Pet Passport Travel Rules – Thursday 23rd April 2026

Pet Passport Travel Rules

There has been a nonsensical change in the Pet Passport travel rules in the UK. At the moment, some of what is being said is very unclear. The statement that has been issued clamps down on Pet Passports which are issued to dogs whose owners are not resident in the countries still eligible to issue them. What has been happening is that UK owners have been taking their dogs to vets in the EU who are prepared to issue passports without proof of residency. Now, if you take the whole thing literally, the passport is for the dog and dogs are not regarded as ‘resident’ in the same way that humans are. We can live wherever the wind takes us. Or in this case the passport.

However, when we travel there is no requirement for our humans to prove their residency, so how is it enforced?

More confusing

Even more confusing is the situation of dogs such as myself. I was born in Switzerland. I lived in Switzerland for the first seventeen weeks of my life. When I had a renewal of my passport Dad was still living and working in Switzerland. Is my passport still valid? It was legitimately issued at every stage. It is clearer for Pebbles as hers was issued while Mum was on holiday in Belgium. Pebbles was born in the UK and at the time of her passport issue, Mum hadn’t lived in Belgium for seventeen years.

Owners could risk seeing if their pet’s passport is accepted when they set off on holiday, but there is the risk that it isn’t. Then what do they do?

Quite honestly the whole situation is a mess and is very unfair. For one thing, there are vets who are quoting prices of hundreds of pounds just to complete the required Animal Health Certificate for travel. It is an appalling abuse of our rights.

There is talk of the reintroduction of Pet Passports and some changes may happen this summer, but in the meantime it leaves pets and their owners in a very difficult position.

Love and licks

Wilma

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