Travelling Between Great Britain and Northern Ireland With Your Pets

Travelling with your pets between Great Britain and Northern Ireland has just become a lot easier, thanks to a brand-new scheme that has been launched! For years, pet owners in England, Scotland and Wales faced a raft of post-Brexit paperwork and restrictions when trying to bring their animals into Northern Ireland, even just for a short trip. Now, the UK government has unveiled a long-term solution that promises to simplify the whole UK pet travel process dramatically, making it easier and more affordable to travel between the two countries.

Under the new Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme (NIPTS), pet owners in Great Britain can apply for a free, lifelong Pet Travel Document (PTD) that replaces the complicated and costly paperwork that followed Brexit. Before this change, owners had to go through the same rigorous process as if they were taking their pet to the European Union. That meant expensive vet visits, certificates, and vaccinations.

However, the new PTD eliminates all of that. Instead of completing extensive paperwork and paying for hefty vet bills every time you want to visit family or go on holiday in Northern Ireland, you can now apply for a one-time document that will last the lifetime of your pet. There are no renewal fees, no expiry dates, and no routine vet appointments needed as part of the application.

The only real requirement is that your pet, whether it’s a dog, cat or ferret, must be microchipped. Once that’s in place, you can submit your application online through the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA). The document will be linked to your pet’s microchip, and authorities will simply scan it at the port or airport to verify that your pet is cleared to travel.

After Brexit, Northern Ireland was treated differently under the Windsor Framework, and rules around pet movement became confusing, time-consuming, and costly. This complexity had a big effect on domestic travel. 

Many pet owners simply gave up on travelling to Northern Ireland altogether.

With this new document, the complexities are gone. It allows for smoother travel, greater freedom, and more confidence for people who want to bring their pets along, whether it be for a weekend getaway, family reunions or dog shows and competitions.

Importantly, the change also benefits working animals and assistance dogs, which were previously caught up in the same bracket. Now, guide dogs and other service animals can travel more easily alongside their owners.

It is still important to note that the PTD is only valid for travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you’re planning to go further into the European Union, such as continuing to the Republic of Ireland, you’ll still need to meet the full EU pet travel requirements, which can be found here.

That includes securing an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or EU Pet Passport, along with ensuring your pet is fully vaccinated against rabies. In some cases, such as with dogs, additional treatments like tapeworm medication may also be required. These requirements remain unchanged, so if your journey takes you beyond Northern Ireland, you’ll need to plan accordingly.

This change is expected to give a significant boost to the Northern Ireland tourism industry. With easier pet travel, more families are likely to plan holidays to Northern Ireland. The hassle of paperwork and unexpected costs was a real barrier for many, especially when compared with the simplicity of travelling to Scotland, Wales, or England.

The new scheme is already live via the Government's website, but pet owners are being encouraged to apply early, especially if they have summer holiday plans. Processing is expected to be quick; however, if you’re planning to fly with your pet, the government recommends informing the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) at least 10 working days before your journey.

So, the launch of the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme marks a major shift in how pet travel works within the UK. It reflects a more common-sense approach, removing unnecessary barriers and aligning pet policy with the everyday needs of families, individuals, and professionals. It’s free, it’s permanent, and it puts pets and their owners first.