An agreement set for the upcoming EU-UK summit may reintroduce pet passports, simplifying travel for holidaymakers with pets across the Channel. This measure is part of a broader negotiation aimed at enhancing EU-UK cooperation under Prime Minister Andy Burnham, following promises made by former PM Keir Starmer.
This agreement, expected to be announced on November 20 in Brussels, includes provisions for food trade, access to the EU electricity market, and a youth mobility scheme. Specifically, the sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement will eliminate checks on food and animal products and restore the use of EU pet passports for British travelers, who previously lost this privilege post-Brexit.
Currently, travelers from Great Britain need an Animal Health Certificate for each trip to the EU, whereas Northern Ireland maintains its participation in the EU pet travel scheme. By mid-2027, if the SPS agreement is approved, pet owners will be able to obtain a multi-use pet passport for EU travel, alleviating the need for separate certificates for each trip.
Until full implementation, pet owners must still secure an Animal Health Certificate when traveling from Great Britain to the EU. Further information on pet travel regulations can be found on official EU resources.
