An upcoming EU-UK summit is set to announce an agreement that could reintroduce pet passports for easier travel with dogs, cats, and ferrets across the Channel. This is part of a broader effort to enhance cooperation between the EU and the UK, as outlined by UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and current PM Andy Burnham.
The measures, expected to be revealed at the summit on November 20 in Brussels, include agreements on food trade, access to the EU electricity market, and a youth mobility scheme. The sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement is anticipated to be the simplest part of the deal, potentially lifting checks on food and animal products while restoring EU pet passports for UK holidaymakers. In return, the UK will adhere to EU standards regarding food and animal safety.
Previously, pet owners in Great Britain were required to obtain an Animal Health Certificate for travel to the EU, as the UK was classified as a third country following Brexit. Furthermore, new EU rules took effect on April 22, 2026, which excluded England, Scotland, and Wales from the pet passport scheme.
If the SPS agreement is approved, UK pet owners could secure a multi-use pet passport for EU travel, rather than needing a new health certificate for each trip. This agreement is expected to become effective around mid-2027. Until then, pet owners will continue to need health certificates for their pets when traveling from Great Britain to EU countries.
For more information on bringing a pet into the EU, further details are available on the EU’s official website.
