In a development that could reshape pet travel from the United Kingdom to the European Union, British authorities were said to be pursuing efforts to rejoin the EU pet passport scheme, which had been discontinued for the UK following Brexit in 2021. The move, if successful, was expected to significantly ease cross-border travel for thousands of British citizens who vacation in Europe with their dogs, cats, or ferrets.

Implications for Tourism and Travel Planning

The travel industry, particularly within the UK and Europe, was reportedly watching the outcome of this proposal with keen interest. According to multiple UK-based media outlets, the issue would be on the agenda during the upcoming EU–UK summit in London, scheduled for Monday, May 20, 2025. Officials were expected to discuss a variety of Brexit reset topics, with the potential reinstatement of the pet passport system being one of them.

Travel analysts suggested that rejoining the scheme could dramatically reduce both the cost and administrative burden for British travelers who journey frequently to Schengen states with pets. Since the UK’s exit from the EU system, travelers had faced a series of requirements, fees, and health checks before they could bring pets into the bloc—issues that were now seen as avoidable barriers to smoother travel.

Complex Requirements After Brexit

It was recalled that prior to January 2021, UK pet owners benefitted from the EU pet passport, a standardized document recognized across member states. The pet passport included important identification and medical information such as microchip numbers, vaccination records (particularly against rabies), and the owner’s contact information. Once issued, the passport remained valid for the pet’s lifetime, provided vaccinations stayed current.

However, post-Brexit, UK pet owners had been forced to navigate a far more rigid and expensive process. Those wishing to travel to the EU with their pets now needed to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every single trip. This document, which must be acquired no more than 10 days before travel, could cost as much as €237 (or £200). Furthermore, in addition to being microchipped and vaccinated, dogs also required treatment for tapeworm before crossing borders into several EU countries.

As such, for frequent travelers—especially those who maintain holiday homes in France, Spain, or Portugal, or who routinely cross the Channel with their pets—the administrative burden was proving both time-consuming and costly.

Potential Benefits of Rejoining the EU Scheme

Industry stakeholders and travel planners believed that if the UK were to rejoin the EU’s pet passport framework, it would represent a major breakthrough for cross-border mobility. Not only would it reinstate a sense of pre-Brexit normalcy, but it could also boost travel volumes, particularly for those deterred by the current veterinary and documentation costs.

Travel operators with pet-friendly accommodations or services across the EU might see an uptick in bookings from the UK. Likewise, pet-inclusive ferry and rail services such as the Eurotunnel and various Channel crossings could benefit from streamlined boarding procedures and fewer cancellations linked to travel restrictions.

Negotiation Challenges Expected

Despite the clear travel-related advantages, it was understood that the road back into the EU scheme might be politically complex. A senior government source was quoted suggesting that rejoining the pet passport framework would likely require a broader agreement on sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) regulations, which govern food, agricultural, and animal health standards.

In particular, insiders indicated that Brussels may tie the agreement to progress on fisheries, a historically sensitive topic in UK–EU relations. The Independent newspaper reported that any agreement to streamline pet travel would only materialize if the UK agreed to a long-term arrangement on fishery rights, illustrating how intertwined these diplomatic discussions had become.

The UK government had not made an official statement at the time of reporting, but a spokesperson close to the matter indicated that the typical EU stance of “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” would likely apply to these discussions.

A Move Welcomed by Pet Owners and Tourism Operators

The anticipated policy change, although uncertain in its final form, was already generating hope among tourism operators and British pet owners. Many hoped that simplified travel for animals would not only ease stress but encourage more overland journeys and extended EU holidays, especially among retirees and remote workers who prefer to travel with pets in tow.

Travel agencies that cater to caravan and countryside tourism in countries such as France, Germany, and Italy also viewed the potential reinstatement as a chance to recapture lost business from pet-owning UK customers, many of whom had either skipped EU travel altogether since 2021 or opted for shorter, pet-free trips to avoid complications.

Impacts Beyond the UK

The implications of the UK’s potential return to the EU pet passport scheme were not limited to British shores. Several Schengen countries had previously reported dips in UK-origin tourism after 2021, some of which correlated with stricter pet entry rules. Regions in southern France, Spain’s Costa del Sol, and Portugal’s Algarve—all popular with UK pet owners—were expected to benefit if travel became more seamless again.

Moreover, the move could serve as a template for similar dialogues between the EU and other non-Schengen nations, where cross-border pet travel is a point of contention.

Travel Industry Takeaways

Should the UK successfully rejoin the EU pet passport scheme, the following outcomes were anticipated:

• Lower costs and fewer bureaucratic hurdles for British pet owners traveling to EU countries
• A likely increase in UK-to-EU overland travel, especially via ferries, rail, and motorhomes
• Improved customer experience and fewer last-minute cancellations due to documentation issues
• Renewed demand for pet-friendly tourism services across Schengen member states

While the outcome of the discussions at the upcoming EU–UK summit in London remained to be seen, observers across the tourism and animal health sectors believed that a positive resolution could pave the way for a new chapter in UK–EU travel relations, particularly one that was more inclusive for pet-loving travelers.

Long-Term Prospects

The broader implications of this move also hinted at a subtle recalibration of UK–EU travel relations. While the UK was not seeking full re-entry into EU frameworks, efforts to normalize travel experiences—whether through digital visa alignment, youth mobility programs, or the pet passport scheme—pointed toward a Brexit aftermath defined less by separation and more by soft reintegration in practical terms.

If achieved, this would reinforce the idea that collaborative mobility policies, even in a post-exit landscape, can yield mutual benefits for travelers and industries on both sides of the Channel.

Final Thoughts

As the travel sector braces for the results of the upcoming EU–UK summit, hopes are high that a renewed pet passport deal could alleviate one of the more personal and emotional burdens of post-Brexit travel. For pet owners, what once was a routine journey has become an expensive and bureaucratic task. Rejoining the scheme would symbolize not only practical relief but also a subtle step toward reestablishing mobility norms that millions once took for granted.

The potential policy shift, though minor in legislative scale, holds the power to positively impact tourism, cross-border freedom, and the emotional well-being of travelers whose pets are family. Whether this sentiment proves persuasive enough to navigate the political complexities remains to be seen.

The post United Kingdom, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Italy: Pet Passport Deal May Reconnect British Travelers With Europe’s Most Popular Holiday Destinations appeared first on Travel And Tour World.