Travelling Abroad with A Dog: Raw on the Road

Travelling Abroad With a Dog: Raw on the Road (2026 Update)

Travelling with your dog can be a joy, but taking a raw‑fed dog abroad requires a little extra planning. This guide gives you the current rules, what you can’t take, and how to feed raw safely while travelling.

🌍 Pet Travel Rules for the EU & Northern Ireland (2026)

Before travelling, always check the latest guidance on gov.uk, as regulations can change.

Your dog must have:

• A working microchip

• A valid rabies vaccination

  • Given after microchipping

  • First vaccination requires a 21‑day wait before travel

• An Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

  • Issued by an Official Veterinarian

  • Issued within 10 days of travel

  • Valid for:

    • 10 days to enter the EU

    • Up to 4 months for onward EU travel

    • Up to 4 months for re‑entry to Great Britain (if rabies cover remains valid)

• Tapeworm treatment if travelling to:

  • Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Malta

These rules apply to all dogs, including assistance dogs.

🟦 Pet Passports: What’s Actually Valid Now

❌ NOT valid for EU travel:

• Pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales)

  These cannot be used to enter the EU or Northern Ireland.

  
  

✅ Valid for EU & NI travel:

• EU pet passports

• Northern Ireland pet passports

• Passports from: Andorra, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, Vatican City

  
  

If your dog already has one of these and the rabies entry is valid, you can continue using it.

Only EU vets can update rabies entries in an EU passport. Any vet can record tapeworm treatment.

🍖 Raw Feeding & Border Restrictions

Post‑Brexit rules on products of animal origin (POAO) are strict.

❌ You cannot take into the EU or Northern Ireland:

• Raw dog food

• Raw meaty bones

• Offal

• Raw treats containing animal products

• Meat‑based pet food from Great Britain

Border officials will confiscate non‑compliant food.

✔ Returning to Great Britain:

You may bring in commercial pet food from the EU if:

• It is from an EU country,

• Under 2kg,

• In original packaging,

• For your own pet’s use.

Raw food still cannot be brought back into GB unless it meets strict processing rules (most raw does not).

🧳 Feeding a Raw‑Fed Dog Abroad

Because you can’t bring your usual raw food, plan ahead:

• Large EU pet stores often stock frozen raw/BARF

• Search: “BARF raw dog food + [destination]”

• Supermarkets and butchers for DIY raw

• Short‑term fresh or lightly cooked feeding if raw options are limited

Our blog on DIY Feeding can help should you choose this option

📞 Where to Get Official Advice

EU & Northern Ireland Travel

• Email: pettravel@apha.gov.uk

• Phone: 0370 241 1710

• Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm

  
  

Non‑EU Travel

• Email: exports@apha.gov.uk

• Phone: 03000 200 301

• Hours: Mon–Fri, 8:30am–5pm