Pet Passports After Brexit

Pet Passports After Brexit Transition Ends

As a European (EU) members you previously could take your pet dog or cat from the UK to Europe and back again without them having to be quarantined. Certain conditions did apply such as pet passports and having them microchipped.

This will still be the case for the rest of 2020 during the UK’s transition period. However from January 1st 2021, you may no longer be able to use your pet passports, and instead a different process may need to be followed. Under the potential new regulations, you may need to start a passport process at least four months prior to travel to ensure your pet is able to go the the EU on January 1st 2021. Rabies vaccinations would need to start by the 31st August 2020.

Pet passports issued by EU countries allow pet travel within the EU. The UK may be allowed to remain within the system, however an agreement would need to be made in order for this to happen. If this did happen it would be classed as a Part 1 listed country.

Part 1 Listed Countries

This is similar to our current situation, the only exception is you would need to apply for a UK pet passport instead of an EU one. Passports currently in use would continue to be valid. No additional requirements would be necessary. The UK may change its requirements for re-entry to the UK, in particular it may re-introduce tick controls which were lost in 2012.

Pets need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, wait for 21 days before travel. Dogs must also be treated for tapeworm on re-entry to the UK

Part 2 Listed Countries

If the UK ends up being a Part 2 listed country then in addition to this you will need to visit an Official Veterinarian [OV] no more than 10 days prior to travel to ensure you get a animal health certificate [AHC]. This is to confirm that your pet has been microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The AHC allows travel in the EU for up to 4 months but if the pet returns to the UK and then travels back to the EU, it would need a new AHC each time.

Unlisted Country

In the event that the UK ends up being an unlisted country, in addition to the requirements above, you will have to have rabies antibody test performed on a blood sample from your pet, taken no less than 30 days after its last rabies injection. This will be sent to an EU approved laboratory. Pet owners will need to wait three months from the date in which the successful blood sample was taken prior to travel. The test results will go onto your pet’s AHC.

UK Citizens Living In The EU

For pet owners that live in the EU who have a pet passport issued by an EU member. You can use it to bring your pet into the UK after 2020, even if the UK does end up being one of the unlisted countries. Pet owners will be able to return to the EU with the EU-issued pet passport if their pet has had a successful rabies antibody blood test taken 30 days after the rabies one. If the UK ends up in the unlisted category and the blood sample has been taken in the UK. Pet owners would need to wait for 3 months from the date of the test prior to travelling back to the EU.

THE ABOVE IS A SET OF SCENARIOS WHICH ARE DEPENDENT ON THE OUTCOME OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE EU. UNTIL THOSE NEGOTIATIONS ARE FINALISED, WE CAN ONLY GUESS AT WHICH OF THE THREE SCENARIOS WILL APPLY IN 2021.

IF YOU HAVE TO TRAVEL WITH YOUR PET IN EARLY 2021 THE ADVICE IS GET A PASSPORT WITH A CONFIRMATORY RABIES BLOOD TEST. [MICROCHIP, RABIES VACCINATION, BLOOD TEST >30 DAYS LATER, WAIT 3MONTHS].