The EU has tightened up the post-Brexit rules on access to the European Pet Passport. Here’s what that means for trips between Spain and the UK for dogs, cats and ferrets.
Since the end of the Brexit transition period in 2021, the UK has no longer been part of the EU-created Pet Passport scheme. From April 22nd 2026, the EU has tightened up several post-Brexit loopholes when it comes to these travel documents.
Here’s what this means if you are travelling with a dog, cat or a ferret between Spain and the UK for residents, holidaymakers and second-home owners.
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For residents in Spain
If you live in Spain and your pet’s passport was issued by your vet in Spain, then nothing changes. You can continue to use the Spanish-issued passport on trips to the UK, and other countries within the EU.
If you live in Spain, but are still using a UK-issued pet passport, you will need to get your Spanish vet to issue you a new one. In order to get one your pet must be registered in Spain and have a microchip.
UK-issued pet passports have technically not been valid since 2021, but this wasn’t always closely checked and some people managed to get away with it. From today, however, controls are set to get stricter.
READ ALSO: What are the rules for taking your pets on holiday in Spain?
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You live in the UK
The end of the Brexit transition period ended UK access to the EU Pet Passport scheme.
The EU says: “From January 1st 2021, EU pet passports issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel with pets from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland.”
Instead of a pet passport, dogs, cats and ferrets now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). The main difference between this and the passport is that the AHC is only valid for one trip, so you will need a new certificate for each new trip to Spain.
Vets in the UK have been issuing AHCs since December 2020, so it’s nothing new and relatively easy to get. To get one you need:
- Proof of your pet’s microchipping history
- Your pet’s vaccination record
- A certificate for a rabies vaccination that was carried out at least 21 days before the date of travel
The certificate costs an average of £100, although different vets charge different amounts. For example, you may be able to get better deals near the Channel ports.
READ ALSO: How to legally buy a pet in Spain
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If you are travelling with more than one pet, you will need a certificate for each one.
Once you have the AHC certificate, it is valid for entry to the EU for just 10 days. This means that your vet appointment needs to be as close to your date of travel as possible. As mentioned, the certificate can only be used for one entry to the EU.
Once you are in Spain, the certificate is valid for onward travel to other countries within the EU for six months (previously four months, but six months since April 2026) and for re-entry to the UK for six months. If you intend to stay longer than six months in Spain, you will need to get a new certificate in order to re-enter the UK.
The EU rules state that arrivals from a non-EU country should also have a written declaration that their pet’s relocation is for non-commercial reasons, although this can be in the form of a simple letter.
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Second-home owners
The EU’s April 2026 crackdown will mainly affect second-home owners who bring their pets regularly to Spain, as it’s set to get a lot more expensive. Now you’ll have to pay for a certificate each time you travel.
There had previously been some confusion about the situation for second-home owners as many Spanish vets were happy to issue an EU passport if you had proof of address, your pet’s microchip or tattoo code and your pet’s health records.
Some vets began cracking down on the issue last year, however, after the BBC reported that a UK couple had found a great way of getting around the problem of travelling to the EU regularly with their dog by getting EU passport to save money on travel costs.
From April 22nd, 2026, however, the EU has clarified that pet passports issued to owners who are residents in the UK or Northern Ireland will no longer be valid.
This means that Spanish vets won’t issue them to non-residents, even if you own a property here. It also means that second-home owners who already have a pet passport can no longer use them to travel. They will instead have to follow the UK-resident system of Animal Health Certificates.
The UK government says: “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. EU pet passports issued to GB residents before 22 April 2026 may no longer be valid documents for entry to the EU.”
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Other changes
Starting on April 22nd, 2026, the EU has also introduced other changes, intended to clarify the difference between people travelling with a pet and the commercial transport of animals.
This means:
- If someone else travels with your pet, extra paperwork is needed. If you are not travelling with your pet, the pet must travel within of you, and the person accompanying the animal must carry written permission from you. This permission must travel with the pet’s travel document.
- There is a new five‑pet limit per private vehicle. Non‑commercial travel into the EU is now limited to a maximum of five pets per private vehicle, rather than five per person. The existing limit of five pets for people travelling on foot stays the same. Exceptions apply for pets travelling to competitions, events or training, if specific conditions are met.
Border control changes
Tighter border control rules for humans with the new EES system mean that it’s more important than ever that the animals and the humans in the group have matching statuses.
The EU’s new EES passport controls mean that stays in Spain are automatically tracked.
This means it’s now perfectly clear a the border whether you are a resident in Spain and how long you have been here. Non-residents arriving with a pet that has an EU Pet Passport are therefore more likely to be stopped.
