Pet Passport Talks Signal Possible Regulatory Reset Between UK and EU

The UK government is reportedly working to rejoin the EU pet passport scheme, a step that could remove one of several layers of post-Brexit travel bureaucracy. The proposal is expected to be discussed during the EU–UK summit in London on May 20.

The EU pet passport previously allowed UK citizens to travel freely with pets across the bloc. Since the UK’s departure from the system in 2021, pet owners have had to obtain Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) before each trip. These require updated health checks, proof of vaccination, tapeworm treatment for dogs, and can cost as much as £200.

Officials suggest that restoring access to the EU scheme could reduce costs and simplify travel for thousands of British households. It would also benefit EU-based tourism services catering to pet owners, especially in high-traffic regions like the French countryside, the Spanish coast, and southern Portugal.

However, UK officials acknowledge that rejoining the scheme will not be straightforward. Brussels is expected to link any agreement to broader sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, particularly those governing animal health and food imports. Some sources have pointed to fisheries policy as a potential bargaining chip tied to progress on the pet passport front.

While the pet passport itself is a narrow administrative issue, it represents part of a wider effort to rebuild smoother travel and trade relationships between the UK and EU. Other recent discussions have included digital visa alignment, student exchange mobility, and customs simplifications.

The UK has not confirmed the timeline or conditions under which it might rejoin the pet passport scheme, but the issue remains active in policy circles and has drawn strong support from pet owners and the travel industry alike.

If successful, this move would not only benefit individual travellers but could also signal a quiet recalibration of UK–EU regulatory ties in the post-Brexit environment.