Best How to insure a pet for international travel post-Brexit?

Published: 29 Jul 2025

Introduction

Taking your pet on a trip abroad after Brexit is trickier than it used to be, but a little planning can keep your animal calm and safe the whole way. The first and most important step is to purchase travel insurance that kicks in the moment you leave the UK. This guide walks you through getting the right overseas cover post-Brexit changes, paperwork you must carry and tips for picking a policy that matches your pet’s needs.

Table of Content

Post-Brexit Travel Requirements for Pets

Since the UK left the EU, the rules for taking pets across borders have shifted. Knowing these new requirements will keep your companion eligible to travel and give you peace of mind in case something goes wrong.

1. Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

Because Britain is no longer part of the EU Pet Passport scheme, you’ll now need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every journey. The vet must sign this document no more than 10 days before departure, confirming your pet’s fitness to travel, up-to-date rabies vaccination and any other treatments needed.

Tip:

The Animal Health Certificate is good for ten days the first time you enter the EU and, once inside, covers almost four months of journeys between member states. Keep a copy handy if you plan to come back to the UK. Because the document is time-limited, give yourself enough room to cross the border without a rush.

2. Microchipping and Rabies Vaccination

Since Brexit, your dog or cat must have a microchip before the vet gives a rabies jab. That little chip proves the vaccine belongs to your pet rather than another. The shot itself needs to be done at least twenty-one days before departure, so double-check the dates and numbers before you ask for the health certificate.

3. Tapeworm Treatment

Dogs heading to Finland, Ireland, Malta or a few other places must swallow a tapeworm tablet. A licensed vet gives the dose between twenty-four and one hundred twenty hours before the border, then writes it right on the animal passport. Missing this step can mean turning around at customs.

Why Insure Your Pet for International Travel Post-Brexit

Taking an animal overseas these days involves more paperwork, costs and sudden rule changes than in the past. Covering your pet with good travel insurance eases the financial bite caused by illness, flight delays or surprise quarantines.

1. Coverage for Veterinary Costs Abroad

Getting a pet checked in some foreign clinics can drain your wallet quickly, especially where medical fees run high. A solid travel policy for animals steps in if your dog or cat gets sick or hurts itself, covering the bills at the local hospital. That cushion keeps you from scrambling for cash or credit in an unfamiliar town when you just want the best care for your pet.

2. Trip Cancellation or Interruption

The same plan can save your holiday if illness strikes before you leave or even while you are already at the airport. Many top-tier pet policies include a cancellation clause that refunds the flights, hotels and tours you paid for but cannot use because your pal needs time to heal.

3. Lost or Stolen Pets

Nothing terrifies a guardian abroad like searching for a scared, lost pet or chasing after a thief. Travel coverage eases that burden by covering ads, posters and even a reasonable reward for anyone who safely brings your furry family member home.

Choosing the Right Pet Travel Insurance

Be sure the plan you pick matches the rules for travel after Brexit so you and your pet can roam without worry.

Not every pet-insurance plan looks after your animal when you take it abroad and that can especially be the case in non-EU countries.
Before you buy a policy, check that worldwide cover is written in for all the places on your itinerary. Plenty of modern contracts now bundle travel cover and emergency treatment if an unforeseen illness or injury crops up.
Each scheme sets its own limits, so what one policy pays might far exceed what another will foot the bill for.
Some will cap vet fees at a fixed sum, while others spell out conditions or treatments they simply exclude. Read the fine print and ask questions, so you know in advance exactly what’s included and what you may have to pay out of pocket.
Another point to bear in mind is how long the protection lasts. Confirm that cover stretches from the moment you leave the UK until you step back onshore and that it still holds if delays or unexpected extensions arise.

4. Specific Needs for Older Pets

Senior animals or those already coping with health problems usually need a different kind of cover. Many pet plans simply won’t pay for anything linked to an existing issue, while others give only partial help. Before you head off with an older or sick pet, talk it through with your insurer so you both understand the limits and can ask for adjustments if needed.

Cost of Pet Insurance for International Travel

What you must spend to insure your pet for a trip abroad is never fixed; many factors feed into the final price.

1. Pets Age and Breed

As a rule, older companions and breeds deemed risky—say flat-faced Bulldogs, Pugs or similar pooches—usually attract heftier premiums. Indeed, some companies raise prices as soon as a pet crosses a set age, sometimes at six, eight or ten years.

2. Travel Destinations

The place you visit weighs heavily on the quote, too. If your journey takes you to a country where vet fees soar or where your pet must pass special health checks—such as the tapeworm treatment some dogs need before entering the U.K.—you can expect the cost to climb.

3. Coverage and Deductibles

What you pay each month grows or shrinks based on the protection you choose. Policies labelled full cover, picking up both vet bills and trip-cancellation costs, almost always cost more than leaner plans that handle only emergencies at the clinic.

Essential Documents for Pet Travel Post-Brexit

Getting your pet insured is only half the job; paperwork must also cross borders. Check that you carry these items:

Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Proof of microchip and rabies vaccination
Tapeworm treatment certification (for dogs travelling to specific countries)
Pet passport (if travelling to non-EU countries that accept it)

How to File a Pet Insurance Claim for Travel

When a pet falls ill away from home or you face costs after a lost animal, claiming insurance is easier than it looks. Follow these steps:

Notify Your Insurer – Call the hotline as soon as your pet visits a local clinic or goes missing.
Obtain Necessary Documentation – Collect invoices, proof of treatment and any notes the vet provides.
Submit Your Claim – Fill in the form your provider supplies and send it back with the papers you gathered.
Claim Processing – Insurance companies tend to review and pay claims fast. Even so, check in now and then so nothing slips through the cracks.

FAQs

Is travel insurance for my pet a legal must now that Brexit has happened?

No law says you must buy it, yet the cover it provides for surprise vet bills, lost animals and other travel mishaps is well worth the small price.

What will pet travel insurance usually pay for?

Most policies help with on-the-spot vet fees, trip cancellation costs, help if your pet goes missing or is stolen and in some cases, even the search and recovery expenses.

Can I insure my elderly pet before an overseas trip?

You can, although the premium may be steeper or certain conditions excluded. Talk through your older pet’s needs with the insurer so you both understand any limits.

How can I obtain an Animal Health Certificate for international travel?

You must see an accredited vet who will check your pet, review rabies paperwork and issue the certificate; book that appointment early, as many clinics keep a full calendar.

Conclusion

Buying insurance for your pet before any overseas trip after Brexit is now a vital shield for their safety and comfort abroad. If you grasp the updated rules, secure the required health papers and pick suitable travel cover, you and your four-legged friend can roam with less worry. Plan ahead, study your policies and keep an eye on fresh travel news so your journey remains smooth and successful.