Paws-ports return for Brits: Essential travel checklist

Pet owners could soon find it easier to travel with their animals across Europe following a major post-Brexit breakthrough.

The UK and EU have agreed a new deal that relaxes restrictions around pet travel, potentially scrapping many hurdles for pet lovers introduced by Brexit* – great news for the 16.2 million UK households with a pet.**

Now experts from Quotezone.co.uk, a leading pet insurance comparison site, have issued a reminder of all the things pet owners need to take into consideration before travelling with their furry friend this summer, to help owners understand the new rules. 

In an attempt to make travelling with four-legged friends easier, the UK and EU have agreed to reinstate pet passports, in order to simplify the process of pets moving across borders.

The rules will apply to any dog, cat or ferret travelling within the EU and will help Britons save funds by ending the need for single-use Animal Health Certificates (AHC).  Each time holidaymakers want to travel with their pet, an AHC can range from £100 – £300 a time*** – with 70% of owners saying they take their dogs on holiday with them, this could lead to quite a considerable saving.**** 

Only issue is, nobody knows when this easing of restrictions is likely to be up and running.

Helen Rolph, pet insurance expert at Quotezone.co.uk said: “Leaving pets behind while on holiday is often stressful and expensive.  This streamlining of traveling restrictions for pet lovers will be welcome news for the millions of households with a pet throughout the UK, giving them more options and a cheaper, easier way to travel with all the family.

“The new Pet Passports agreed by both the UK and EU is an important step towards making European travel more accessible and straightforward. Though dates have not yet been detailed, we expect the changes to take effect in 2025.

“To help pet lovers prepare for their travels, we take a look at all the essential steps for holidaying with your four-legged friends.

“Nearly three quarters of dog owners say they take their pup with them on holiday, so it’s important they do their travel research, book as far in advance as possible and tick off all regulations ahead of their travels.

“Having valid pet insurance ahead of a big trip is also important and could save travellers hundreds of pounds in vet bills if the pet were to suffer an accident or illness while abroad.  Some UK insurance companies offer travel insurance for pets as part of a standard pet insurance policy, while others offer it as an add-on, so it’s crucial to get in touch with your policy provider and check whether travel coverage is included and for how long.”

Essential Pre Holiday Checklist for Pet Travel:

1.Choose a pet friendly airline

Some airlines, like Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair will not generally allow pets on board, with the exception for assistance dogs on certain routes.  When you have found a pet-friendly airline for your trip, here are some important factors to consider when booking a flight, including the fact that pets in the cabin must be transported in approved carriers that meet regulations. Also, pet owners should make sure to book their tickets way in advance, as space is limited.

2.Weight limits

Many airlines have weight restrictions for pets travelling in the cabin, which could impact your pet’s ability to travel. Make sure to carefully check requirements when booking your travel to ensure there will be no hiccups at the airport.

3.Pet insurance

Ahead of travelling, check your current insurance policy to make sure you are covered abroad. If not, you may need to take out an additional policy or pay for an add on. We urge all travellers to ensure they have pet insurance, to protect from unseen issues and expensive vets bills abroad.

4.Animal Health Certificate / Pet Passport

The Animal Health Certificate (AHC) was introduced after Brexit in 2021, it is a single-use document which requires pet owners to visit an official veterinarian to provide proof of microchipping and vaccination history, costs of which can vary. The switch over to Pet Passports is a positive move for pet owners which should make travelling easier and less expensive. 

5.Rabies vaccination

Pet owners must vaccinate their pets against rabies at least three weeks before travelling. If your dog, cat or ferret has previously been vaccinated, you should check with your vet to make sure the vaccination is up to date. If not, you may need to get a booster for your pet.

6.Tapeworm treatment

To travel within the EU, it is essential pets have a tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours ahead of their trip. This treatment must be recorded in their AHC or Pet Passport.

Pet insurance could also cover loss or theft of the pet abroad, loss of travel documents and even help with quarantine costs.  Quotezone can help pet owners compare and find savings on all sorts of pet insurance products such as older dog, puppy and multi-pet insurance. 

References:

*https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy8nnxrzr07o

**https://www.veterinary-practice.com/2023/annual-pet-population-data#:~:text=About%2057%20percent%20of%20UK,(62%20percent)%20in%202022.

***https://www.theguardian.com/money/2022/may/21/pet-travel-brexit-eu-pet-passports-health-certificates

****https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/10/to-me-its-a-fad-a-fashion-rising-demand-for-dog-friendly-uk-holidays-divides-opinion#:~:text=About%2070%%20of%20owners%20take%20their%20dog,on%20holiday%2C%20according%20to%20the%20Dogs%20Trust.&text=Martin%20Cox%2C%20vice%2Dpresident%20of%20the%20British%20Holiday,with%20dogs%2C%20up%20from%2031%%20in%202022.