Guide · Travel
The UK pet passport: what replaced it and how to travel now
Thousands of owners still search for a pet passport every month — but since Brexit, Great Britain no longer issues them. The paperwork has changed, the dates still bite, and the records behind them matter more than ever.
Last reviewed: 21 September 2026
In short
What happened to the pet passport
Before 2021, a blue EU pet passport let dogs, cats and ferrets travel between the UK and the EU with a valid rabies vaccination and a microchip. Since Brexit, passports issued in Great Britain are no longer accepted for EU travel, and GB vets can't issue new ones. Nothing about your pet changed — only the paperwork did.
If you hold a passport issued in the EU, Northern Ireland or a listed country, it may still be usable — but for most owners in England, Scotland and Wales, the animal health certificate is the route.
What replaced it: the animal health certificate
The animal health certificate (AHC) is issued by an official veterinarian — not every practice has one, so confirm when you book. It must be issued no more than 10 days before you arrive in the EU or Northern Ireland, covers a single trip out, four months of onward EU travel, and return to Great Britain within four months of issue.
Because a fresh certificate is needed for each trip, the old passport's convenience — one document, valid for years — is gone. What you can control is how organised the underlying records are.
The steps to travel now
| Step | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | Before the rabies vaccination | A jab given before the chip doesn't count |
| Rabies vaccination | At least 21 days before travel | The wait restarts if boosters lapse |
| Animal health certificate | Within 10 days of arrival | Issued by an official veterinarian |
| Tapeworm treatment (dogs) | 24–120 hours before return | Recorded by a vet abroad |
What it costs
Expect roughly £100–£250 per animal health certificate depending on the practice, plus the rabies vaccination and the return tapeworm appointment. Frequent travellers should ask their vet whether an EU-issued passport is a lawful option for their circumstances.
Why the records still matter
Border checks hang on three things: the microchip number, the rabies vaccination dates and the certificate issue date. Letting a rabies booster lapse means starting the 21-day wait again — the single most common way trips fall apart.
No app can issue official travel documents, and you should be wary of any that claims to. What Pawfile does is keep the records those documents are built from — microchip number, vaccination card, certificates and insurance — on one passport-style profile per pet, with reminders before boosters lapse and everything ready to show your vet. Unlimited pets from £4.99 a month; your first pet is free.
This is general information, not veterinary advice. Vaccination protocols vary by country, brand of vaccine and your pet's individual risk. Always follow the schedule your own vet recommends. Pawfile is an admin tool for keeping those records and reminders organised — it does not diagnose or treat.
Common questions
- Can I still get a pet passport in the UK?
- Since Brexit, pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for EU travel and new ones aren't issued in GB. Instead, most owners now use an animal health certificate issued by an official veterinarian for each trip. Passports issued in the EU, Northern Ireland or certain listed countries can still be used by eligible residents.
- What replaced the pet passport for UK owners?
- The animal health certificate. It's issued by an official veterinarian, must be dated within 10 days of your arrival in the EU or Northern Ireland, and covers four months of onward EU travel plus return to Great Britain within four months of issue.
- What did the old pet passport actually record?
- Your pet's microchip number, rabies vaccination history, the vet's details, and tapeworm treatments where required. That information hasn't gone away — it now lives in the animal health certificate, your vaccination card and the microchip database, so keeping copies organised still matters.
- Is Pawfile a real pet passport?
- No — and no app can be. Official travel documents are only issued by vets. Pawfile is a private digital record: a health passport-style profile that keeps your pet's microchip number, vaccination dates, certificates and insurance together with reminders before anything lapses, so the vet can issue official paperwork faster.
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