BRITS are being warned of new travel rules to Europe that apply to all pet owners.
Under the new rules, Brits can no longer use an EU pet passport to enter the EU with their pets, even if they have a holiday home there or their pet passport was issued years ago.
The new rules mean that Brits travelling with their dog, cat or ferret, must now instead get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
However, unlike the old passports these certificates are only single-use.
This means you will need a brand new certificate for every trip you take to the EU with your furry friend.
A spokesperson for the UK government’s Animal and Plant Health Agency said: “From 22 April, new EU rules change how GB residents travel to the EU with their pets, but holidays with your pets are still possible.
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“To avoid delays and ensure a smooth journey, pet owners residing in Great Britain should get an Animal Health Certificate if they’re travelling from Great Britain to an EU country.”
The UK government’s website adds: “EU pet passports may now only be issued to people whose main home is in the EU and should not be used by people who have holiday homes in the EU or visit seasonally.”
This means that any pet passports issued before April 22 this year are no longer valid.
Once you have the certificate, it can be used for up to six months of onward travel within the EU and then again for re-entering the UK.
Though pet owners will just have to make sure that their pet’s rabies vaccinations are still up to date.
Under the old rules, each person could travel with up to five pets, so for a family of four this would’ve meant up to 20 pets.
Now the rules mean that only five pets are allowed per vehicle, despite the number of people in the vehicle.
Though if you are travelling on foot, you can still have up to five pets.
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for pet travel typically costs between £99 and £350.
In comparison, an EU pet passport would have cost between £17 and £85.
As a result, getting a new AHC each time you travel with your pet will cost you more money than the old pet passport.
The government also warns though that different member states of the EU may have specific pet travel requirements, so pet owners should check the specific entry requirement of the country they are heading to before they travel.
The new rules will also not impact Brits from returning to the UK with their pets and when they do they will still be able to use their EU pet passport.
There are some cases where additional paperwork is also needed such as someone else travelling with your pet.
If this is the case, then your pet must travel within five days of yourself and the person who is travelling with your pet must have written permission to go alongside your pet’s travel document.
There are some exceptions to the new rules, such as if you are heading to a dog show or competition, sporting event or training programme.
In other related travel news, Brits have admitted to choosing holiday destinations based on their dog.
Plus, here are six UK hotels that are the best for dog-friendly visits with cosy rooms and animal goodie bags.