Pet dogs, cats, ferrets and assistance dogs can now enter Northern Ireland with a simple, lifelong travel document.

Lifelong document will enable pets to enter Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

The Northern Ireland pet travel scheme is now open for applications, the BSAVA has confirmed.

Under the scheme, pet dog, cat, ferret or assistance dog owners can travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland with a simple Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD)

The PTD is free and valid for the pet’s lifetime. The only requirement is that owners must get their animal microchipped before travel.

The BSAVA writes: ‘Professionals in small animal practice may wish to make any clients intending to travel from GB to NI aware and direct them to the following government website for further up-to-date information.’

The PTD follows the announcement of a new pet travel scheme by Defra as part of the Windsor Framework in November 2024. The Windsor Framework is the agreement with the EU which replaced the old Northern Ireland Protocol.

It eliminates the requirement for pet owners to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC), have an up-to-date rabies vaccination and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment for each trip a pet takes between GB and NI. 

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