The EU's New Pet Health Certificates: What Shippers Must Check

In October 2026, the EU switched to new health certificates for pets entering the Union. Certificates on the old templates can no longer be endorsed, so any shipper still working from a saved copy of last year's form is at risk of a rejected endorsement or a pet held at the border.

This guide covers what changed, the dates, the exemption for pets only transiting the EU, and a short checklist for every EU move from now on. The certificate rules come from the USDA APHIS EU country pages; the medical requirements come from Pet Holiday Club's rules base for dogs travelling from the US to Italy.

What changed and when

The new certificates follow EU legislation issued earlier in 2026: Regulation (EU) 2026/131 for non-commercial movements and Regulation (EU) 2026/848 for commercial movements. APHIS sets out the US dates on each EU country page (APHIS: Pet travel from the United States to Germany):

Both deadlines have passed. Every EU certificate issued from now on must be on the new template.

Non-commercial or commercial: pick the right certificate

The certificate depends on how the move is classified, and the EU is paying closer attention to that classification. From the APHIS EU pages and our rules base:

• Non-commercial applies when the owner, or a person the owner designates, travels within 5 days of the pet, with 5 pets or fewer, and the pets aren't for sale or transfer of ownership.

• Commercial applies when those conditions aren't met: more than 5 pets, the owner travelling outside the 5-day window, or a change of ownership.

Many shipper-managed moves, where the pet flies separately from the owner, need checking carefully. If the owner flies more than 5 days apart from the pet, the move is commercial.

Key details on the new certificates

• Issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian, endorsed by APHIS. The accredited vet completes, signs and dates the certificate, and USDA endorses it before the pet travels.

• Ink endorsement for some countries. For Germany, APHIS accepts the vet's electronic signature but requires an original ink endorsement, so the paper copy has to come back by mail. Check each destination's page for its endorsement method.

• A declaration travels with the pet. For non-commercial moves, the owner's declaration must travel with the pet and the certificate.

• Onward travel within the EU. A non-commercial certificate can be used to travel within the EU for up to 6 months from the day of entry, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.

The transit exemption

Under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2026/131, non-commercial dogs, cats, ferrets or birds only transiting the EU on their way to another country may not need an EU health certificate. This matters for routes through EU hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam or Paris. Check the APHIS guidance for the final destination and the transit country before relying on it.

The medical requirements haven't gone away

The new templates change the paperwork, not the medical rules. For dogs travelling from the US to Italy, Pet Holiday Club's rules base requires:

Pets under 16 weeks can't enter Italy. A primary rabies vaccination is valid for 1 year only, even with a 3-year vaccine.

Your checklist for every EU move now

1. Download the certificate fresh from the APHIS destination page for every move. Never reuse a saved template.

2. Confirm the classification, non-commercial or commercial, before the vet starts the certificate.

3. Check the endorsement method (digital or ink) and allow mailing time where ink is required.

4. Include the owner's declaration for non-commercial moves.

5. Check transit routings for the Article 5 exemption.

6. Match the microchip number across the certificate, rabies certificates and any lab reports.

7. Tell clients that last year's paperwork, online templates or AI-generated advice may be out of date.

Keep EU checklists current

Pet Holiday Club builds a checklist for each route from our rules base of 1,661 requirement items across 238 countries and 131 airlines, matched to origin, destination, species, breed and airline, in journey order, with lead times counted back from the travel date. Owners upload the pet's documents, and the scanner flags gaps before the certificate visit.

See how Pet Holiday Club works →

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the new EU pet health certificates take effect?

The new non-commercial certificate for dogs, cats, ferrets and birds applies from 1 October 2026. The new commercial certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets applies from 17 October 2026.

Can an old EU certificate still be endorsed?

No. Certificates on the old template could be endorsed until 30 September 2026 (non-commercial) and 16 October 2026 (commercial).

Which EU regulations introduced the new certificates?

Regulation (EU) 2026/131 for non-commercial movements and Regulation (EU) 2026/848 for commercial movements.

Do pets transiting the EU need an EU health certificate?

Under Article 5 of Regulation (EU) 2026/131, non-commercial pets only transiting the EU to another country may not need one. Check APHIS guidance for the route.

How long can a pet travel within the EU on a non-commercial certificate?

Up to 6 months from the day of entry, as long as the rabies vaccination remains valid.

Further reading on Pet Holiday Club

• USDA APHIS Pet Travel 2026: Health Certificate Steps

• What Is a Pet Passport? EU & UK Pet Passports vs. Health Certificates