EU Pet Passports no longer valid for UK residents

[Jo001]

That seems like nothing has changed . But Jo's information appears contradictory .
Has there been any recent change in legislation?

Yes. As of 22nd April 2026, it is definite that in order to GET a new European Pet Passport, people need to have residency (not just a second home) in the EU.

But, there's a lot of debate about whether people who ALREADY HAVE a European Pet Passport can continue to use them or not. I'm not in a position to interpret the finer details of the legal argument, there's a lot of contradictory information for sure but I think it looks increasingly likely that holders of EU pet passports will have to stop using them.

And that is ridiculous because:

(a) we don't have rabies in the UK*
(b) pets with passports are vaccinated against rabies, and the passport carries the evidence their vaccinations are up to date
(c) the EU pet passport can be used to return to the UK from the EU, just not to go there from the UK
(d) the onus on checking whether somebody has legal residency will now fall on the vet issuing the new passport - are they qualified to do that, and do they even know?

It's a mess.

*technically, we do in bats, but not the kind that affects pets.

 

[alcam]

Yes. As of 22nd April 2026, it is definite that in order to GET a new European Pet Passport, people need to have residency (not just a second home) in the EU.

But, there's a lot of debate about whether people who ALREADY HAVE a European Pet Passport can continue to use them or not. I'm not in a position to interpret the finer details of the legal argument, there's a lot of contradictory information for sure but I think it looks increasingly likely that holders of EU pet passports will have to stop using them.

And that is ridiculous because:

(a) we don't have rabies in the UK*
(b) pets with passports are vaccinated against rabies, and the passport carries the evidence their vaccinations are up to date
(c) the EU pet passport can be used to return to the UK from the EU, just not to go there from the UK
(d) the onus on checking whether somebody has legal residency will now fall on the vet issuing the new passport - are they qualified to do that, and do they even know?

It's a mess.

*technically, we do in bats, but not the kind that affects pets.

I'm wondering who can give a definitive answer ?
Ferry companies etc should know but they are not legislators . Though it would be in their interests to get this clarified .
I use DFDS almost always. I will email them and would encourage all of us to do likewise.
Within the confines of ****** things were kind of working who (and why) decided to change things ?

 

[Jo001]

I'm wondering who can give a definitive answer ?
Ferry companies etc should know but they are not legislators . Though it would be in their interests to get this clarified .
I use DFDS almost always. I will email them and would encourage all of us to do likewise.
Within the confines of ****** things were kind of working who (and why) decided to change things ?

Some ferry companies seem to be still accepting EU Pet Passports, others aren't.

It's too late now, but if everyone hadn't drawn so much attention to this, I suspect they might have been able to use the unclear information to allow people to keep using them; I think it's because everyone has started debating it that they have had to look at it more closely. But of course I totally understand why people wanted to get clarity.


But that ship has literally sailed now.

 

[alcam]

Some ferry companies seem to be still accepting EU Pet Passports, others aren't.

It's too late now, but if everyone hadn't drawn so much attention to this, I suspect they might have been able to use the unclear information to allow people to keep using them; I think it's because everyone has started debating it that they have had to look at it more closely. But of course I totally understand why people wanted to understand.


But that ship has literally sailed now.

Total ferkin mess .
Was thinking of a short trip in June. Suppose I'm hoping this is all clarified before then

 

[Drover]

The fault is with defra/apha, no one else..
The EU were just following the ruling made many years ago. They can now only issue pet passports to residents of their country.

The UK government has a lot to answer for....though they don't care.

Our 1 and only dog is registered with the Spanish authorities and comes with a legalised document...so we will see what happens when or if we get to a port or the tunnel .

 

[SimonM]

When do you travel @SimonM ?

Nothing ‘planned’ yet as we have to wait until my wife feels well enough to travel, other than the current AHC situation it could have almost been “let’s go on Monday” . Now I have to focus and plan the date.

 

[SimonM]

I have just got off the phone to LeShittle and Defra. I asked would I be turned away if I just turned up at the Chunnel and she didn’t know “refer to our latest website details” hopeless.

I then called Defra, and the response was immediately you must have AHC. I said this is crazy we travel to and fro to our French home, and now this “Why?”

“ It has been forced on us by the European Commission “.

Bureaucracy once more rules.

 

[Canalsman]

I have used this font to make clearer what is my text, and what I've copy/pasted.

It is looking more like passports in issue won't be valid.

It's complicated, because on the face of it, it looks like they are - Article 31(b)(ii).

BUT dig deeper and it seems like UK is NOT one of the countries listed in Annex 3. Which is odd, given that (I think) this is all about B****t.

Further, here are two screenshots taken right now from the DEFRA website.

Screenshot 1

And, screenshot 2 - taken literally seconds apart.

And there's been NOTHING I have seen from the EU. Everything has been UK agencies' interpretation of it. Which begs the question, if we had all kept our heads down and our powder dry, maybe we wouldn't be in this position. Although that was never going to happen, obviously worried people had to ask the questions. Hindsight ...

I dont know whether it's worth risking but passports have spaces for changing your address - I guess we could all write @trevskoda's address in one of the free boxes. Who's going to check?

Please can you screenshot Annex 3?

 

[Canalsman]

Regarding the change of address option my partner's dog travels on a Macedonia pet passport which has the original owner's address entered. It has not been changed.

I cannot imagine that the dog has to travel with its owner in order to comply.

I'm minded to change my dog's Belgian pet passport to reflect a change of ownership to a friend who lives in France.

 

[Jo001]

Please can you screenshot Annex 3?

I believe it is this -

And the list of territories and third countries is this -

 

[alcam]

Regarding the change of address option my partner's dog travels on a Macedonia pet passport which has the original owner's address entered. It has not been changed.

I cannot imagine that the dog has to travel with its owner in order to comply.

I'm minded to change my dog's Belgian pet passport to reflect a change of ownership to a friend who lives in France.

Why not ?

I have just got off the phone to LeShittle and Defra. I asked would I be turned away if I just turned up at the Chunnel and she didn’t know “refer to our latest website details” hopeless.

I then called Defra, and the response was immediately you must have AHC. I said this is crazy we travel to and fro to our French home, and now this “Why?”

“ It has been forced on us by the European Commission “.

Bureaucracy once more rules.

Not sure I believe that

 

[Jo001]

Regarding the change of address option my partner's dog travels on a Macedonia pet passport which has the original owner's address entered. It has not been changed.

I cannot imagine that the dog has to travel with its owner in order to comply.

I'm minded to change my dog's Belgian pet passport to reflect a change of ownership to a friend who lives in France.

I thought the pet's owner had to travel with the animal, or to at least arrive at the destination within five days (although how THAT would be monitored would be interesting).

 

[Canalsman]

I thought the pet's owner had to travel with the animal, or to at least arrive at the destination within five days (although how THAT would be monitored would be interesting).

Why?

The passport is associated with the dog. It is the dog's veterinary status that is checked for compliance. There doesn't appear to be any requirement for the dog to travel with a specific individual. It seems there might be a requirement for its owner's residency to be within the EU.

 

[Canalsman]

Why not ?

Not sure I believe that

Absolutely not.

How can it be that the UK government is ruling on a matter contained within EU legislation?

Wrong, wrong, wrong!

 

[Jo001]

Why

Honestly, I'm not sure why - it's just one of those things I think I have read somewhere.

 

[Canalsman]

I believe it is this -

View attachment 151454

And the list of territories and third countries is this -

View attachment 151455

And it is marked as 'no longer in force' so presumably is irrelevant.

 

[Jo001]

And it is marked as 'no longer in force' so presumably is irrelevant.

That's the legislation that changed last Tuesday - which takes us neatly round in a circle to Article 31(b)(ii).

My head is hurting from it all now.

 

[Canalsman]

Deleted

 

[alcam]

Went on DFDS website and then phoned them to confirm .
We are indeed SCREWED

 

[alcam]

I have emailed APHA to ask why this has happened
[exports@apha.gov.uk]
Why don't we all do this ? Get your neighbours and family members to do it too
Cower of shunts