Travelling to England with Your Dog
Entry rules, ferries with pet cabins and tips for travelling with your dog
- EU pet passport accepted for entry
- Pet cabins available with DFDS and P&O Ferries
- Tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before entry
- ETA required since April 2025, also for dog owners
Entry Requirements
What Your Dog Needs for England
For entry into Great Britain, an EU pet passport issued in the EU is still accepted. You only need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) if your dog does not have an EU pet passport.
EU Pet Passport
ISO Microchip
Rabies Vaccination
Tapeworm Treatment
Costs at a Glance
AHC (exception)
Rabies Vaccination
Tapeworm Treatment
Pet Cabin
Pet-Friendly Ferries
Ferries with Dogs to England
Table of Contents
Ferries with Pet Cabins
DFDS: Amsterdam-Newcastle
DFDS offers pet-friendly cabins where your dog stays with you for the whole crossing: four-berth sea-view cabins with vinyl flooring for up to two medium-sized dogs, on Deck 4 of the Princess Seaways and Deck 5 of the King Seaways. If they are sold out, book a kennel on the same deck; you bring the bedding yourself. Dogs cannot stay in the vehicle on this route, that option is for cats and other pets only. Dogs are not allowed in the public areas of the ship, but there is a dedicated dog-friendly outdoor deck right beside the cabins and kennels, with a seating area for you. Keep your dog on a lead on the way there. The cabins and the dog deck are reached by stairs only, there is no lift.
P&O Ferries: Rotterdam-Hull
P&O has six dog-friendly cabins per ship on Deck 7 of the Rotterdam-Hull route, taking either two small dogs or one medium to large dog; they are allocated first come, first served. If they are gone, your dog travels in a kennel on the same deck (up to 20, 35 or 45 kg). Pets cannot stay in the vehicle on this overnight crossing. On board, dogs stay in the cabin or in the dog exercise area next to the kennels; the other decks of the ship are off limits to them. P&O's Pet Lounge runs only on Dover-Calais, not on this route. As the cabins sit right beside the kennels, it can get noisy at night.
P&O Ferries: Dover-Calais
On the short Channel crossing (90 minutes), dogs stay in the vehicle on the car deck - or you book the Pet Lounge in advance, a separate space for dog and owner with refreshments and its own outside deck area. Travelling with a dog, check in 90 minutes before departure.
DFDS: Calais/Dunkirk-Dover
On DFDS's Channel routes, dogs stay in the vehicle on the car deck; there is no separate pet area on board. You cannot stay in the vehicle yourself during the crossing - ask at guest services whether you can visit your pet, it is not guaranteed.
Banned Dog Breeds
The following breeds are not allowed to enter the UK:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Japanese Tosa
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- American XL Bully (banned since 2024)
Crossbreeds of these types can also be turned away.
Maximum Number
You may bring a maximum of 5 pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) per traveller.
Returning to the EU
For the return journey from the UK to the EU, an EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination is enough. A new AHC is not required.
ETA for Dog Owners
Since 2 April 2025, all EU citizens need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA, £20) for the UK. The ETA applies to people only, dogs don't need their own ETA, but they still need a valid EU pet passport.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about travelling to England with a dog
Does my dog need an EU pet passport? +
Yes - and it is enough on its own. For entry into Great Britain, an EU pet passport issued in the EU is still accepted. You only need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) if your dog does not have an EU pet passport.
What does my dog need for entry? +
Your dog needs: 1) an ISO microchip (11784/11785), implanted before the rabies vaccination. 2) A valid rabies vaccination (21-day waiting period after the first dose). 3) A valid EU pet passport as its travel document. 4) Tapeworm treatment with praziquantel, 24-120 hours before arrival in the UK.
What does it cost to bring a dog into the UK? +
With a valid EU pet passport, the main costs are the rabies vaccination (€30-50) and the tapeworm treatment (€10-20). An AHC (around €100-150) is only needed if your dog has no pet passport. The pet cabin on the ferry costs from around €30-50 extra, depending on the operator.
Is the tapeworm treatment really mandatory? +
Yes! The tapeworm treatment must be carried out 24 to 120 hours before your planned arrival in the UK. It must be recorded by the vet in the pet passport with the exact date and time. Active ingredient: praziquantel.
Which ferries are the most pet-friendly? +
DFDS (Amsterdam-Newcastle) offers pet cabins and kennels plus a dedicated dog-friendly outdoor deck. P&O Ferries (Rotterdam-Hull) has dog-friendly cabins and kennels on Deck 7; P&O's Pet Lounge runs only on Dover-Calais. On the short Channel crossings, dogs usually stay in the vehicle.