British travelers have been severely affected by
Brexit
—from strict limitations on how long one can stay to convoluted bureaucratic processes—
European Union
Passengers flying with Ryanair faced being stuck overnight in Portugal when their UK-bound aircraft encountered mechanical issues, and regulations prevented an EU airplane from transporting them back.
However, fortunately, human British travelers don’t need a rabies vaccination or treatment for tapeworm before they can visit Ireland. These are some of the unpleasant restrictions imposed on our four-legged friends when visiting the country.
Boris Johnson
’s government signed up.
As part of the “Brexit reset” between the European Union and the United Kingdom,
there is optimism that the regulations might be relaxed
Here are the main queries and responses for pet proprietors.
How were things structured prior to Brexit?
For numerous years, British travelers had been capable of taking a
cat
A dog or even a ferret can travel internationally with relatively few formalities, typically getting checked in and out regularly. However, pet passports for UK residents became invalid at the beginning of 2021.
Before Brexit, there were never any limitations on moving animals between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Currently, it remains effortless to transport a pet from Northern Ireland to Great Britain; however, regulations do apply when going in the reverse direction because of the distinct circumstances established alongside what has been termed as an “Irish Sea border,” which was agreed upon by the Johnson administration.
What are the current regulations for bringing a pet into the European Union?
You’re required to have your pet microchipped. If the animal is at least 12 weeks old, it also needs to receive a rabies vaccination.
There needs to be at least three weeks between receiving the rabies vaccination and obtaining an EU animal health certificate (AHC) from a veterinarian for your pet.
The animal needs to have an AHC verifying both the microchipping and vaccinations for every trip.
The certificate must be issued within 10 days of entry to the EU or Northern Ireland. Vets charge around £200 for the certificate. A new one is required for each journey.
Lindsay Mayor, who owns a border terrier named Dusty, states: “The application form is complicated and can be filled out improperly, leading to restrictions on your ability to travel.”
The longest period allowed for re-entering Great Britain is four months; however, individuals holding UK passports are generally restricted to 90 days. This restriction applies to most people, making the four-month rule irrelevant for them.
For
dogs
, the tape worm treatment needs to be given one to five days prior to entering the European Union or Northern Ireland.
What’s the tapeworm rule?
If traveling directly to Ireland (or, far less likely, Finland, Malta, or Norway), a veterinarian needs to administer a tapeworm treatment for your dog and document this in an animal health certificate or a valid pet passport. This treatment should occur at least 24 hours but not more than five days prior to your arrival.
What occurs upon arriving in the European Union?
You have to reach an approved entry point, and all transportation providers heading to the EU meet this requirement. Authorities will process and stamp your documentation.
And coming home?
All the steps required for traveling with your pet remain applicable for re-entry into the UK as well.
I’ve come across the concept of “pet freedom of movement.” Could you explain how that operates?
Unlike the regulations governing human migration, registering a pet at an address within the European Union is relatively straightforward, allowing the pet to acquire the corresponding nationality with ease. The eased procedures for traveling from the EU (including Northern Ireland) to the UK make this process beneficial for numerous individuals. However, pets might require more frequent rabies vaccinations compared to those moving to Great Britain.
What does the government aim to discuss with the EU regarding pet travel regulations?
In order to revert to a situation similar to the relatively uncomplicated state prior to Brexit, British pets should be treated as non-threatening entities rather than posing risks to EU countries. Following the Brexit referendum, which aimed at reclaiming sovereignty, the UK administration consented to establish intricate procedures for managing pets. This adjustment seeks to ensure that a United Kingdom pet passport holds comparable validity and recognition as those issued within the European Union.
Risks and benefits?
An inherent minor health risk accompanies the increased movement of animals between Europe and elsewhere. However, this concern is surpassed by the social advantage of allowing more individuals to travel internationally with their pets, along with the economic boost for the tourism sector.
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