TL;DR: New EU regulations on non-commercial pet travel came into force on 22 April 2026, replacing the framework in place since 2013. The core requirements — microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport — remain unchanged for EU residents. The main practical changes: the EU pet passport is now absolutely mandatory for intra-EU travel and will be checked more rigorously; UK families can no longer use an EU pet passport issued in Great Britain for GB→Portugal travel and must use an Animal Health Certificate for every trip; digital pre-registration is now available; pet birds face new requirements including ID tagging and possible quarantine. For most expat families already in Portugal with pets, daily obligations are unchanged.
If you have a pet and you’re moving to Portugal, visiting from the UK, or travelling within the EU with your animals, the rules that govern how you do that changed significantly on 22 April 2026. This article explains exactly what changed, who is affected, and what you need to do differently.
What Changed on 22 April 2026
The new regulations update EU Regulation 576/2013, which had governed non-commercial pet movements since 2013. The update is part of a broader EU Animal Health Law framework and primarily strengthens enforcement and traceability rather than fundamentally changing the process.
1. EU pet passport — now absolutely mandatory for intra-EU travel
The EU pet passport (passeport européen pour animaux de compagnie) has always been required for dogs, cats, and ferrets travelling between EU member states. Under the new rules, this requirement is now strictly enforced — it is not a document that can be substituted with other veterinary records or national equivalents when travelling between EU countries.
For families already in Portugal with a pet: your existing EU pet passport remains valid as long as rabies vaccination records are current. No action needed unless your vaccination is due for renewal.
For families arriving from another EU country to Portugal with a pet: ensure your EU pet passport is up to date and bring it to every border crossing. Checks are stricter than before April 2026.
2. UK families: EU pet passports from Great Britain are no longer valid
This is the most significant practical change for British families. Since Brexit, Great Britain is treated as a third country for EU pet travel purposes. Under the new 2026 rules, EU pet passports issued to owners whose main residence is in Great Britain are no longer valid for journeys from GB into the EU, including Portugal.
What UK families must use instead: an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). This is required for every trip from Great Britain to an EU country. Key points:
- The AHC is issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) in the UK — not your regular vet unless they hold OV status
- It must be issued within 10 days of travel
- It is valid for 4 months for onward travel within the EU after entry
- A new AHC is required for each trip from Great Britain to the EU — it is not a long-term document
- You enter Portugal through a designated EU Border Inspection Post — Porto (Francisco Sá Carneiro Airport) and Lisbon (Humberto Delgado Airport) both qualify
Exception: EU pet passports issued in Northern Ireland before the new rules came into effect may still be valid — check current APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) guidance for Northern Ireland-specific rules.
For British families moving permanently to Portugal: once you are resident in Portugal, your vet in Portugal can issue you an EU pet passport. After that, you travel as an EU resident rather than under the third-country rules.
3. Stricter sequencing enforcement
The rule that the microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination used for travel has always existed — but under the new regulations it is checked and enforced more rigorously at border inspection posts. If your pet’s vaccination was administered before the microchip was inserted, that vaccination is invalid for EU entry purposes and the full vaccination sequence must be restarted.
Check your pet’s documentation now. The sequence in the pet passport or health certificate should show: microchip implantation date → then rabies vaccination date. If the vaccination predates the microchip, contact your vet before your next international trip.
4. Digital pre-registration — now available, not mandatory
The new framework introduces an optional digital pre-registration system for pets entering the EU. Pre-registering your pet’s microchip number and documentation details before travel can speed up border inspection. It is not currently mandatory but is recommended particularly for families arriving from non-EU countries with pets.
The relevant system in Portugal is managed through DGAV (Direcção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária) — check dgav.gov.pt for current guidance on digital pre-registration.
5. New rules for pet birds
Pet bird travel regulations have tightened significantly in response to avian influenza risks. Key changes for bird owners:
- Pet birds must now be tagged with a unique alphanumeric ID number
- Some birds may be subject to quarantine and testing before being permitted to enter the EU
- The specific requirements depend on the bird species, the country of origin, and current avian influenza risk assessments
- If you are moving to Portugal with a pet bird, contact DGAV well in advance — the process is significantly more complex than for dogs and cats
6. Non-EU families (US, Australia, Canada): process unchanged but stricter enforcement
For families arriving from outside the EU — US, Australia, Canada, and other non-listed countries — the actual requirements are unchanged: microchip → rabies vaccination → titre test (30 days after vaccination minimum) → 3-month waiting period → official health certificate within 10 days of travel. The timeline minimum remains approximately 4.5–5 months from scratch.
What has changed is that documentation will be checked more precisely at border inspection posts. Errors that might previously have been overlooked — sequencing issues, minor date discrepancies, missing endorsements — are less likely to be waved through. Get documentation right the first time. See our full non-EU pet import guide for the complete process.
What Has NOT Changed
To be clear about what is unchanged — because there has been significant confusion in expat communities about the scope of the April 2026 changes:
- Daily pet ownership obligations in Portugal are unchanged — microchip, SIAC registration, up-to-date vaccinations. If you are already living in Portugal with a pet, nothing about how you care for or register your pet has changed.
- The core EU pet passport system is unchanged — it is the same document, issued by the same vets, covering the same information. The change is in enforcement rigour, not the document itself.
- The 5-pet limit for non-commercial travel is unchanged — dogs, cats, and ferrets travelling non-commercially are still limited to 5 animals per trip; exceeding this triggers commercial trade regulations.
- Rabies vaccination requirements are unchanged — same vaccines, same validity periods.
- SIAC registration in Portugal is unchanged — once you arrive with your pet, register with a local vet and enrol in SIAC as before.
Practical Checklist — What to Check Now
If you’re already in Portugal with a pet
- ✅ Check your EU pet passport — is the rabies vaccination current?
- ✅ Is your pet registered in SIAC?
- ✅ Planning to travel back to the UK or outside the EU with your pet? Check the destination country’s inbound requirements — they may have updated theirs too.
- ✅ UK passport holders resident in Portugal: you can now get an EU pet passport issued in Portugal — this simplifies future travel within the EU.
If you’re planning to move to Portugal with a pet from the UK
- ⚠️ You need an Animal Health Certificate — not an EU pet passport issued in GB
- ⚠️ The AHC must be issued within 10 days of travel by an Official Veterinarian
- ✅ Microchip and rabies vaccination sequence must be correct (chip first)
- ✅ You enter through a designated Border Inspection Post (Porto or Lisbon airports)
- ✅ Once resident in Portugal, get a Portuguese vet to issue an EU pet passport
If you’re moving from the US, Australia, or Canada
- ✅ Process unchanged — microchip → vaccination → titre test → 3-month wait → AHC
- ⚠️ Documentation will be checked more rigorously — no room for errors
- ✅ Consider a licensed pet transport agent for non-EU moves — see our full guide
If you have a pet bird
- ⚠️ Contact DGAV (dgav.gov.pt) immediately for species-specific requirements
- ⚠️ Budget for potential quarantine period
- ⚠️ Alphanumeric ID tagging is now required
Where to Get Current Official Guidance
- Portugal: DGAV — Direcção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária (dgav.gov.pt)
- UK: APHA — Animal and Plant Health Agency (gov.uk/take-pet-abroad)
- EU Commission: ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement
- US: USDA APHIS (aphis.usda.gov)
- Australia: DAWE — Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
Pet travel regulations change frequently. Always verify current requirements with the official authorities listed above and with your veterinarian before travelling. This article reflects the rules as understood in May 2026. Nothing here constitutes veterinary or legal advice.
→ See also: Moving to Portugal With Pets: The Full Guide | Bringing Pets From the UK, US, or Australia | First 30 Days in Portugal With Kids