UK to Croatia with a pet: AHC post-Brexit guide (2026)

If you have taken your dog to France, Spain or Italy in the last few years, you will already know the Animal Health Certificate. If you are planning your first trip to Croatia since Brexit, or if someone told you your old pet passport "still works for some things", read carefully.

From 22 April 2026, EU pet passports issued to GB residents are no longer accepted for entry into the EU. This includes passports issued before that date by EU-country vets. The AHC (Animal Health Certificate) route is now the only option for residents of England, Scotland, and Wales. Northern Ireland residents remain within the EU scheme and this article will clarify exactly what that means for you.

Why UK pet passports no longer work#

When the UK left the EU on 1 January 2021, British-issued EU pet passports immediately became invalid for EU travel. This was widely reported. What was less clearly reported, and what is now the critical issue for 2026, is the second change.

Some GB residents obtained EU pet passports by visiting a vet in France, Germany or another EU country, having the passport issued there, and then using it for subsequent travel. The EU closed this route from 22 April 2026 by restricting EU pet passport issuance to residents of EU member states. A passport issued to a person with a British address, regardless of which EU country's vet signed it, is no longer accepted at EU entry points.

The result: GB residents travelling to Croatia now need an AHC for every trip. There is no workaround, no legacy exception, and no "if it was issued before X date" grace period, the April 2026 rule is in force now.

The GB AHC explained#

The Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is an official document signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) that confirms your pet meets EU entry requirements. It covers the same information as an EU pet passport, microchip number, owner details, rabies vaccination history, clinical examination, but it is issued per trip rather than held for the animal's lifetime.

GOV.UK does not publish a numbered form code on its consumer-facing pages. The certificate is referred to as the "Animal Health Certificate" for pet travel to the EU.

The AHC applies to dogs, cats, and domestic ferrets. It does not cover rabbits, birds, reptiles, rodents, or other species, those have separate (and considerably more complex) import rules.

DEFRA OV requirements: not just any vet#

The AHC must be signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV), which is a specific APHA-accredited status. Not every registered vet in the UK holds OV accreditation. Your regular vet may or may not be an OV.

To find out:

• Ask your vet practice directly whether they employ an OV or can provide AHC appointments.
• Use APHA's pet travel helpline: 03000 200 301 or email pettravel@apha.gov.uk.
• Dedicated pet travel clinics (such as PetTravelPass.uk and similar services) typically employ OVs and can issue AHCs for a fixed fee.

GOV.UK explicitly states: "if your vet cannot issue you an animal health certificate, ask them to find an official veterinarian who can." This is worth doing several weeks before travel, popular travel-season dates get booked out quickly.

The 10-day validity window#

The AHC is valid for entry into the EU within 10 days of the date it is issued. Day 1 is the issue date itself.

This 10-day window is hard. It means you cannot get the AHC during one veterinary appointment and then travel three weeks later. You must book the AHC appointment for a date that is 10 days or fewer before you land in Croatia.

After entry into the EU, the same AHC covers you for onward travel within EU member states. DEFRA's April 2026 update extended this to 6 months, an increase from the previous 4-month figure that GOV.UK guidance pages may still show.

A new AHC is required for each separate trip from Great Britain to the EU. You cannot reuse an AHC from a previous trip.

Cost: what to expect#

There is no government-set fee for AHCs. Vets price them freely, and the range is wide.

Based on current UK market data:

• Dedicated pet travel clinics (PetTravelPass.uk and similar): approximately £80 to £130 per certificate
• High-street vet practices with OV: typically £150 to £250 or more
• Some university veterinary teaching hospitals (e.g. the Royal Veterinary College): variable, confirm directly

If you have two dogs, you typically need two AHCs (one per animal), though some practices issue combined certificates for multiple pets from the same household at a reduced rate. Confirm in advance.

The "£100 to £200" figure that circulates in UK pet travel guides is a reasonable mid-market estimate. Budget at the higher end if you are using a high-street practice in London or a major city; the lower end is more typical of clinics that specialise in pet travel certificates.

Additional costs to budget: the clinical examination fee (sometimes bundled into the AHC fee, sometimes separate), any tapeworm treatment required on return (see below), and any vaccinations or boosters if your dog's records are not current.

Sample 8-week preparation timeline#

• Week -8: Check microchip is ISO-compliant, confirm rabies vaccination is current and will remain valid through return date
• Week -6: Book OV appointment for a date within 10 days of your departure. Ask for the Croatia-specific AHC.
• Week -4: Confirm airline pet booking (cabin or hold). UK to Croatia routes exist on Croatia Airlines, British Airways (hold only), Ryanair/easyJet (no pets except assistance dogs).
• Week -2: Update flea and tick prevention treatment
• Day -10 to -1: OV appointment, examination, AHC issued and signed. USDA endorsement is not needed, this is a UK OV document.
• Travel day: Carry original AHC. Present at Croatian Customs on arrival.
• Day before return: Dog needs tapeworm treatment, see Return to UK Rules below
• Return to UK: Present AHC (and tapeworm record) at UK border point

Return to GB rules#

This is the part many first-time travelers miss entirely, and it applies specifically to dogs (not cats or ferrets).

Under UK import rules, your dog must receive a praziquantel-based tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before you arrive back in Great Britain. The treatment must be recorded by the vet, name of product, dose, date and time, vet's signature, in the relevant section of your AHC or in a new official document. Croatia is not on the UK's tapeworm-treatment-exempt list (only Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta and Norway are exempt).

In practice: if you are on a 10-day Croatian holiday and flying home on day 10, you need a Croatian vet appointment on day 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9 (no later). Tourist-area vets in Croatia's coastal resorts do handle this, it is a routine consultation for UK visitors. The treatment itself is a single praziquantel tablet or injection and takes about 10 minutes. Budget 30 to 60 euro for the vet visit including the recorded certificate entry.

For cats and ferrets, no tapeworm treatment is required for return to the UK.

For the return journey itself, your pet needs to travel on an APHA-approved transport route. UK Customs will check the AHC and tapeworm record on arrival.

Northern Ireland exception#

Northern Ireland residents are in a materially different situation.

NI remains within the EU pet-travel scheme under the Windsor Framework. NI vets can issue valid EU pet passports, and NI residents use them for travel to Croatia exactly as any other EU-country resident would, no AHC required.

From 4 June 2025, GB residents travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a pet need a free Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD), applied for via APHA. The PTD is lifetime-valid, requires only microchip registration, and is free. However, the NI PTD cannot be used for travel from NI into the Republic of Ireland or other EU states, it is only for the GB to NI crossing. For travel from NI to Croatia, NI residents use their EU pet passport.

For NI residents crossing from NI into the Republic of Ireland and then travelling onward to Croatia: your EU pet passport is valid for the whole journey. No additional documents are required for internal EU movement.

For NI residents returning from Croatia via Dublin Airport: your EU pet passport is still valid for the Republic of Ireland side. Crossing from ROI to NI is an internal UK matter and the NI PTD rules apply.

Frequently asked questions#

Can I use my pre-2021 UK-issued EU pet passport at all? No. UK-issued EU pet passports became invalid for EU travel from 1 January 2021. They have no continued validity, no grace period, and cannot be used for any EU travel including to Croatia.

I got a new EU pet passport issued by a French vet in 2023. Can I use it now? No, not if you are a GB resident. From 22 April 2026, EU pet passports issued to GB residents, wherever they were issued, are no longer accepted for EU entry. You need an AHC.

Does the AHC cover multiple trips? No. One AHC per trip, starting from the date it is issued (10-day window to enter the EU). After that trip you need a new AHC for the next one.

My dog has been to Croatia four times before. Does he need the same documentation as a first-time visitor? Yes. The AHC process does not become simpler with repeat visits. An OV must issue a new AHC for every trip.

Do I need to declare my pet at UK Customs when returning? You do not typically make a separate customs declaration for a pet returning with its owner, but you must present the documentation at the designated point of entry. Your carrier (airline, ferry company) will have confirmed the approved route, and Customs officers will check the paperwork.

My cat is coming to Croatia but not back, she is staying with family. What do I need for one-way travel? The AHC covers the outbound journey. If the cat will remain in Croatia long-term, Croatian residency registration at a local municipality and compliance with Croatian domestic animal rules (including annual registration with the local vet registry) will be required. Contact the Croatian Ministry of Agriculture for long-term residency specifics.

Sources#

GOV.UK Taking your pet abroad and AHC pages; GOV.UK New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents (April 2026 DEFRA announcement); GOV.UK Bringing your pet to Great Britain (tapeworm); GOV.UK Apply for a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document; DAERA Northern Ireland Travelling with Pets; Royal Veterinary College AHC information; Croatian Veterinary Directorate; Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.