The UK government is aiming to rejoin the EU’s pet passport programme as part of ongoing efforts to reset post-Brexit relations, The Independent reports.

Before Brexit, hundreds of thousands of British pet owners took advantage of the scheme, which allowed pets to travel freely within the EU with minimal red tape. However, since leaving the EU in January 2021, UK travellers must now microchip and vaccinate their pets against rabies and pay up to £200 for a new animal health certificate before each trip.

British negotiators are now pushing for cats and dogs to regain "freedom of movement" across the EU, as originally reported by The Telegraph. Rejoining the scheme would require the UK to reach a broader sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) agreement with the EU—likely involving concessions on long-term fishing rights.

A government source told The Independent: “Nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.”

The EU’s pet passport is valid for life, provided rabies vaccinations are kept up to date. Current rules require UK pet owners to obtain a health certificate within 10 days of travel, ensure dogs are treated for tapeworm, and observe a 21-day wait period after the initial rabies shot before traveling.

Trade and travel have become more complicated since the UK lost its alignment with EU regulations, and the food and farming industries have particularly suffered. The Centre for Inclusive Trade Policy noted that while the EU has tightened rules around pesticides and other substances, the UK has focused on higher animal welfare standards.

The UK government has said it wants an SPS agreement to reduce border checks and lower food costs.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to announce a new reset deal with EU leaders—European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—at a meeting on Monday. However, final negotiations have hit snags, with some EU countries dissatisfied with UK concessions on issues like fishing rights and student fees.

According to the Financial Times, EU states are also pushing for the UK to recognize the jurisdiction of the European Court of Justice (ECJ).

The potential deal could include broader regulatory alignment to ease trade and introduce a youth mobility scheme similar to agreements the UK has with countries like Australia, for citizens aged 18 to 40. Photo by User:Frosya a, Wikimedia commons.