EU Pet Passport Renewal: When It Expires and What to Do

The EU pet passport is a lifelong document - but it only works if the vaccinations inside it are kept current. Understanding the difference between the passport itself and the vaccinations recorded in it prevents unnecessary travel complications.

What the EU pet passport is

An EU pet passport is a standardised document issued by authorised vets in EU member states. It records the animal’s identity (microchip number, species, breed, colour, date of birth, owner details) and vaccination history. It is valid for the lifetime of the animal - there is no separate passport expiry date.

When it stops working

The passport becomes invalid for travel purposes if the rabies vaccination recorded in it has expired. Rabies vaccinations are issued for 1 or 3 years depending on the product. When the expiry date on the last vaccination entry passes, the pet cannot travel on that passport until a new vaccination is entered by an authorised vet.

Renewals and boosters

An authorised vet administers the booster vaccination and enters it in the passport. If the vaccination was allowed to lapse completely (missed the booster date), some countries require waiting to confirm the animal has not been exposed to rabies - check with your vet about the specific protocol for your destination.

Lost passport

If the passport is lost, an authorised vet in any EU country can issue a new one. The new passport records the current microchip and the vaccination history that can be verified or re-administered. The old passport’s history cannot be copied across without verification.

UK pet owners

Since Brexit, UK vets can no longer issue EU pet passports. UK pets travelling to EU countries use an AHC (valid 10 days per trip). Some UK owners have their pets registered with EU-country vets (e.g., after holidays in Spain) to obtain a second-country EU passport - this is technically possible but requires careful management to avoid discrepancies.