Q&A
- Can I travel on the ferry with a pet?
Yes, and ferries are a particularly pet-friendly means of transport often offering dedicated facilities for pet owners such as pet lounges, kennels, and pet-friendly cabins.
Ferry operators usually accept dogs, cats and ferrets on board. Please check with individual operators for which other pets they will accept.
- What do I need to do to take my pet to the EU?
You will need to contact your vet at least one month before your travel date to ensure that your pet has had the correct vaccinations and you have the right documentation.
On 1 January 2021, Great Britain became a Part 2 listed third country in the EU Pet Travel Scheme, this means that when taking your pet or assistance dog to the EU (including the Republic of Ireland):
- they must be microchipped
- they must have had up-to-date rabies vaccinations at least 21 days before travel
- dogs have had tapeworm treatment if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta
- you must obtain an animal health certificate(AHC) from an official vet 10 days before travel. This is valid for 4 months for a single trip to the EU
- you must enter the EU through a designated Traveller’s Point of Entry (TPE), where your pet will be checked.
There is no change to the pet travel health requirements for entry into Great Britain, Great Britain continues to accept EU pet passports.
Detailed guidance from the Government on pet travel can be found here.
Click here for our advice on travelling safely with your dog.
- What do I need to do to take my pet to Northern Ireland?
From June 2025 pet owners will need a Pet Travel Document to take their pet from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. This document is valid for the lifetime of the animal and is free of charge. You can apply online through the government gateway here and pet owners will just need to make sure their pet or assistance dog is microchipped. Pet owners from Northern Ireland travelling to Great Britain do not need any additional documentation.
- Can I book my pet cat into a kennel on a ferry?
Yes, cats are accepted in on-board kennels. These must be booked in advance.
- If I am travelling as a foot passenger, where can I travel with my dog
Foot passengers can travel with their dogs within the British Isles, to Ireland, France and The Netherlands.
The facilities available to foot passengers vary per route and some routes only allow passengers with a vehicle to travel with a pet.
To travel to France from England as a foot passenger you need to book your dog into a kennel in advance on the DFDS route between Newhaven to Dieppe.