Important Information: Taking Your Dog To The 2025 Belfast Champ Show
The Windsor Framework Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme: for people taking their pet dog, cat, ferret, or assistance dog from Great Britain to Northern Ireland
On 6 November 2024, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs published a policy paper: Northern Ireland pet travel scheme: how the scheme will work - GOV.UK announcing a new pet travel scheme as part of the Windsor Framework. The Windsor Framework is the agreement with the EU which replaced the old Northern Ireland Protocol. The Northern Ireland pet travel scheme will provide a new, simpler way to travel for pet dogs (or assistance dogs), cats and ferrets from Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) to Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland pet travel scheme
Applications for the pet travel document required for GB-based pets will open in April 2025 and the scheme will launch fully on 4 June 2025. The new pet travel scheme removes the existing requirement under the EU regulations for UK based pet owners to get an Animal Health Certificate, have an up-to-date rabies vaccination and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment, for each trip a pet or assistance dog owner takes from Great Britain to Northern Ireland.
Instead, pet owners living in Great Britain will be able to apply online, free of charge, for a lifelong pet travel document. There will also be an option to apply over the phone.
Pet owners living in Great Britain need to make sure their pet is microchipped to apply. Each pet will need its own pet travel document. This is valid for the lifetime of the pet.
Pet owners who are resident in Northern Ireland do not need to apply for a pet travel document to travel to Great Britain with their pet, and do not need a pet travel document to travel back from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. Northern Ireland pet owners are still required to make sure their pets are microchipped. They should refer to Defra's guidance before they travel.
If pet owners are travelling with their pet beyond Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland or another EU country, they will need an EU pet passport or Animal Health Certificate in line with the current requirements. They will not need to apply for the pet travel document.
Pet Travel Documents and the pets associated with them may be checked at GB points of departure.
To apply for a pet travel document, GB pet owners will need to:
* be aged 16 or over
* live at an address in Great Britain (England, Wales, Scotland)
* make sure their pet is microchipped and that their microchip information is up to date
* sign a declaration as part of the pet travel document confirming that the pet owner will not travel with their pet into Ireland or another EU country using this scheme
How do pet owners apply for a pet travel document?
Pet owners living in Great Britain can apply for a pet travel document free of charge. They must apply for the document before they travel to Northern Ireland. The scheme will open for applications in April 2025. To help owners understand the application process, please refer to the full guidance on Northern Ireland pet travel scheme: how the scheme will work - GOV.UK
Travelling with more than five pets or for commercial purposes
If pet owners want to travel with more than five pets at once to Northern Ireland for commercial purposes such as a change of ownership or sale, they cannot use the Northern Ireland pet travel scheme, and must adhere to the additional requirements listed here: Guidance on bringing commercial transports of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets to NI from GB | Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (daera-ni.gov.uk)
Pet owners traveling with more than five pets for a competition, exhibition or sporting event are allowed to use to Northern Ireland pet travel scheme. To do so, the pet owner will need to show written proof of registration for the event, or with an association organising such events, when they travel. Each pet will need to have their own pet travel document and be over 6 months old.
More information
If you have any questions about the scheme, please refer to the policy paper Northern Ireland pet travel scheme: how the scheme will work - GOV.UK, or alternatively email: ni.trade@defra.gov.uk. There will be more information once the scheme goes live in June 2025.
