New EU pet-travel rules kick in: UK residents can no longer use EU-issued pet passports for trips to France

From 22 April 2026, British dog, cat and ferret owners travelling from Great Britain to France (and the wider EU) must secure an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every trip; EU-issued pet passports are no longer accepted for UK residents. The change, confirmed in Commission guidance last autumn and now in force, was highlighted in FrenchEntrée’s news digest on 21 April. The policy closes a post-Brexit loophole whereby some UK residents obtained or retained EU pet passports – often through second homes – to avoid the £150-plus vet visit required for each AHC. An AHC must be issued within ten days of travel and is valid for a single outbound trip plus onward movements within the EU for up to four months. Ferry operators and Eurotunnel report that check-in agents have been briefed to refuse boarding to passengers presenting EU pet passports with a UK address. Airlines flying pets in the cabin or hold will apply the same rule. For mobility managers relocating staff with pets, the administrative burden and cost rise sharply: families who make multiple home-leave journeys each year will need repeated vet appointments and rabies-titer documentation. Companies should update assignment policies to reimburse additional veterinary fees or consider pet-relocation specialists that can bundle AHC appointments with microchip validation and tapeworm treatment where required. Travellers returning to Great Britain face unchanged UK rules (a pet passport or AHC is already mandatory). However, failure to comply on departure can mean refused boarding in France, quarantine costs or hefty on-the-spot vet bills at Calais or the Channel ports.