Travel Guides

Table of Contents The Week Before Leaving the UK UK to EU Dog Travel Rules After Brexit Microchip and Rabies Requirements for UK to EU Dog Travel Getting an Animal Health Certificate for Travel to Europe Travelling from the UK to France with a Dog via Eurotunnel How Long Can You Travel in Europe with a Dog After Entry? Getting an EU Pet Passport in Europe Returning to the UK with a Dog: The Tapeworm Requirement Travelling Europe with a Dog from the UK: What I’ve Learned The Week Before Leaving the UK In October 2025, I packed up my life in Hackney Wick, London and drove out of the city with no return date in the diary. This wasn’t a weekend in France or a short European break. It was the start of a long-term road trip across Europe and beyond with my best travel companion, Roly. I’m a digital nomad, which sounds free and spontaneous, and it is but this chapter came with some structure, because this wasn’t just me crossing borders. It was me and Roly, my five-year-old cockapoo, navigating a post-Brexit system that requires precision. In the weeks leading up to departure, I’d been quietly working through the details: calculating rabies timelines, double-checking microchip records, booking the Animal Health Certificate appointment, and working backwards from the date we’d drive through the Channel Tunnel and officially leave the UK. Travelling from the UK to Europe with a dog isn’t complicated but it is specific. This is exactly how I did it: the sequencing, the paperwork, the vaccines, the timing, the real costs from someone who has actually done it. If you’re planning the same move, this will make the process feel clear, structured, and manageable from the start. UK to EU Dog Travel Rules After Brexit A few years ago, travelling from the UK to Europe with a dog would have been far more straightforward. You’d have a UK-issued EU pet passport tucked away in a drawer, reusable and ready whenever you fancied to travel to Europe with your dog. No extra appointments. No ticking clock. After Brexit, that changed. The UK is now classed as a “Part 2 listed country,” which means UK-issued EU pet passports are no longer valid for entry into the EU. Instead, each trip requires an Animal Health Certificate issued specifically for that journey. It’s just an additional layer and one where timing matters. Microchip before rabies Twenty-one days after vaccination Certificate issued within ten days of travel Once you understand the structure, it’s easy to work within it. Microchip and Rabies Requirements for UK to EU Dog Travel Before you can even think about the Animal Health Certificate, the foundations have to be in place. First: microchip. Then: rabies vaccination. The order matters. If the rabies vaccine was given before the microchip, it’s invalid for travel. Once Roly’s rabies vaccination was done, the clock started. You have to wait 21 full days before travelling to Europe. That waiting period isn’t negotiable. It’s built into the rules. So in the weeks leading up to departure, I was counting carefully forward from that vaccine date, working backwards from when I wanted to leave London. Once that window had passed, only then could I return to the vet for the next step. Getting an Animal Health Certificate for Travel to Europe Once the timelines were locked in, the next step was booking Roly’s Animal Health Certificate appointment. I went to The Hackney Vet in Clapton, his regular vet in London and the appointment cost £265. By the time we walked into the clinic, I already knew the dates by heart. The microchip was scanned first. The rabies vaccination record checked. Twenty-one days counted carefully forward to make sure everything aligned with the UK to EU dog travel rules. The vet worked through the certificate page by page, completing each section carefully before signing it in blue ink, a small but important detail, as official signatures must be clearly distinguishable from printed copies. I also had to sign the document confirming the travel details were correct. There are no digital versions. No emailed backups. What you’re handed in that room is the original document you travel with. That certificate wasn’t just another form. It was our clearance to leave the UK and drive into Europe. Travelling from the UK to France with a Dog via Eurotunnel I drove down to Folkestone the night before my crossing and stayed at the Burlington Hotel, BW Premier by Best Western an easy, dog-friendly option close to the terminal. The next morning, we headed to the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle early, and I’d recommend you do the same. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours, especially if you’re travelling with a dog. Everything runs efficiently, but it isn’t a ten-minute process. Here’s how it works: Main check-in Pet Reception (microchip scanned and documents checked) UK passport control EU passport control Quick stop for toilets or snacks before boarding At Pet Reception, Roly’s microchip was scanned and the Animal Health Certificate reviewed carefully. Rabies dates confirmed. Details checked. Only once everything aligned with the UK to EU pet travel rules were we cleared to proceed. Then you drive your car onto the shuttle and remain inside for the 35-minute crossing to Calais. No handing your dog over. No separation. Just you, your vehicle, and the train carrying you under the Channel. And just like that, we were in France, legally entered and officially on the road. How Long Can You Travel in Europe with a Dog After Entry? Once you’ve entered the EU legally with an Animal Health Certificate, the pressure drops. The certificate is valid for four months for travel within the EU. That means once you’re in Europe, you don’t need new paperwork every time you cross an internal border. For a long road trip, that flexibility changes everything. The key restriction is the entry window: you must enter the EU within ten days of the certificate being issued. After that, you can move freely within most EU countries for up to four months, provided the rabies vaccination remains valid. It’s structured, but it’s workable and once you understand the validity rules, travelling Europe with a dog becomes straightforward. Getting an EU Pet Passport in Europe There’s one more step that changes long-term travel completely. An Animal Health Certificate gets you into the EU. But if you’re staying for months and moving between countries, the real unlock is getting an EU-issued pet passport once you’re inside Europe. I got Roly’s French (EU) pet passport at Vetovie Fougères Vétérinaire in Rennes, France. The vet was fantastic; friendly, professional, and English-speaking, which made the whole process easy. They registered Roly, carried out a routine health check, and issued his EU passport on the spot. Total cost: around €60. That EU pet passport replaces the need for repeated Animal Health Certificates for travel within the EU and for future trips back into the EU from the UK, as long as the rabies vaccination remains valid. For long-term road travel, that’s a game-changer. It shifts everything from tightly managed paperwork windows to something far more fluid. Less admin. More road. Do You Need to Be an EU Resident to Get an EU Pet Passport? You might see conflicting advice online about this. There is no strict EU-wide rule that says you must be an EU resident to get an EU pet passport. However, in practice, some vets, depending on the country may choose not to issue passports to non-residents. This isn’t a legal restriction, but a vet-level decision. France is generally one of the easiest places to do this. In my case, Roly had his rabies vaccination done in the UK. When we arrived in France, the vet simply verified his records, carried out a quick check, and issued the passport. No restart. No waiting period. If your rabies vaccination is valid and properly recorded, the process is usually straightforward. Returning to the UK with a Dog: The Tapeworm Requirement Entering Europe is structured. Returning to the UK has one final rule you can’t ignore. Before re-entering the UK, your dog must receive tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arrival. It has to be administered by a vet and recorded properly in the passport or travel documentation. The timing isn’t flexible. Not earlier than 120 hours. Not later than 24. For Roly, I use Droncit, and I always book the appointment as soon as my return date is confirmed. Once that’s done, the process back through Eurotunnel is straightforward. Microchip scanned again. Documents checked. Cleared to re-enter. By that point, you’re no longer second-guessing the system. You’re just moving through it. Travelling Europe with a Dog from the UK: What I’ve Learned Travelling from the UK to Europe with a dog isn’t complicated but it rewards precision. Microchip first. Rabies second. Twenty-one days counted properly. Animal Health Certificate issued within ten days of entry. Tapeworm treatment timed carefully for the return. Once you’ve done it once, the structure makes sense. The paperwork becomes routine. The borders stop feeling like obstacles and start feeling like part of the route. For me, travelling Europe with Roly isn’t about ticking countries off a list. It’s about building a life on the move that still respects the rules. Less stress. More freedom. And once you understand the system, the road opens up.  For more dog travel planning guides, explore the full France Travel Guides.

Table of Contents From One Journey to the Next The Final Day in London: Packing Up a Chapter Why I Stayed in Folkestone Before the Eurotunnel Morning of the Crossing: Eurotunnel Pet Tips Inside the Eurotunnel: 35 Minutes to a New Chapter Driving in France: What to Expect Pit Stop Magic: Chocolate Briochette & Roly’s Stretch First Impressions of Rouen What I Learned on Day One of the Road Trip From One Journey to the Next After six months of exploring the UK from January to July 2025, from Cornwall’s beaches to Bristol’s art scene, I realised how much the flow of the open road suited me. Mornings without alarms. Days shaped by curiosity. The joy of Roly riding shotgun, ears flapping in the breeze. Somewhere between the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales, the idea of continuing the journey across Europe stopped feeling wild… and started feeling right. So when autumn arrived, I decided to go for it. This time: a little further afield, Europe and Africa. The Final Day in London: Packing Up a Chapter October 2nd, 2025, the day everything became real.  I spent the entire day packing up the last of my belongings, underestimating how long the “final bits” would actually take (classic). But by the end of it, everything was loaded into my Mini One, Roly was in tow, and my little car was officially transformed into a European travel pod. I took one last look at my London apartment, closed the door behind me, and exhaled. I didn’t know exactly what was ahead, just that it was time. Time to open a new chapter, even if the pages haven’t been written yet. As I drove away with Roly curled up beside me, his eyes full of curiosity, I felt the shift. And just like that, life on the road had officially begun. Why I Stayed in Folkestone Before the Eurotunnel Pro tip: If you’re doing a big move or long-distance road trip, take the pressure off. I drove to Folkestone the night before my Eurotunnel crossing and it was such a good call. The journey from London took around 2 hours and 45 minutes thanks to rush hour traffic, and by the time I arrived (around 9pm), I was starving. Pizza was the only thing on the to-do list. I stayed at the Burlington Hotel, BW Premier by Best Western which had a smooth check-in, friendly staff, and was dog-friendly.  Before heading to the Eurotunnel in the morning, I also made a quick stop at the M&S Simply Food at the nearby petrol station to stock up on snacks and groceries. After a long travel day, having something to eat when I arrived in Rouen without needing to hunt for a shop was a game-changer. Just scenic drives, dog-friendly stays, and a flexible lifestyle that made room for spontaneity. Morning of the Crossing: Eurotunnel Pet Tips Roly and I went for a short walk along the promenade in the rain. I couldn’t quite see France across the Channel, but I knew it was just out there waiting. We headed to the Eurotunnel Le Shuttle terminal early, and I highly recommend you do the same. Here’s the breakdown of the process: Main check-in Pet check-in (they scan your dog’s microchip + documents) UK passport control EU passport control Toilet/snack/fuel stop before boarding Give yourself 1.5+ hours, especially if you’re travelling with a dog. Everything runs efficiently, but it’s not a 10-minute job. Inside the Eurotunnel: 35 Minutes to a New Chapter Once waved through, I drove onto the shuttle train with car after car, neatly stacked like a real-life game of Tetris. It feels orderly. Industrial. Efficient. Once parked, I switched off the engine, handbrake on, and settled in. The train started moving with barely a jolt. No dramatic clunks or lurches, just a subtle hum. For 35 quiet minutes, we cruised beneath the Channel.  Before I knew it, we were slowing with arrival in Calais. I restarted the engine, and waited for the doors ahead to open. France was just moments away. You can also explore my guide Ferry to France from the UK (With a Car) if you're planning to travel to France by ferry.  Driving in France: What to Expect The moment you roll off the Eurotunnel in Calais, you’re practically on the motorway. Driving on the right wasn’t as daunting as I expected, it actually felt intuitive pretty quickly. The roads are smooth, and everything is in km/h, not miles per hour. The speed limit is 130km/h on the motorway, which is about 80mph (faster than the UK’s 70mph). Heads up: French motorways often have speed cameras. You’ll spot occasional warning signs or cameras mounted discreetly. Just something to be mindful of. I settled in for the 3-hour drive to Rouen, music on, Roly snoozing in the front. Pit Stop Magic: Chocolate Briochette & Roly’s Stretch About halfway into the drive, I needed a toilet. The thing is once you leave the motorway in France, you’re often in tiny, sleepy towns with not much open. By sheer luck, I found a gem: Boulangerie Victor in a village just outside Abbeville, called Nouvion-en-Ponthieu. It smelt like heaven, warm bread, pastries, that perfect bakery scent. I grabbed a chocolate briochette and asked the woman behind the counter to warm it up slightly. The chocolate started melting just enough… and wow, so delicious. I could’ve eaten ten. Toilet? ✔️ Snack? ✔️ Stretch break for Roly? ✔️ We were both happy. First Impressions of Rouen The final hour of the drive was smooth, and we arrived in Rouen around 6pm. The city was alive, people chatting over wine, walking dogs, shopping, laughing. That Friday night feeling was in the air. It felt vibrant, social, full of energy. I checked into my Airbnb and only brought in a few bits from the car, some clothes, essentials, dog food. No need to unpack everything when I’m only here for a week. Later that evening, I wandered the town just to soak it in. People dining indoors and outdoors, a man walking his dog, music and murmurs floating in the air. It felt good to be somewhere new. Out of London. In a fresh space. In motion. What I Learned on Day One of the Road Trip Take the pressure off by breaking up long journeys (Folkestone overnight was a game-changer) Stock up on groceries before you cross. Your future self will thank you Allow buffer time for border control and pet check-ins Stop at the bakery for a halfway stop and to stretch your legs Driving in France is easier than expected, especially on the motorways Speed cameras are around, drive relaxed but be mindful It’s okay not to know what comes next. Sometimes the road just opens up ahead of you For city-by-city breakdowns and deeper regional planning, explore our country travel guides.