Great Britain → the EU
Travelling with a dog from the UK to Europe: the 2026 guide
For this route, “UK” usually means Great Britain: England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland follows a different EU-aligned system. The legal checklist and the transport booking are separate jobs, and both must work.
Rules and airline policies last reviewed 21 August 2026
Current GOV.UK guidance requires an Animal Health Certificate for a journey from Great Britain to the EU. It now states six months for onward EU travel and Great Britain re-entry, but entry to the EU must still happen within 10 days of issue.
- Document
- Animal Health Certificate for each trip
- First rabies dose
- Wait at least 21 full days
- EU entry window
- Within 10 days of AHC issue
- Typical easiest mode
- Car via LeShuttle or pet-friendly ferry
In the right order
Your step-by-step checklist
- 1
One month or more before
Check the microchip and rabies sequence
The microchip must be readable and recorded before the rabies vaccination used for travel. After a first or restarted rabies course, wait at least 21 full days.
- 2
Before the final 10-day window
Book an Official Veterinarian
Only an Official Veterinarian can issue the AHC. Bring the pet, microchip record and vaccination history; one AHC can cover up to five pets.
- 3
Within 10 days before EU entry
Get the Animal Health Certificate
Day one is the date of issue. Check every microchip digit, vaccination date, owner detail and destination before leaving the clinic.
- 4
Route dependent
Add destination-specific treatment
Dogs entering Ireland, Finland, Malta or Northern Ireland—and Norway under aligned rules—need vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival.
- 5
Before buying a non-refundable fare
Reserve the pet with the operator
Pet capacity is limited. Confirm the operating airline or ferry, pet mode, carrier dimensions, breed restrictions and every connection in writing.
- 6
Before leaving the EU
Plan the return to Great Britain
Dogs returning from most EU countries need tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival in Great Britain. Keep the original AHC for the return leg.
Choose the journey
Transport options
Often the simplest short crossing
LeShuttle by car
Your pet stays with you in the vehicle and documents are checked at Pet Reception. Eurostar passenger trains do not accept ordinary pets.
Cars, larger dogs and pet-cabin options
Ferry
Facilities vary by ship: vehicle, kennel, Pet Den or pet-friendly cabin. Book the pet product, not just the passenger fare.
Small pets or specialist cargo
Flight out of Great Britain
KLM, Air France, Lufthansa and Finnair may accept eligible small pets in-cabin on selected outbound routes. British Airways uses managed hold/cargo. The return flight into Great Britain is cargo-only for ordinary pets.
Route-aware comparison
Airline pet policies
The operating carrier, direction, aircraft and available pet space all matter. “Cabin allowed” never means every flight.
| Airline | Cabin | Larger pets | Route warning |
|---|---|---|---|
| KLM ↗ | One cat or dog in Economy, or Business within Europe; pet plus carrier up to 8 kg and 46 × 28 × 24 cm. | Eligible pets can travel in the hold up to 75 kg combined, subject to aircraft, breed and connection restrictions. | Useful for eligible US→EU and departures from Great Britain. KLM does not accept pets into the UK as passenger cabin/hold baggage. |
| Air France ↗ | Cats and dogs up to 8 kg including carrier may be eligible for the cabin, subject to route and availability. | More than 8 kg and up to 75 kg including carrier travels in the hold when accepted. | Useful for eligible US/Great Britain departures to France or onward EU travel. UK-bound pets are governed by the UK's cargo-only air-entry rule. |
| Lufthansa ↗ | Small cats and dogs up to 8 kg including a soft carrier; maximum carrier size 55 × 40 × 23 cm. | Larger eligible animals may travel in the air-conditioned hold, with separate crate and breed rules. | A practical option for eligible trips to Germany and connections, but always check the operating carrier on codeshares. |
| Finnair ↗ | Small eligible pets up to 8 kg including carrier; pets must remain under the seat. | Eligible larger pets can travel in the hold, generally up to 75 kg combined on Finnair-operated flights. | Finnair explicitly allows eligible UK→Finland pets as special baggage; travel into Great Britain is cargo-only. |
| British Airways ↗ | Domestic pets are not carried in the cabin on any route; recognised assistance dogs follow a separate process. | Pets travel in the hold through PetAir UK when leaving the UK or IAG Cargo when entering the UK. | Treat this as a managed cargo product, not passenger checked baggage. |
| Ryanair ↗ | Does not carry pets. | No hold or cargo pet product for ordinary pets. | Only qualifying guide/assistance dogs are accepted on certain routes. |
| easyJet ↗ | Pets and emotional-support animals are not accepted. | No hold pet product for ordinary pets. | Recognised registered guide and assistance dogs are the exception on permitted routes. |
Plain-English answers
Frequently asked questions
Can I use an EU pet passport from Great Britain?
Do not assume so. Current GOV.UK outbound guidance says travellers from Great Britain need an AHC. GB-issued EU passports are not valid for EU entry; residence-sensitive EU passport cases should be confirmed with the destination authority.
Can my dog fly back into the UK in the cabin?
Not as an ordinary pet on a commercial flight into Great Britain. GOV.UK says air arrivals must travel as cargo unless on a private charter or as a recognised assistance dog.
Do I need a new AHC for every holiday?
Yes, you need a new AHC each time you leave Great Britain to enter the EU under the current scheme.
Verified, not vibes
Official sources
These rules and policies were checked on 21 August 2026. Use the links below for the final check immediately before travel.
- GOV.UK — animal health certificates for travel from Great Britain ↗
- GOV.UK — tapeworm treatment timing ↗
- European Commission — travelling with pets in the EU ↗
- GOV.UK — approved routes and cargo rules ↗
- LeShuttle — travelling with pets ↗
- Irish Ferries — pet travel on all routes ↗
- KLM — pets in the cabin and hold ↗
- Air France — travelling with pets ↗
- Lufthansa — pets as additional cabin baggage ↗
- Finnair — pets on Finnair flights ↗
- British Airways — travelling with pets ↗