Thousands of Brit holidaymakers charged £180 for travelling to Europe thanks to new rule
BRITISH holidaymakers face a £180 charge if taking their beloved pets abroad on holiday.
Since Brexit and the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union, "pet passports" issued in Britain are no longer accepted for entry of dogs, cats or ferrets into EU countries.
For almost two decades, pet owners have been able to go abroad with their furry friends under the "pet passport" scheme.
Up until the start of 2021, the EU Pet Travel Scheme allowed Brits to take their pets on unlimited trips to and from the rest of the EU - but in the wake of Brexit, that's changed.
The EU has removed the UK from its "Part one listed" status in the Pet Travel Scheme and will no longer accept pet passports issued in the UK.
Instead, British pet owners much now pay as much as £180 for an "Animal Healthcare Certificate" which can be obtained from a vet.
Read more travel news
The rule change was actually put into effect back in January 2021 but travel restrictions around covid-19 meant it went largely unnoticed until now.
However, the red tape doesn't impact anyone visiting the UK from countries in the European Union, who can still use the much cheaper alternative of pet passports.
Most read in Travel
Travellers from the EU can obtain a pet passport from as little as €20 (£16.60), according to .
Those passports have the added benefit of being accepted in some non-EU countries such as USA, Norway, and Switzerland.
Read More on The Sun
It is understood that the Government are lobbying for the removal of the red tape so that British pet passports will once again be accepted for travel into EU countries.
Brits wanting to take their pet on holiday without the extra price tag can take a look at the best dog-friendly holidays in the UK, including cottages and caravans from £25 a night.
