Taking a dog to Europe - what's the process?

I regularly get asked about taking a dog into the EU.  Since Brexit, pet travel rules have changed; at first glance, they can look complex. I promise that taking a dog abroad is very straightforward once you get your head around it. 

I have taken my dogs to Europe three times now. Our first trip was back in 2015, before Brexit, and back in the days when it was a simple pet passport. I then travelled with my kelpie, Evo, in 2023, and we took both Evo and one of our border collies, Hoax, in the summer of this year. 

Let's start by discussing the entry requirements and timeframes.  It does take a bit of forward planning, but once your dog is up-to-date with their rabies vaccination, it's easier to be a little more spontaneous in your travels. 

Your dog must be microchipped, but this is the law anyway, so it should be a given. 

For entry into the EU, your dog is not required to be up-to-date on their standard annual boosters. 

Step 1 - Rabies Vaccination 

This is the part that takes a bit more forward planning. Your dog requires a rabies vaccination to enter Europe.  This must be given 21 days (with day 1 being the day post-vaccine) before you can get your Animal Health Certificate (AHC).  Generally, a rabies vaccination will last for 3 years, so once this has been given, future travels become much more straightforward as this wouldn't typically need to be done annually.  Your regular vet can administer this.  Of course, you can shop around, but this will set you back around £70 per dog. 

Step 2 - Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

This seems to be the part that causes the most confusion, but I promise it's relatively straightforward. Ensure you have a vet well-versed in filling these out, as they will be the one thing that ensures you can get your dog across the border. They are very picky, and some people have had severe delays caused by incorrectly filled-out forms. 

Last year, I used our regular vets, who charged £165. There is no standard charge, so these can be charged at your vet's discretion.  They require a lot of time from your vet, hence the seemingly high charge, and as most vets don't do them regularly, they can take longer and result in higher charges. 

This year, I opted to use a company that specialises in issuing AHCs.  I used Pet Travel West Midlands and highly recommend the service.  It cost me £120 for 2 dogs or would've been £100 for a single dog.  You can have up to 5 dogs on the same AHC. 

It was a very straightforward process. I filled in their forms, gave them all of my dogs' information, sent over proof (with expiry dates) of their rabies vaccinations, and they filled out the AHC for both dogs. We then arranged a date to collect the certificate, and we were good to travel. 

The AHC must be issued no more than 10 days before your travel date. 

Assuming your dog is up-to-date on their rabies already, this is the only thing you need to worry about before travelling into the EU.

Step 3 - Tapeworm Tablets

So, this is for the end of your trip. 

All dogs entering the UK from the EU must have a tapeworm tablet administered by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (1-5 days) before the dog arrives in the UK. It's important to factor in any potential delays, and if travelling by ferry, ensure you factor it in with the arrival time in the UK rather than the departure time of your ferry. 

There are some exceptions to these rules. Dogs arriving directly from a few countries are exempt from this; however, as most people will be travelling through France and surrounding countries, most people will not be exempt.

This means you will need to find a vet while you are in mainland Europe. A fantastic Facebook group (click here) has a map showing vets across much of Europe and can give you a rough idea of costs, English-speaking vets, parking, and such. 

Many vets will allow walk-ins as it's a quick service. 

Last year, we finished up in the Pyrenees, so our Airbnb host arranged a vet appointment with their local vet.  Their English was very limited as it was rural, so bear this in mind if you do not speak a language well.  The AHC does also have a french translation, so most vets will be able to read through what it is.  As we were not in a touristy area, these vets were unfamiliar with the process. Despite this, we had no issues and were allowed back into the UK.  This vet cost us around £35 for the appointment and tablet. 

Unfortunately, it made Evo very poorly, so I decided to have Droncit prescribed by my vet this year.  Most vets abroad will be happy to administer a tablet you have provided, assuming it contains praziquantel, which is required to cover the tapeworm aspect.  But some won't, so do consider this.  We saw a vet in Italy this year who was familiar with the process, administered our provided tablets and charged just a total of £15 for both dogs' appointments.  

It's just something to remember to factor in time-wise on your trip, as the end of the trip soon comes around! 

Documentation and Immunisation costs: 

Total cost for 1 dog in 2023 (1 x rabies vax, AHC, tapeworm) - £270

Total cost for 2 dogs in 2024 (1 x rabies vax, AHC - 2 dogs, tapeworm) - £205

Total cost for 2 dogs in 2025 (AHC, 2 dogs tapeworm) - Maximum - £155

So, as you can see, 2025 will be much cheaper as both dogs will have up-to-date rabies jabs.  That cost is based on a more expensive consultation at £35 for the tapeworm, but I hope not to pay that much!

Prices will vary between vets, so an exact figure is impossible to give; however, it gives you a rough idea of the cost of the paperwork and treatments required for your trip. 

Of course, this is an approximate guide, so variation does exist. I always recommend speaking to someone who is knowledgeable about ensuring you have the right documentation for your specific trip.

Transport

How you reach your destination is a bit of a personal preference. We opted to travel via the Eurotunnel, but of course, a ferry is also an option. I have only ever travelled by ferry without a dog, so I cannot comment on the logistics or experience surrounding that. 

Generally, options vary depending on your chosen route and the ferry itself. Some require dogs to stay within the vehicle during the crossing, others offer the option to book a pet-friendly cabin, and some offer kennels. 

For us, the ferry was never even an option we considered. We have since considered it when we have considered other destinations, but we always return to travelling via the Eurotunnel. 

The Eurotunnel seemed to provide the most flexibility with the shortest crossing time (by some margin). Arriving in Calais has worked just fine for us, and we have generally travelled from home, crossed the border, and stopped a night around Reims to get some rest before heading further south. 

The cost of crossings varies.  They have more 'antisocial' crossing times between 00:00 and 06:00, which seems to be a more favourable rate.  The more 'acceptable' hours are a little bit more expensive.  Price is also dependent on the type of ticket you have.  They have options for refundable and flexible tickets, or not.  We have never have had an issue if we were delayed on a standard ticket, but I wouldn't take that as gospel. 

The sticking point with the Eurotunnel is that they're cheeky and add an extra £22 per pet per journey.  So taking 2 dogs to Europe and back will set you back another £88 on top of the crossing price. 

Again, it's hard to give an exact price on the crossing, as it depends on vehicle size, etc. However, it cost us around £250 (there and back) before factoring in the dogs. So, for a round figure, let's say around £350. 

The process for getting the dogs checked in is very straightforward. 

On the UK-France side, you will add your details at the check-in booths, get your stickers and crossing time, and also be given your sticker that states you are travelling with pets. You will then continue to the departure lounge and spot the Pet Reception. 

A word of warning: For reactive dogs, just be aware that there can be a lot of dogs crammed in a very small space, with owners busy concentrating on their documentation and not their dogs. We did have one man this time around who was insistent on his young labrador greeting every dog in the room. Assuming all of your information is correct, though, you should be processed within less than 5 minutes (not taking into account any queue times). 

You will be required to scan your dog's microchip to ensure it matches with the documents.  You will do this yourself, so it isn't a problem if your dog isn't happy about being handled by others. 

Dogs are allowed inside the lounge area, and there is a designated exercise area. 

We found that the queues have been crazy every single time, so there have been ample opportunities for leg stretches throughout the queue time. 

On the France-UK side, the Pet Reception is before you reach the check-in booths, so make sure you don't miss it! The process is the same, but again, the Pet Reception place is small, and there can be queues. The staff are always helpful and polite, but again, if you have a less social dog, just be aware of others. 

Another post-Brexit delight is that officially you are not permitted to take any meat and dairy products into the EU, so this includes dog food.  The only exemption is if your dog requires prescription food for medical reasons.  If this is the case, you can have a note from your vet written out and bring up to 2kg of food. 

The good news is that Maxi-Zoo, which appears to be the French equivalent of Pets at Home and similar, is well-stocked with a range of good-quality foods readily available in the UK. Therefore, if your dog is not usually fed a particular food, you can ensure your dog is well-adjusted to the food before you go on your trip. 

 At the Maxi-Zoo I visited, I spotted the following brands that I regularly see in the UK: 

• Carnilove (wet and dry)
• Taste of the Wild
• Nature's Variety (wet and dry)
• Edgard Cooper (wet and dry)
• Orijen 

There was a range of flavours and options available, as well as brands that were also of good quality, but they were not available (at least widely) in the UK. 

It was also very easy to stock up on good-quality treats, and I found Maxi-Zoo to be well-stocked with long lines, leads, and harnesses. 

Another thing to note is that rules on walking and training tools vary widely across the UK, so ensure you are up to speed on the legalities surrounding them in each country.  Many countries have slips, prongs and e-collars banned. 

Countries such as Switzerland have even stricter laws.  Make sure you are aware of what's what to avoid some nasty fines. 

Dogs are quite restricted within France, and on the whole, I didn't find it to be particularly dog-friendly. Finding dog-friendly hikes took a bit of extra time and research, and this is something to bear in mind that I will touch on in future posts. 

I would recommend ensuring you have a comfy and safe means of transporting your dog.  A good quality (preferably crash-tested) crate is a great option.  For single dogs, single crates are a great option to maximise boot space! We used a single crate when we took Evo and a double crate when we took the 2 of them.  

Follow along to see my next post about our dog-friendly trip itineraries. The first trip just includes France, while the second includes Switzerland and a small bit of Italy! I'm going to go over our exact route, the bits I would change, and the bits we loved so you can learn from our mistakes! 

Hope you enjoyed reading :)