EU Pet Passports no longer valid for UK residents

[Jo001]

Your screenshot, I've just noticed, is Annex II not Annex III...

Annex III part 3 is just a copy of what the passport looks like, but refers to it being issued in one of the countries in the list. And of course the UK is not one of those.

 

[Canalsman]

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

Found it, you are correct.

 

[Jo001]

Like I said though, it would be very interesting to see how they would police that - especially if the absent owner wasn't going to their actual residence, but instead going to join the pet and the person that it's travelling with in a motorhome, touring.

 

[Canalsman]

Like I said though, it would be very interesting to see how they would police that - especially if the absent owner wasn't going to their actual residence, but instead going to join the pet and the person that it's travelling with in a motorhome, touring.

The declaration has to accompany the passport. So it relies on the check-in operative to realise that the traveller is not the same person as the dog owner.

Unlikely to happen...

 

[Jo001]

The declaration has to accompany the passport. So it relies on the check-in operative to realise that the traveller is not the same person as the dog owner.

Unlikely to happen...

And even if they did realise the traveller isn't the owner, they aren't going to have the resources to check whether the owner arrives within five days.

 

[Peisinoe]

I'm pretty sure I've seen a thread about this, which I dismissed as scare-mongering. Unfortunately I now have information from a trusted source, the rescue we adopted Sticky from. They regularly bring in dogs from Spain.

View attachment 151238

Rachel from accounts has found another way to fleas us. They don't want us to travel & have animals

 

[Drover]

A few uk people have just gone on the shuttle on a eu pet passport with no problem..according to faceache
Plus this from Brittany ferries

 

[Sharon the Cat]

A few uk people have just gone on the shuttle on a eu pet passport with no problem..according to faceache
Plus this from Brittany ferries

I read somewhere that they are going easy on people for about a month and then they will enforce it.

 

[Jo001]

Another development. Someone challenged APHA and their reply was this.

Good afternoon

Thank you for raising your concerns regarding communications about EU Pet Passports and the changes referenced as coming into effect from 22 April 2026.
We appreciate that changes affecting pet travel can be worrying for owners and may lead to uncertainty or additional costs. Ensuring animal welfare and clear, reliable guidance for travellers is important to us.

Your comments regarding the lack of clarity, notice and coordination have been noted.

Updates and clarifications will continue to be published via official guidance channels to ensure travellers, veterinarians and transport operators have access to the most up to date information

The European Commission have confirmed that if you are not a resident of an EU member state or Northern Ireland, your pet passport may not be accepted as a valid document for pet travel into the EU on or after the 22nd of April, even if it was issued before this date.

Pet owners should check in the country of destination. It should be noted that the requirements for entering another country with pets are determined by the competent authorities in the country of destination. The UK is not able to set or alter EU entry requirements.

To guarantee smooth travel, owners resident in Great Britain will need an Animal Health Certificate for their dog, cat or ferret(s) if they’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country.

Thank you for taking the time to highlight these concerns.

If you have any further questions, please email exports@apha.gov.uk

Kind Regards

Rosemary Robson



If you look at the French import authority (see bit I bolded above) you get this - https://www.douane.gouv.fr/fiche/tr...sGkRTpmSXSjSthH835_aem_GQ8WKFeHsZJpl7AUzzLofg

It says, amongst other things, ' The animal’s EU passport can replace the health certificate, when coming back to the EU.'

 

[SimonM]

My sister is going towards the end of next week. She has 3 dogs, all rescues, and each of them has their France house address in the EU pet passports.
She will be getting an AHC for each of them - but I want her to go in with EUpp in hand and see what is said.


I asked my local vet if they would honour my EUpp rabies information when compiling the AHC it expires 28th August - they have said yes, but costs £208. Dick Turpin etc……. I’m going to see if my sister’s vet (£148) will oblige me.

 

[SimonM]

What I find to be of no sense is where APHA say “your pet passport may not be accepted as a valid document “


As we use the tunnel then it is France we are entering - does this mean France will not accept their own EUpp? What if the EUpp is from a neighbouring country? Like we have a Belgian one.

Crazy, crazy, crazy all of them!

 

[Jo001]

And from the website of Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté Alimentaire -

 

[SimonM]

Thank you, that makes sense, and supports other ‘beliefs’ that Defra or Apha whatever they want to call themselves are acting at variance to EU legislation.

 

[Jo001]

Thank you, that makes sense, and supports other ‘beliefs’ that Defra or Apha whatever they want to call themselves are acting at variance to EU legislation.

Hopefully, but please don't rely on it as a definitive ruling. I'm not a lawyer.

 

[SimonM]

Hopefully, but please don't rely on it as a definitive ruling. I'm not a lawyer.

Nope, but sister’s other half is And he’s top notch and loves to argue. He and a barrister went head to head with the unscrupulous dealership I dealt with 2 1/2 years ago, and made them give me all my money back, and their significant fees (not really, mates rates) and a substantial ‘compensation for my distress’. Amazing that dealer is still unable to sell the Motorhome

 

[Jo001]

Nope, but sister’s other half is And he’s top notch and loves to argue. He and a barrister went head to head with the unscrupulous dealership I dealt with 2 1/2 years ago, and made them give me all my money back, and their significant fees (not really, mates rates) and a substantial ‘compensation for my distress’. Amazing that dealer is still unable to sell the Motorhome

Can he be persuaded to wade in here? For eternal gratitude rather than mates' rates though ...

 

[alcam]

I'm still not sure where we stand

 

[Jo001]

I'm still not sure where we stand

I don't think anyone is really sure.

 

[ArDachaidh]

The definitive legislation is EU. Doesn’t matter what APHA or DEFRA say. The EU say you must have an AHC to enter the EU if you do not reside permanently in the EU. This applies to UK, USA, Australia etc, and includes former EU residents who now live permanently in the UK.

BF says that they will allow an EU PP for boarding but this is a temporary situation which may not last. And we don’t know how Border Control will implement the legislation.

From what I read elsewhere people are getting AHC’s to avoid any problems. You can get a “click and collect” one for £100.

 

[Jo001]

The EU say you must have an AHC to enter the EU

See post #72?