The post-Brexit rulebook
Since 1 Jan 2021, the EU Pet Passport issued in Great Britain is no longer valid. UK dogs travelling to the EU need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) within 10 days of departure. Each certificate is valid for one trip, four months for travel within the EU, plus four months for return.
What you need
- Microchip (ISO 11784/11785), implanted before the rabies vaccine.
- Rabies vaccination, at least 21 days before departure (dog must be 12 weeks+ at vaccination).
- AHC — book the OV appointment 7-10 days before travel.
- Tapeworm treatment on return to GB only (24-120 hours before re-entry), administered by a vet abroad and stamped.
Costs in 2025
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Microchip | £10-25 (often free at rescues) |
| Rabies vaccine | £30-50 |
| AHC | £110-200 |
| Tapeworm treatment abroad | €15-30 |
Crossing options
Eurotunnel (Folkestone-Calais)
Most dog-friendly option: dogs stay in your car the whole way. £19-25 per dog each way, on top of the vehicle fare. Check-in at Pets Reception.
Ferries
DFDS, Stena Line, P&O all carry dogs. Most require them to stay in your vehicle on the car deck (some have pet-friendly cabins or kennels). Cost: £15-30 per dog.
Flying
Restrictive from GB. No commercial passenger airline allows pets in the cabin on UK departures (only assistance dogs). Cargo via Pet Air UK, etc., costs £600-1,500+ depending on destination.
What gets people turned back at Calais
- AHC dated more than 10 days before departure.
- Rabies vaccine done less than 21 days ago.
- Microchip implanted AFTER the rabies vaccine → invalid.
- Unreadable microchip — always have it scanned at the OV appointment.
- Tapeworm tab missing or out of window on return.
Special EU destinations
- Ireland, Finland, Norway, Malta: tapeworm treatment required on entry too (not just on return to GB).
- France: certain "category 1" breeds (American Staffordshire, Mastiff types) banned. Check Loi 99-5.
- Spain: PPP (potentially dangerous breeds) list includes Rottweiler, Pit Bull types — muzzle and licence may apply.
How CanAI helps
Track rabies dates, tapeworm windows and AHC validity in CanAI's health tracker. Ask the AI chat to calculate whether a specific travel date works with your last vaccine. And given an AHC covers one trip only, frequent travellers should check whether their dog insurance includes overseas vet cover — many UK policies do, up to 90 days/year.