Simplified Pet Travel to Northern Ireland from June 2025
September 26, 2025
Since 4 June 2025, pet owners in Great Britain have been benefiting from a major simplification in travel rules when bringing pets to Northern Ireland. Under the newly implemented Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme, the previously required Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is no longer necessary for non-commercial pet travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
Instead, pet owners must obtain a Pet Travel Document (PTD) – a free, lifelong document issued by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The PTD is available to residents of England, Scotland, and Wales and applies to dogs, cats, ferrets, and assistance animals.
The only requirement is that your pet must be microchipped – the PTD will be checked alongside your pet’s microchip at ports or airports.
Importantly, rabies vaccination is not required for travel to Northern Ireland under the PTD scheme. Tapeworm treatment is also not necessary. However, if travelling onward to Ireland or other EU countries, an AHC, rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment (for dogs) are still required.
Contact our team at Molesey Vets if you need further advice – we’re happy to help.
Planning a getaway to Northern Ireland soon? Our veterinary team in East Molesey can help you prepare. Just contact us and our nurses can scan your pet’s chip to ensure it’s working as it should, and can help you check your pet’s microchip information is up-to-date. You can then apply for a Pet Travel Document online.
Visit Molesey Vets’ Pet Travel page for more infomation about travelling to other countries.
