If you enjoy travelling from the UK into the EU with your dog or cat, you’ve probably become heartily fed up of animal health certificates and insanely expensive vet bills. But it seems like the end is in sight! The return of the UK Pet Passport scheme was announced in May 2025- here’s everything we know (plus updated info to keep you in the loop!)
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UK Pet Passports- are they returning?
If you’re a UK pet owner who’s been following the headlines about pet passports “returning,” you’re probably as confused as the rest of us. Here’s what’s actually going on – and what it means for your next European adventure.
Remember When Pet Travel Was Simple?
Cast your mind back to 2020. Planning a long weekend in France with your dog meant grabbing the pet passport from the kitchen drawer, checking that the rabies vaccination and other information were current, and off you went. If they weren’t, you booked an appointment with your vet and it was easy to sort.
Those little blue passports were magic – valid for years, accepted everywhere, and they cost pennies compared to what we’re dealing with now.
Then Brexit happened, and everything went backwards…
Overnight, the UK became what’s politely called a “Part 2 listed” country. What this actually meant was that every single trip to Europe now required a fresh Animal Health Certificate, issued by an official vet, valid for just 10 days, and costing upwards of £100 each time.
For anyone who regularly travels to their French gite or takes the van touring through Spain, it’s been a nightmare. Many people simply stopped travelling with their pets altogether.
May 2025: A Glimmer of Hope
Fast-forward to May 2025, and suddenly everyone was talking about pet passports again. Government officials announced a new UK-EU partnership deal, and buried in all the trade talk was a conversation about making pet travel easier.
The headlines were everywhere: “Pet Passports Return!” The motorhome forums went mad. People started making grand touring plans with their pets again.
The announcement suggested that UK pets would get some kind of passport system back, eliminating those expensive single-use certificates. For families with European holiday homes, motorhome enthusiasts planning multi-country tours, and anyone who’d been hit by the £200-per-trip charges, it felt like Christmas morning.
July 2025: Still Waiting
Here’s the problem – it’s now July, and nothing has actually changed.
Your local vet is still issuing Animal Health Certificates. Heck, if you ask your local vet they probably haven’t even heard when the pet passports will be re-introduced.
The gov.uk website still says you can’t use a GB-issued pet passport for EU travel (if you could even get one from somewhere!) The ridiculous £200+ fees are still there.
No one seems to know when (or if) anything will actually be implemented.
It’s left pet owners in an impossible position. Do you book an appointment to get that expensive AHC for your September Europe trip, or do you risk waiting for a system that might not materialise? How long will the bureaucracy take to allow this change to work through?
The disconnect between the May announcements and current reality has created genuine confusion. Some pet and travel websites are claiming pet passports have “returned”, while in reality you must stick to the current AHC requirements.
What This Means & What To Do Right Now
Sadly, at the moment nothing has fundamentally changed.
Whether you own a motorhome or campervan, have a holiday home in the EU, work abroad or are just dreaming of a spontaneous weekend trip for vino with your pet, you still need to book in for AHC appointments and pay the associated fees.
For travel plans in 2025: Don’t take risks. Book your AHC appointments as normal, budget the £200+ per trip, and give yourself plenty of time for vet appointments.
I’ve heard rumours that they are due to return in October or Autumn 2025. Sadly, this isn’t the case- it looks like the people who wrote that got confused with the new EES system which IS coming into place in October 2025 (read more about EES and ETIAS here.)
For future planning: Keep an eye on official government channels, maintain your pet’s vaccination schedule regardless, and stay connected with the pet travel community for updates. You can join my email list and get a FREE dog travel checklist below.
The truth is, we’re still in limbo. May’s announcements raised hopes, but the current reality is that the expensive, bureaucratic system remains firmly in place. Whether we get a full return to the old pet passport system, some kind of hybrid arrangement, or something entirely new remains to be seen.
Reasons to Stay Hopeful
Despite the current frustration, there are legitimate reasons to believe things will improve. The political momentum seems real – both sides appear genuinely committed to fixing the relationship, and pet travel has clearly become a priority.
The economic arguments are compelling too. The current system creates barriers to tourism and family connections that don’t benefit anyone. The infrastructure for pet passports already exists – this is fundamentally a political problem, not a technical one.
What’s clear is that the pet travel community has been heard at the highest levels of government. That’s progress, even if the timeline remains frustratingly unclear.
For now, it’s a case of patience, continued monitoring of the situation, and keeping those vaccination records up to date. Easy European adventures with your pet will be back – hopefully sooner rather than later.
Updated July 2025 – always check current government guidance before travelling
