Prior to January 2021, cats, dogs and ferrets entering Ireland from the United Kingdom - as from all EU Member States - had to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by an EU Pet Passport.
Since then, as a consequence of the UK leaving the EU, there are additional requirements for pet cats, dogs and ferrets entering Ireland from Great Britain. There are, however, no changes in respect of such pets entering Ireland from Northern Ireland.
The additional requirements in respect of each pet travelling, or returning, from Great Britain to Ireland are as follows:
- they may only enter Ireland through certain Travellers’ Points of Entry - Dublin Airport, Dublin Port, Rosslare Port, Port of Cork at Ringaskiddy, Shannon Airport and Cork Airport.
- they must travel with either a health certificate issued by a UK official vet, or an EU pet passport. (EU pet passports issued by Northern Ireland remain valid for EU movement if they have been marked with a sticker by the issuing vet in Northern Ireland). This includes affirmation as to rabies vaccination status. An EU pet passport that was issued in GB is not valid for travel to the EU, even it was issued before January 2021).
- Dogs travelling from, or returning from, Great Britain to Ireland require treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis (tapeworm) by a veterinarian 24 to 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival in Ireland.
The required rabies vaccine is effective for a number of years and a booster is only generally required at least every three years.
The requirement for dogs to receive treatment against tapeworm plays an important role in maintaining Ireland’s Echinococcus multilocularis free status. Removing this requirement for treatment before entry would potentially leave Ireland vulnerable to the introduction of Echinococcus.
Since January 2021, the movement of pets between Ireland and Northern Ireland has been covered by the Ireland – Northern Ireland Protocol, which forms part of the broader EU-UK Withdrawal Agreement. Under the Protocol, Northern Ireland is subject to EU Regulation 576/2013 and so is still treated as if it were an EU Member State for the purposes of this Regulation.
Pet dogs travelling from Northern Ireland to Ireland must be microchipped, have a valid rabies vaccination and be accompanied by a valid EU or NI pet passport, or an EU health certificate - as heretofore.
The EU Commission has issued detailed guidance on this topic, as part of their series of Brexit Readiness Notices.
The Department has also issued a guidance document for pet travel after Brexit, and will continue to communicate with pet owners regarding the requirements for entering Ireland. The guidance document can be found here.
