Overview
- EU-wide rules are now active, setting a hard cap of five pets per vehicle to separate private trips from commercial animal transport.
- The cap covers dogs, cats and ferrets, with exceptions for exhibitions, sporting events and relocations when travelers carry proof such as an entry or move document.
- Current EU pet passports remain valid during the transition, with new animal health certificates required from October 1, 2026 and updated passports and ID rules from January 1, 2028.
- Pet travel papers will include added details such as the animal’s origin-country code to strengthen identification and oversight.
- Core health safeguards stay in place, including a valid rabies vaccination and, for some entries from outside the EU, a rabies antibody test, so owners should check country-specific entry rules before travel.