General Information

Planning a holiday with your dog, cat, or ferret? Good news — updated EU rules are making it easier than ever to bring your four-legged family members along for the adventure.

Whether you’re road-tripping through France, hopping on a ferry to Greece, or visiting relatives in a neighbouring country, the European Union has streamlined the rules that govern travelling with pets. The updated regulations focus on three key areas: pet identification and documentation, the maximum number of animals you can travel with, and procedures for EU transit and re-entry.

What’s actually changed?

The EU has updated its legal framework for the non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets between member states. The new rules are grounded in Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and aim to modernise traceability and health certification, bringing them in line with current veterinary best practices.

Here’s a plain-language breakdown of the three pillars of the update:

Identification & documentation – Microchipping standards and passport models have been updated for clearer traceability across all EU countries.

Maximum 5 pets per journey – You may travel with up to 5 dogs, cats or ferrets in a single vehicle for non-commercial purposes.

Transit & re-entry – Clearer procedures have been set out for pets passing through the EU or returning after time abroad.

Key dates to mark in your calendar

The new rules are being rolled out in two stages. Make sure you know which changes apply to your next trip:

October 2026: Updated animal health certificates come into effect. New certificate models apply for pets entering the EU from non-EU countries. These are valid for 10 days from the date of issue (extended for sea travel).

January 2028: Updated identification & passport requirements apply: New EU pet passport models (set out in Annex I, Part 1 to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705) become mandatory. Existing passports issued before this date continue to remain valid under transitional rules.

Already have a pet passport? Don’t worry — pet passports issued under earlier models remain valid. If your passport was issued before 22 April 2026 under Regulation (EU) No 577/2013, it continues to be accepted until 1 January 2028. After that date, your vet can issue an updated model.

Before you travel: the essentials

Whether you’re travelling within the EU or entering from a non-EU country, your pet must meet these baseline requirements:

Microchipping: Your pet must be identified by an implanted microchip meeting the technical specifications of Article 70a of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035. Importantly, the microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is given — if the vaccine came first, it won’t count for travel purposes.

Rabies vaccination: Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies by an authorised veterinarian. Pets must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving the vaccine, and you’ll need to wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before your first journey into the EU.

Valid documentation: Within the EU, your pet travels on a European pet passport — issued only to owners resident in the EU — which records microchip details, vaccination history, and your contact information. Pets entering from non-EU countries require an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian.

Travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway? Dogs moving to or from these countries (and Northern Ireland) must receive treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, as these areas are free from this parasite. Other destinations are exempt from this requirement.

The 5-pet rule – For non-commercial travel, the maximum number of dogs, cats and ferrets you can bring in a single vehicle is five. If you’re travelling with more — for example, to a registered competition, exhibition or sporting event — you’ll need to provide documentary evidence of the event and ensure all animals are over six months old.

What about travelling with young pets?

Some EU countries authorise movement of puppies, kittens and young ferrets that are under 12 weeks old and unvaccinated, or between 12 and 16 weeks old and recently vaccinated (within 21 days). In these cases, additional documentation is required — either a declaration from the owner confirming the animal has had no contact with wild susceptible species since birth, or the young animal must still be dependent on its vaccinated mother, whose own passport confirms her pre-birth vaccination.

Rules vary by destination, so it’s worth checking with your vet and the relevant authority in the country you’re visiting before you travel.

 

Curious what a smooth EU pet journey looks like in practice? The European Commission’s page features real stories from pet owners travelling across the EU — with tips, inspiration, and the full official rules.

Read the full guidance here – https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/travelling-pet-within-eu_en