New Pet Travel Document for travelling with your pet to Northern Ireland

The Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme allows for the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets and assistance dogs between Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

From 4 June 2025, pet owners in Great Britain will be able to use the new Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme if they are travelling with their eligible pet or assistance dog to Northern Ireland, providing that they are not travelling onwards to Ireland or the EU.

To take advantage of the scheme, GB residents will require a Northern Ireland pet travel document, which is valid for the lifetime of the pet and can be used for repeat trips to Northern Ireland. Pets and assistance dogs must be microchipped, and the pet owner must live at an address in Great Britain and be over 16 years old in order to apply.

Pet owners can already apply for the lifelong pet travel document free of charge via the following link: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Travelling to Northern Ireland – GOV.UK

Pet owners can still use an Animal Health Certificate to travel with their pet to Northern Ireland. However, the NI Pet Travel Scheme offers a simpler way to travel from GB to NI with pets than an AHC, as it does not require an OV signature. Furthermore, there is no requirement for pets travelling under the scheme to have an up-to-date rabies vaccination, nor – for dogs – tapeworm treatment.

This scheme will run alongside the existing requirements for commercial pet movements, and GB residents travelling onward to the EU.