Pet owners planning to travel to Europe this summer are being urged by the RSPCA to familiarise themselves with new pet travel rules. The charity warns that changes mean some previously issued documents, such as EU pet passports, may no longer be valid for travel from Great Britain to the continent. Instead, an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is now required for each trip.

The RSPCA highlights that whilst there are no changes to the requirements for bringing pets back into Great Britain, valid EU pet passports can still be used for entry. David Bowles, RSPCA Head of Public Affairs, emphasised the importance of checking the latest requirements to avoid holiday disruptions. “We know many families will be looking forward to a summer getaway with their pets, and we don’t want anyone to face having their holidays cancelled when they reach the border, because they don’t have the right documents,” he said.

AHCs, which are single-use for EU entry, can now be used for onward travel within the EU and for returning to Great Britain for up to six months, provided rabies vaccinations remain valid. Additional requirements apply if pets travel without their owners, including written permission for the accompanying person and travel within five days of the owner. A maximum of five pets per private vehicle is allowed for non-commercial travel into the EU.

The RSPCA advises checking specific entry requirements for each EU member state, as rules may vary. Further guidance is available on the RSPCA website

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