Taking a pet to Europe: the AHC, step by step
Half the joy of van life is bringing the dog. The admin, less so — and in 2026 it got stricter: the reusable pet passport that owners leaned on for years no longer works for trips from Great Britain, so every journey now needs a fresh Animal Health Certificate. It sounds daunting and isn't, but the timings are unforgiving and a missed step can mean your pet is turned away at the port. Here's the whole process in plain order, current for 2026.
This is the paperwork companion to our van life with a dog guide (which covers the day-to-day of travelling with a pet) and our UK van to Europe guide (the human paperwork and the 90/180 rule). If you're taking an animal across the Channel, read this one first — the prep starts weeks before you leave.
What changed on 22 April 2026
UK-issued and EU-issued pet passports are no longer valid for residents of Great Britain entering the EU, whenever they were issued. Turning up with a pet passport can get your animal refused at the border. In its place you need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every single trip. This follows full implementation of the EU's Animal Health Law, and it closes the old habit of reusing one passport for years of trips.
The order of operations (start early)
The single most important thing to understand is the sequence — each step gates the next, and the rabies wait alone is three weeks. For a first trip, allow around six weeks before departure.
- MicrochipYour pet must have an ISO-standard microchip. This must be done before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination that you'll travel on — a chip implanted afterwards doesn't count.
- Rabies vaccinationA valid rabies vaccination is required, and you must then wait at least 21 days after the primary course before travelling. If your pet's rabies cover lapses, the 21-day clock starts again.
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC)Visit an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian to have the AHC issued within 10 days of entering the EU. Book it 7–10 days before you leave, and bring the microchip and rabies records.
- Tapeworm treatment (some trips, dogs only)If your destination requires it (see below), a vet must give and record a tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entry.
The Animal Health Certificate, in detail
The AHC is an official document confirming your pet meets the EU's entry conditions. Its validity is the part people trip over, so here it is plainly:
| The AHC covers | For how long |
|---|---|
| Entry to the EU | Must be issued within 10 days of your pet entering the EU |
| Onward travel within the EU | About 4 months from issue — so one AHC covers a multi-country trip (France then Spain, say) |
| Re-entry to Great Britain | About 4 months from issue, while the rabies vaccination stays valid |
| Number of trips | One. It's single-use for EU entry — a new AHC for every fresh journey from GB |
So a single AHC is fine for a three-month tour through several countries, but you cannot save it for the next trip — that's the real cost and faff of the new system, since each AHC means another vet visit and fee (prices vary, so ask your practice). The good news: while you're away, your dog is treated as travelling within the EU, not re-entering it each time you cross a border.
Tapeworm treatment for dogs
Dogs only — and timing is exact
Tapeworm treatment is required for dogs (cats and ferrets are exempt) entering Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta and Norway, and for re-entry to Great Britain. A vet must administer and record it between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) before you arrive. For a direct trip to most other EU countries you don't need it on the way out — but you will need it before coming home, which usually means finding a vet abroad a day or two before your return crossing. Miss the window and your dog can be refused.
Coming home to Great Britain
Returning is more straightforward than leaving. Your pet can re-enter GB on the same AHC (within its validity), or on a valid EU-issued pet passport if you have one. The one active task is the dog tapeworm treatment above, done by a vet 24–120 hours before arrival and recorded — unless you're travelling directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway, which are exempt. Build that vet appointment into the end of your trip rather than leaving it to the ferry queue.
Northern Ireland & what might change
Travelling GB to Northern Ireland uses a different document — a Pet Travel Document (PTD), not an AHC — but note that if you then cross into the Republic of Ireland (which is in the EU), you'll need an AHC and valid rabies cover as normal. And keep an ear out: there's ongoing talk of the UK regaining simplified "listed" status that could bring back a passport-style system, but nothing is official yet — for now the AHC is the only route. Always check gov.uk close to your trip, because this is exactly the kind of rule that moves.
Plan the trip; we'll handle the routing
With the paperwork sorted, WiseTrip plans the drive by your van's real size — around low bridges, through the right zones, past the tolls — and finds dog-friendly overnight stops along the way. Free, no account.
Plan your trip →The bottom line
Taking a pet to Europe in 2026 is entirely doable — it just rewards planning. Start six weeks out, get the microchip and rabies done in the right order, book the AHC for the 10 days before you cross, and sort dog tapeworm treatment for the countries that need it and for the journey home. The pet passport era is over for Great Britain, so budget a vet visit and a fee for each trip. Do that, and the dog comes too — which was the point all along.
Pet-travel rules, AHC validity periods, tapeworm requirements and the post-Brexit position change and are actively under discussion — always confirm the current rules with gov.uk and your vet before you travel. This guide is a planning overview, not veterinary or legal advice.
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