ for commercial travel (e.g., racing greyhounds or rehoming animals). These cases require different paperwork.
Post-Brexit: Travelling from Great Britain
Since January 2021, GB-issued pet passports are no longer valid for travel into the EU or Northern Ireland. If you’re based in Great Britain, you’ll need to meet different entry requirements, depending on your destination.
To avoid issues, we recommend contacting the Department of Agriculture of the country you’re visiting, or speak with us directly — we’ll help clarify the process for you.
Plan Early, Travel Easy
At Skeldale Veterinary Clinic, we have extensive experience helping pet owners navigate the travel process. From microchipping and rabies vaccinations to completing all the required checks and certifications, we guide you step-by-step to ensure nothing is missed before you apply for your pet passport.
🗓️ Planning a trip with your pet? Don’t wait — some requirements must be started at least three months in advance.
Let’s make sure both you and your pet have a smooth and enjoyable journey!
Dr. Conal Finnerty MRCVS has been a regular contributor to The Mayo News since 2020.
This blog post is based on his original article, ‘Getting a pet passport’, published in The Mayo News, and has been carefully adapted for the Skeldale Veterinary Clinic website.
