The new pet passport rules explained after UK reaches deal with EU
The prime minister has revealed a wide-ranging agreement with the EU on issues ranging from defence to food imports, but for most people, the most notable change will be with passports.
Speaking on Monday, Keir Starmer announced two deals that would make it easier for Brits to enter the EU.
Firstly, UK citizens will soon be able to use EU passport gates once again, speeding people through airports instead of standing in lengthy queues.
Secondly, pet passports are being reintroduced, which will make it easier for people to bring their cats and dogs into the EU.
This will eliminate the need for animal health certificates for every trip.
The move has been broadly welcomed by vet and travel groups, with the RSPCA telling Yahoo News they supported the "UK proposal to fully join the EU's pet passport scheme as it would make it easier for people to take their beloved pets away with them on holiday".
There is currently a multi-step process to obtaining pet travel documents, which was introduced after the end of the Brexit transition period in January 2021.
It has since become far more time-consuming and expensive to take a pet to the EU.
The current rules are, first, you must ensure your pet is microchipped and ensure it has all its up-to-date vaccines, including a rabies jab that was administered at least 21 days before travel.
A dog must also have an up-to-date tapeworm treatment for travel to certain EU countries, more details can be read here.
You will then need to get an animal health certificate (AHC) from a vet and then take it with you when you travel.
The certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU and four months for onward travel within the EU. You need a new certificate each time you travel to the EU.
The process of getting an AHC has become expensive, with the cost ranging between £100 to £200, according to the Kennel Club.
Some veterinary practices are charging as much as £250 with a discount for any subsequent pets.
The time it takes to produce the certificates has also led many vet practices to not offer the service.
The British Veterinary Association said the changes introduced since Brexit had put an increased burden "on the veterinary workforce and increased costs for animal owners since they came into force".
You also need written evidence of registration in any sporting event, show or competition if you're hoping to attend one with your animal.
It is a document that officially reports information relating to a specific animal that can be used to allow easy entry into certain countries, as long as all the conditions are met.
Various different types of pet passports exist all over the world, but the EU one is a single document that is issued for the life of the animal. For it to remain valid, the animal's rabies vaccines will need to be kept up-to-date.
The changes mean it will once again be easy to travel with a cat or a dog into the EU, as it was before Brexit.
Pet owners will only need to go through the hassle of getting the right documentation once per animal, rather than each time they want to travel to the EU.
It will also likely be much cheaper.
Before the UK left the bloc, roughly a quarter of a million people took their cats and dogs with them to the EU each year.
Helen Huff, a pet travel specialist at PBS Specialist Pet Travel, told Yahoo News the new rules will be "great," adding that it "will be so much easier and less costly than having the Animal Health Certificate prepared each time our pets travel to, or indeed just transit through the EU".
British Veterinary Association president Dr. Elizabeth Mullineaux told Yahoo News: "For pet owners and vets, the return to pet passports to replace Animal Health Certificates will be particularly welcome, since coming into force they increased costs for owners whilst adding to the workload of vet teams."
The government has not announced when EU pet passports will be reintroduced into the country.
A lot of the deal announced on Monday was based on agreeing to negotiate further with the EU with the hope of achieving a specified outcome.
As a result, although both the EU and UK want to reach an agreed goal in many areas, the fine details still have not been ironed out.
Once they have vets will need to be approved by the EU before they can issue one.
Then you will have to apply to an approved vet and fill out the relevant details.
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