Brits now face paying hundreds for a document to take their pets into the EU (Image: Getty)
British pet owners must now fork out hundreds of pounds for a document required to take their animals into the European Union after the bloc closed a key passport loophole. From Wednesday (April 22), Brits must obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every visit they make to the EU with their furry friends.
Pet passports issued to UK residents who mainly reside in a non-EU country will no longer be valid, meaning that those who primarily live in Britain will not be able to bring their dogs, cats and ferrets abroad without an AHC. “If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, from April 22 you cannot use a pet passport (even if it was issued in the EU),” reads a message on the UK Government website.
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Previously many UK pet owners obtained EU-issued passports, but this loophole has been closed (Image: Getty)
Previously, many UK pet owners obtained EU-issued passports (often from France or Ireland) to avoid the cost of an AHC for every trip. However, the EU has now implemented Regulation 2016/429 (the “Animal Health Law”), which introduces strict requirements.
EU Pet Passports are now strictly tied to residency. If your primary residence is in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use an EU passport to enter the EU, even if you already have one. Each AHC is single-use and valid only if granted less than 10 days before the day of travel.
“Post-Brexit pet travel requirements from Great Britain to the EU have required an Animal Health Certificate issued by a vet, but we’ve heard reports of some UK resident owners travelling with pet passports issued in the EU. These new rules will close that loophole,” said Gwen Rees, junior vice-president of the British Veterinary Association (BVA).
“The change is a nightmare as now we have to get each dog an AHC every time we travel to Europe – it used to be so simple,” Julie Dawson, 52, a Durham resident with a property in Spain and three dogs, who have travelled into the EU on their pet passports for years, told The Olive Press.
Julie Dawson has been quoted £325 per certificate per pet by their usual vet (Image: Getty)
It is estimated that thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of people in the UK have obtained EU pet passports in the same way. However, these are now all invalid, and owners must take additional steps to get their pets abroad.
The price of this document varies depending on where it is acquired. Ms Dawson has been quoted £325 per certificate per pet by their usual vet, but has also, after scouring the internet, discovered a company which will provide all three animals with their AHCs for a total of £180. Having owned a property in Marbella for eight years, the pet owner is frustrated by the change and does “not understand” why it has happened.
She expects the coming days to be chaos, with “people not knowing” and getting stuck at ferry ports or the Eurostar tunnel without an AHC.
Those currently in the EU with their pets who travelled with pet passports can return to the UK with these passports, but will, in future, require an AHC.
