Alsager vet practice owner explains essential new rules for pet travel to EU
By Deborah Bowyer 8th Jun 2026
A major change impacting how pets can travel abroad has taken effect this summer.
If your main residence is in Great Britain, but you are travelling to the EU with your pet using an EU Pet Passport, this EU pet passport will NO longer be valid for travel, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has announced.
Your pet will need an Animal Health Certificate instead.
DEFRA states that 'EU pet passports may only be issued to owners whose main residence is within the European Union' but one major provider (Le Shuttle) has said they will not change their control procedures.
Veterinary practice owner, Carl May of Vets for Pets Alsager, said: "It's important that pet owners understand the changes.
"Owners can obtain an AHC (Animal Health Certificate) from us for each trip they take to a European country (including Northern Ireland). "
To qualify for the Animal Health Certificate, your pets must be:
- Be microchipped.
- Be vaccinated for rabies a minimum of 21 days prior to travel.
- Be a minimum of 12 weeks old.
VetsforPets can issue Animal Health Certificates at Lawton Road.
Animal Health Certificates must be issued within 10 days of your date of travel to the EU.
Vets4Pets can be contacted by calling 01270 871810 or through their website here or Facebook page here
Alsager Nub News is proud that Vets for Pets Alsager is a sponsor of our news service as we revealed in our article here
It is thanks to the generosity of organisations like Vets for Pets Alsager that we can continue our mission to revive local news, both in Alsager and across the UK.
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