Owning a dog in the UK, explained
Taking Your Dog to the EU: Rabies Jab, Chip and Paperwork
8 November 2026
Taking your dog from Great Britain to an EU country takes some planning. The rabies vaccination alone means waiting at least 21 full days before you can travel, and the paperwork has to be in the right order. Here are the steps GOV.UK sets out, in order, plus the rules for Northern Ireland.
Quick answer: Get your dog microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies once it's at least 12 weeks old. Wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination, then get an animal health certificate from an official vet. It's valid for entry into the EU for 10 days after it's issued. Some countries also need tapeworm treatment, and so does your return to Great Britain from most countries.
Key Takeaways
The microchip must go in before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination.
Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old for its rabies vaccination.
You must wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination before travelling.
An animal health certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, and you need a new one for each trip.
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can't use a pet passport to enter the EU.
Step 1: microchip your dog
GOV.UK says you must get your dog microchipped before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination. If you don't, the vaccination has to be done again. Our guide to dog microchipping law covers the rules that apply at home.
For pet travel, a microchip can only be fitted by a vet, by a vet nurse, student vet or student vet nurse directed by a vet, or by someone with the training GOV.UK describes. Airlines, train and ferry companies in the EU can read microchips that meet ISO standards 11784 and 11785. If your dog's chip doesn't, you may have to bring your own reader, so check with your travel company before you leave.
If a vet can't read the chip at all, GOV.UK says you'll have to do all the preparation again: a new chip, a new rabies vaccination and a new certificate.
Step 2: the rabies vaccination
Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies before it can travel, and your vet needs proof that it's at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating. GOV.UK says the vaccine must be an inactivated or recombinant vaccine approved in the country of use.
You'll have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination, or the last of the first course, before you travel. Day 1 is the day after the vaccination. Some vaccines take longer to work, so ask your vet. GOV.UK's rabies vaccination page gives an example: a vaccine that takes 30 days to work, given on 1 October, means you can travel from 1 November.
Keep up the boosters. If you miss one, your dog will need to restart its vaccinations, which may delay your plans. If there's been no break in cover, you don't need to wait to travel after a booster.
Step 3: the animal health certificate
To enter an EU country, you need an animal health certificate from your vet. It must be signed by an official veterinarian, so check that your vet can issue one. When you go, take proof of your dog's microchipping date and vaccination history.
GOV.UK's animal health certificate page says you need a new certificate for each separate trip. After the date of issue, it's valid for:
Use | How long the certificate is valid |
|---|---|
Entry into the EU | 10 days |
Onward travel within the EU after you enter | 6 months |
Re-entry to Great Britain | 6 months |
Your vet will also give you a declaration to sign, confirming you won't sell or rehome your dog while you're abroad. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you can't use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU. If you do, your dog may be refused entry.
Step 4: tapeworm treatment
A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm, and record it in the travel document, if you're going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland without a Northern Ireland pet travel document. The treatment must contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to work against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.
It has to be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive. You'll also need a tapeworm treatment before you return to Great Britain from most countries, though not from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
GOV.UK's tapeworm treatment page explains the rules for short trips. It also says you should treat your dog again within 28 days of returning to Great Britain.
Travelling to Northern Ireland
To take your dog from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you need a Northern Ireland pet travel document. Your dog must be microchipped, but with the document it doesn't need a rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment.
GOV.UK says the document is free to apply for and lasts as long as you own the pet. If you're travelling by ferry, you must scan your dog's microchip at the port before leaving, using a scanner provided. If you're flying, you must tell the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at least 10 working days before you travel. The Northern Ireland travel page has the details.
Other things to check
For a country outside the EU, you'll need an export health certificate, and an export application form if you're in England, Scotland or Wales. GOV.UK also says to check the rules of the country you're going to for any extra requirements.
You can't take more than 5 pets in a private vehicle to an EU country unless you're attending or training for an event, or exporting them commercially. If someone else is taking your dog, their journey must be within 5 days of yours, with your signed permission.
If you're driving, plan for the heat as well. Our guide to walking your dog in hot weather explains why a warm car is never safe for a dog.
For questions about your trip, GOV.UK points you to the Animal and Plant Health Agency's Pet Travel helpline. The everyday rules at home are in the dog owner's legal checklist.
How long before travelling must my dog have its rabies vaccination?
At least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination, or the last of the first course, with day 1 being the day after the vaccination. Some vaccines take longer to work, so check with your vet.
How long is an animal health certificate valid?
GOV.UK says it's valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then for 6 months for onward travel within the EU and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain. You need a new one for each trip.
Can I use my dog's pet passport to go to the EU?
Not if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, even if the passport was issued in the EU. GOV.UK says you can still use an EU pet passport if you live in Northern Ireland.
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment?
Yes if you're going to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland without a Northern Ireland pet travel document. You'll also need it before returning to Great Britain from most countries.