UK Wants to Rejoin EU Pet Passport Scheme to Ease Travel for British Pet Owners

The United Kingdom government is seeking to rejoin the pet passport scheme of the EU, local media have said.

The UK left the EU pet passport scheme in January 2021. Since then, dog, cat, and ferret owners have been required to meet several criteria and pay a high fee to be able to bring their pets to the bloc.

In an attempt to make it easier for Britons travelling to the EU to take their pets, the UK is reportedly set to ask to rejoin the scheme as part of the Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Brexit reset talks, Schengen.News reports.

As a number of UK media outlets have explained that Prime Minister Starmer will host the EU-UK summit in London next week, more specifically on Monday. During this meeting, the authorities of both parties are expected to discuss a number of matters that aim to bring the UK closer to the EU, including an easier passage for pets.

However, it has been emphasised that the rejoining of the UK to the EU pet passport scheme will not come that easily.

According to the Independent, in order for the UK to obtain the agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary regulations and rejoin the pet passport scheme, the government is expected to agree to the EU demands for a long-term agreement on fish.

While the authorities are yet to make an official statement, a source said that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”.

Move Could Significantly Reduce the Complexity & Cost That Pet Owners Currently Face

A European pet passport is an identification document that follows a standard model and is a mandatory requirement for travel from one EU country to another.

The pet passport contains a description and details of the pets, including their microchip or tattoo code, health records, and contact details of the owner.

During the time that the UK was still part of the EU, pets with owners from the UK enjoyed all the benefits of the EU pet passport.

Following the departure of the UK from the bloc, British pet owners have been required to obtain an Animal Health Certificate for every trip they take to the EU.

This type of certificate needs to be obtained no more than ten days before the travel date, and its price can reach up to €237 (£200). In addition, UK pets also need to be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and dogs also need tapeworm treatment.

The deal on the pet passports would be very important as the document is valid for the animal’s entire life as long as they are up to date with the vaccinations for rabies.