Entry and exit formalities
Guidance on customs and reporting requirements for taking your boat abroad from the UK.
Make sure you are aware of reporting requirements on arrival and departure – including submitting your voyage plans to UK Border Force and Customs. General requirements are detailed on this page, but you should always check individual country requirements.
Contents
Who this information is for
This information is provided as a basic guide for UK residents taking a UK flagged pleasure vessel abroad. There may be different requirements for boats registered in other flag states (countries), for people not resident in the UK and for boats operated commercially.
If you are boating abroad and find something is different or come across something new, please let us know by emailing cruising@rya.org.uk
Ports of entry
Designated ports of entry
Some countries designate specific ports of entry, which are the only locations where a vessel arriving from abroad may lawfully enter. When approaching a country from outside its customs or immigration territory, you are typically required to take the most direct route to an authorised port of entry as soon as you enter its territorial waters.
UK vessels entering the EU or Schengen Area
Because the United Kingdom is no longer an EU Member State, UK‑flagged vessels and UK citizens may be required to use designated ports of entry when entering or leaving the EU or the Schengen Area. Additional reporting or documentation requirements may also apply. Further information is available under Schengen Area immigration.
Clearance and Q flag
When you arrive by sea on a boat from abroad, you should fly a Q flag (yellow quarantine flag) as soon as you enter the country’s territorial waters, unless you are certain it’s not required – for example, where the coastal state indicates that no declaration or entry permission is needed.
After entering territorial waters, the crew should normally remain on board while customs and immigration formalities are completed. Once the relevant authorities have formally granted clearance, the Q flag may be taken down.
Even after you have received this clearance, individual countries may still require you to report at each subsequent port of call or allow officials to inspect the vessel’s papers from time to time.
If you are travelling between two UK ports and briefly leave UK territorial waters without stopping at a foreign port, you do not need to fly the Q flag.
Ensign and courtesy flag
British ensign
A UK‑flagged vessel must display its British ensign as required under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995. This includes occasions such as entering or leaving any foreign port and whenever it is requested by authorities.
Although not always mandatory, it is recommended that the ensign is flown throughout daylight hours, particularly when near to or in sight of another vessel. Coastal states may also have their own laws indicating when ensign should be flown - these must be followed when in their waters.
Courtesy flag
When arriving by boat in another country, it is customary, though not legally required in most places, to fly a courtesy flag. This is a small version of the coastal state’s maritime ensign and traditionally flown by foreign-flagged vessels (at the senior signalling position) as a sign of respect for the coastal state’s jurisdiction, laws and sovereignty.
You should hoist the courtesy flag as you enter the country’s territorial waters:
- On a single‑masted yacht, it should be flown as the uppermost flag on the starboard spreader (or starboard crosstrees)
- On a motor cruiser without a dedicated signal halyard, it should be displayed from another prominent and appropriate position
In many countries, failing to display a courtesy flag, or flying one that is damaged or too small, may cause offence.
Note that for some countries, including the UK, the maritime ensign is not the same as the national flag, so it is important to ensure you use the correct flag.
Sailing your pleasure craft to and from the UK
UK government guidance
Official UK government guidance for private individuals sailing pleasure craft to and from the UK is available on GOV.UK. This guidance (which has replaced the former Notice 8) explains the customs requirements for arrivals and departures, as well as rules for temporary admission of non‑UK‑registered-craft.
Reporting requirements
It is a legal requirement, for customs purposes, for anyone who owns or is responsible for a pleasure craft sailing (including motoring) to or from locations outside the UK and the Isle of Man to report:
- Vessel details
- Voyage details
- Information about people onboard
- Goods
Using the GOV.UK pleasure craft reporting service (sPCR)
The sPCR digital service was launched in July 2022, and is now the preferred method for reporting voyages. It provides a single submission point for Border Force and HMRC.
You can access the service at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/submit-a-pleasure-craft-report
You will need to sign in using GOV.UK One Login – you can create this if you do not already have one.
Fallback and paper reporting options
If online reporting is impractical, you can use:
- sPCR fallback template (Excel) for email submission to the National Yachtline and regional Border Force; or
- Paper forms (C1331) for postal submission.
Both forms are available on the GOV.UK page Sailing pleasure craft to and from the UK – GOV.UK.
Departing the UK
When using the sPCR service to report your departure from the UK (including the Isle of Man), you should submit your voyage plan between 24 hours and no later than 2 hours before departure
Reporting is not required if you leave UK territorial waters only to reach another UK destination and do not plan to stop abroad.
Arriving in the UK from abroad
When arriving from outside the UK, you must follow the UK’s customs and immigration entry procedures. Full details are available in the GOV.UK guidance Sailing a pleasure craft that is arriving in the UK.
You must submit a pleasure craft report within 24 hours and up to 2 hours before arrival (if using the online service). You must also update the form with any changes in plan, or if you cancel your trip.
On entry into UK territorial waters (12 nautical miles) from abroad, you must hoist the yellow Q flag, and keep it hoisted until you have completed all reporting procedures and received clearance to enter the UK.
If you do not receive clearance within reasonable timescales, you should contact the nearest Border Force office. You can find contact details:
- On the sPCR help pages
- From local marina or harbour offices
- From the National Yachtline (0300 123 2012), open 24/7
VAT, duty and import requirements
Importing a boat into Great Britain
When you bring your boat into Great Britain (GB)* from abroad, import VAT and duty are normally payable on the current value of the boat unless you qualify for relief. This rule applies to all goods, including personal possessions and means of transport.
You must also declare other goods that require notification.
Reliefs and temporary admission
Relief from import VAT and duty may be available in certain circumstances, including:
- Temporary admission (for boats registered outside the UK)
- Boats returning to the UK after a period abroad (Returned Goods Relief)
- Transferring your normal place of residence to the UK (Transfer of Residence Relief)
Visitors to the UK intending to re‑export their boat may be eligible for temporary admission - allowing entry without paying import VAT and duty if conditions are met. You can read more about this in our information on visiting the UK with your boat
RYA members can find out more about the conditions for Temporary Admission, Returned Goods Relief and Transfer of Residence relief in the RYA VAT Guide for Boats
*GB includes England, Scotland and Wales (excludes Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man).
Customs and immigration (elsewhere in the world)
Each person on board a vessel travelling abroad must carry a valid and recognised travel document, such as a passport.
Customs and immigration procedures vary widely between countries and may include:
- Advance notification of arrival
- Purchase of a cruising permit
- Attendance at the offices of multiple authorities
- Use of a local agent
You may need to ‘clear out’ of the country as well as in, and your stay may be limited by:
- The permitted duration of temporary admission of the vessel
- The length of time crew are allowed to remain in the country.
Visas and length of stay
A visa may be required, even where visa‑free travel is permitted by air. In some cases, visa‑free entry is conditional on having an onward or return ticket, which may mean a visa is required when arriving by boat – for example the USA.
Short visits are sometimes visa‑free, but longer stays often require a visa or residence permit. As visa processing can take time, it is advisable to check requirements well in advance.
The RYA is not in a position to provide detailed advice on immigration matters including longer stays, visas and residency. We suggest checking foreign travel advice on GOV.UK for detailed advice on the country you plan to visit.
Schengen area immigration
The Schengen Area
The Schengen Area is a group of European countries that have abolished routine internal border controls, allowing people to travel freely between participating states without passport checks at internal borders. Instead, the Schengen states operate harmonised controls at external borders.
The Schengen Area includes most European Union (EU) Member States, with the exception of Ireland (which has an opt‑out) and Cyprus (which has not yet removed internal border controls). It also includes four non‑EU countries that participate fully in Schengen arrangements: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
Schengen Area countries
As of 2026, the Schengen Area comprises 29 countries:
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Legal framework
The Schengen Area operates under a single legal framework, known as the Schengen Borders Code (Regulation (EU) 2016/399). This regulation sets out the rules governing:
- checks at external borders,
- entry conditions for third‑country nationals, and
- the permitted duration of short stays within the Schengen Area.
These rules apply uniformly across all Schengen states.
Limited duration of stay
Before the UK left the European Union, British citizens benefited from EU free movement rights and were subject to minimal border checks when entering the Schengen Area.
Since the end of the Brexit transition period, UK nationals are treated as third‑country nationals under EU law. This means they are now subject to full entry checks under the Schengen Borders Code and are limited to short stays of up to 90 days in any rolling 180‑day period across the entire Schengen Area, regardless of how many countries are visited. This rule applies to travel by air, land or sea.
The 180‑day period is rolling, meaning that on any day of stay, the previous 180 days are counted to ensure the total time spent in the Schengen Area does not exceed 90 days. The European Commission provides an official short‑stay calculator that can be used to check whether a planned stay complies with the 90/180‑day rule.
Visa-free travel and longer stays
British citizens do not need a visa for short visits to the Schengen Area as tourists*, business visitors, or for certain other permitted activities, provided the total stay does not exceed 90 days in any 180‑day period.
For stays exceeding 90 days, British citizens must meet the national immigration requirements of the country concerned. This usually involves applying for a long‑stay visa or residence permit. Visa and residence rules are set by individual countries, not at Schengen level.
Under Article 6 of the Schengen Borders Code, periods of stay authorised under a long‑stay visa or residence permit issued by a Schengen State do not count towards the 90‑day limit for short stays elsewhere in the Schengen Area. British citizens may also be able to spend longer periods in the Schengen area if they are a core family member of an EU citizen.
The RYA is not in a position to advise on immigration matters including longer stays and residency. We suggest checking foreign travel advice on GOV.UK
* The European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) will introduce a requirement to hold a travel authorisation later this year.
Arriving in and departing from the Schengen Area by boat
Border crossing points
Schengen Member States are required to designate official external border crossing points and notify these to the European Commission. A consolidated list of designated border crossing points is published by the European Commission under the ‘Documents related to Schengen Borders Code' section.
If a port you intend to use does not appear on the list, you should check in advance with the relevant national or port authorities as special arrangements sometimes apply for pleasure craft.
Pleasure craft derogation under the Schengen Borders Code
As a general rule, the Schengen Borders Code requires third‑country nationals (including British citizens) to:
- Cross external borders only at designated border crossing points
- Comply with formal entry and exit checks
However, Annex VI of the Schengen Borders Code provides a specific derogation for pleasure boats. Under this derogation, a pleasure boat arriving from a non‑Schengen country may, exceptionally, be allowed to enter a port that is not a designated border crossing point.
Where this derogation is used:
- The persons on board are responsible for seeking authorisation from the port authorities
- The port authorities should notify the nearest designated border crossing point of the vessel’s arrival
- A document containing the technical details of the vessel and the names of all persons on board must be handed in, and a copy should be retained with the vessel’s papers while it remains in the territorial waters of a Schengen State
Responsibility to check local requirements
Although the Schengen Borders Code provides a common legal framework, practical arrangements vary between countries and ports. It is essential that recreational boaters check, in advance, what procedures apply at their intended port of arrival and departure.
Any country‑specific guidance provided on this website should be read alongside official Foreign Travel Advice on GOV.UK. Ultimately, it is the traveller’s responsibility to ensure they enter and leave the Schengen Area lawfully.
Immigration clearance and the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)
The European Union’s Entry/Exit System (EES) is a new digital border management system for non-EU nationals, including British citizens, travelling to the Schengen Area for short stays. The system replaces the manual passport stamping process previously used at external borders.
What happens at the border
Under the EES British citizens may be required, on their first entry to the Schengen Area after implementation, to:
- Have their passport scanned
- Provide fingerprints
- Have a facial image taken
This information is stored securely in the EES database and linked to the traveller’s passport.
Practical implications for recreational boaters
EES also applies to people arriving by boat from the UK. British citizens entering or leaving the Schengen Area by sea should:
- Ensure they enter the Schengen Area at a port where immigration clearance can be obtained, or where authorised procedures for pleasure craft are in place
- Ensure immigration clearance is completed on departure from the Schengen Area
- Plan routes and ports of arrival and departure accordingly
Failure to obtain proper clearance may result in time being treated as an unauthorised stay, even if this was unintentional.
As of April 2026, the RYA has been told that for ports with ferry terminals border officials will use tablet devices to register arrivals in the EES database. For smaller ports in France that receive recreational boats, the infrastructure may in future include a fixed control post, or visits by border guards using a laptop, camera and fingerprint sensors.
The EU customs territory and importing a boat
The 27 EU Member States form a single customs territory. The United Kingdom is not part of this customs territory.
As a result, when you take a boat from the UK into the EU, you import the boat into the EU customs territory. Import VAT and customs duty may be payable unless you are eligible for a relief, such as Temporary Admission, Returned Goods Relief, or another customs relief.
This applies regardless of whether the boat is sailed, transported, or delivered into the EU.
Temporary Admission of boats into the EU
When Temporary Admission applies
You should be able to take your boat into the EU under Temporary Admission if all the following apply:
- You are not established in the EU (your habitual residence is outside the EU)
- The boat is not registered in an EU country
- The boat is for private use only (not chartered or used commercially)
- The boat is intended to be re‑exported
Where these conditions are met, Temporary Admission normally allows the boat to remain in the EU for up to 18 months without payment of import VAT or customs duty.
Customs formalities on entry and exit
The Union Customs Code (UCC) suggests that goods placed under Temporary Admission normally require an oral customs declaration. However, European Commission guidance for private boats indicates that where a boat enters the EU under its own propulsion, simply crossing the external border of the EU customs territory is generally sufficient to place the boat under Temporary Admission.
Because local practice can vary, you should check with customs or port authorities at your intended port of entry, and do the same when exporting the boat from the EU.
Evidence of date of entry
As formal documentation is uncommon (Greece is a notable exception), it is strongly recommended that you retain your own evidence of when your boat entered the EU, such as:
- Logbook entries
- Marina invoices
- Fuel receipts
This evidence may be required if you are asked to demonstrate that your boat has not exceeded the 18‑month Temporary Admission period.
Leaving and re‑entering under Temporary Admission
The European Commission’s FAQs on the rules for private boats confirm that:
- At the end of a Temporary Admission period, the boat must be taken out of the EU customs territory
- On return, a new Temporary Admission period may begin
EU legislation does not specify how long the boat must remain outside the EU, nor whether it is sufficient merely to sail beyond territorial waters (part of the EU customs territory). These points are therefore determined at national or local level, so you should seek confirmation from customs authorities if planning to rely on a reset of Temporary Admission.
Unattended boats
Some EU Member States require boats under Temporary Admission to be placed under customs supervision if left unattended in the EU. Requirements vary by country and are sometimes enforced differently at the local level.
Lifting a boat out of the water under Temporary Admission
A boat placed under Temporary Admission normally remains under that procedure for as long as it stays within the EU customs territory, whether afloat or ashore.
EU legislation allows customs authorities to grant extensions to the Temporary Admission period in certain circumstances, but such extensions are not automatic and must be authorised by the relevant customs authority. Practices may vary between EU Member States and even between ports.
Import VAT and duty become due if a boat overstays the permitted Temporary Admission period. If you anticipate that your boat will remain in the EU beyond the standard 18-month Temporary Admission period, including while laid up or undergoing maintenance, it is essential you contact the local customs authority in advance to confirm what options may be available and whether an extension can be authorised. Ultimately, responsibility for complying with Temporary Admission time limits rests with the owner or person responsible for the vessel.
Boats in free circulation (Union status)
A boat in free circulation in the customs territory of the EU has Union status, meaning that import VAT and any customs duty have been paid (or correctly relieved) and the boat may move freely within the EU customs territory without being subject to a customs procedure.
Establishment and Union status
You do not need to be established (where your habitual residence is) in the EU for your boat to have Union status.
However, if you are established in the EU, then (with very limited exceptions) if you are using a boat, it must have Union status.
Temporary exit and Returned Goods Relief
A boat with Union status may temporarily leave the EU by sea without losing that status, provided Union status can be proven on return.
If a boat that previously had Union status re‑enters the EU after leaving, it may be eligible for Returned Goods Relief (RGR). Where RGR applies:
- Import VAT and duty are not payable
- The boat is generally deemed released into free circulation by the act of re‑entering EU territorial waters.
RYA members can find more detail in the RYA VAT Guide for Boats.
Proving Union status
EU law allows various forms of evidence to prove Union status, including:
- Invoices showing EU VAT payment;
- T2L document
- Other acceptable customs evidence
UK‑issued proofs of Union status issued before the end of the Brexit transition period are no longer valid in the EU. The European Commission has advised that "for a boat lying in the EU at the end of the transition period, the person concerned needs to submit a new request to obtain a proof of Union status to one of the customs authorities in the EU".
Key points for recreational boaters
- The EU is a single customs territory - the UK is outside it
- Entering the EU with a boat from the UK is an import
- Import VAT and duty may be payable unless a relief applies
- Temporary Admission normally allows up to 18 months in the customs territory of the EU
- Union status and Temporary Admission are different regimes
- Evidence and local customs practice matter—check in advance
Towing/trailing a boat abroad
Vehicle identifiers: UK sticker
GB stickers are no longer valid for international travel. Vehicles and trailers used abroad must display a UK sticker, unless the UK identifier is already incorporated into the number plate. You can find out more at GOV.UK.
Customs position when towing/trailing a boat into the EU
The EU is a single customs territory, and the UK is outside it. When you tow a boat into the EU, the boat is imported, even though it is carried on a trailer.
Import VAT and customs duty may be payable unless you are eligible for a relief, most commonly Returned Goods Relief or Temporary Admission.
Temporary Admission for towed boats
Many boat owners towing a boat into the EU will rely on Temporary Admission. [link to description of Temporary Admission on this page] The boat is imported without paying import VAT or duty, on the condition that it is intended to be re‑exported.
When you are towing a boat and present at a land customs border crossing, you should:
- Make it clear to the customs official that you are bringing the boat into the EU temporarily
- Be ready to declare the boat for Temporary Admission if requested.
Customs may ask you to provide:
- Basic vessel details (such as make, model, registration or engine number)
- Inventory of goods (which will be re-exported)
- Confirmation that you intend to re‑export the boat
Oral declaration and Annex 71‑01
EU customs rules allow Temporary Admission to be declared orally in appropriate cases.
Where an oral customs declaration is made, the European Commission has advised that Annex 71-01 of the UCC Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2015/2446 form must be presented to customs. For this reason, we recommended that you complete Annex 71 01 in advance; and carry it with you when towing a boat into the EU.
You should be aware that local customs practice can vary, and requirements may differ between border crossings.
Conditions attached to Temporary Admission
If you enter the EU with a boat under Temporary Admission you are undertaking to re-export the boat, rather than paying import VAT and duty. Customs may ask you to demonstrate that intention (for example, by showing onward or return travel plans). You should notify customs if you need to leave the EU without the boat.
The boat must normally be re‑exported in substantially the same condition as it entered, although repairs and maintenance necessary to keep the boat operational or compliant with technical requirements are permitted.
Carnets and private pleasure boats
Temporary Admission for private pleasure boats is provided for under EU customs law.
If, when towing a boat into the EU for private use, you are informed that Annex 71‑01 is not sufficient, or an ATA Carnet is required, please let us know by email. In particular, we are interested in understanding the legislative basis on which such a requirement has been indicated.
Additional information for RYA members
- Information about Carnets and why they are generally not required for private pleasure boats
- Guidance on trailing and roof racking in the UK
Towing a boat to the UK
Visitors to the UK
If you are visiting the UK from abroad, different rules may apply. Please refer to our guidance on visiting the UK with your boat, which explains customs and immigration requirements for non‑UK residents towing a boat into the UK.
UK residents returning with a boat
If you are a UK resident, or the owner of a UK‑registered boat, and the boat is eligible for a relief from import VAT and duty at the time it enters the UK (for example, Returned Goods Relief or another applicable relief), you may be able to make a declaration by conduct, provided that the owner is accompanying the boat and there is no requirement to make a full customs declaration.
At Roll‑on Roll‑off (RoRo) ports, a declaration by conduct is usually made by driving the vehicle towing the boat off the ferry and into the UK. This action is treated as a customs declaration where the conditions for declaration by conduct are met.
You may still be required to provide information or evidence if asked by Border Force or HMRC.
When a customs declaration is required
If you are a UK resident or the owner of a UK‑registered boat, and the boat is not eligible for relief from import VAT and duty, you must make a formal customs declaration when bringing the boat into the UK.
This applies regardless of whether the boat is towed on a trailer or transported into the UK by another means.
RYA members can find further explanation of import VAT and duty reliefs and guidance on how to make a customs declaration in the RYA VAT Guide for Boats.
Checking your boat or trailer for unauthorised passengers
There have been occasional reports of people attempting to conceal themselves in or on vehicles, trailers, boats carried on trailers, or roof boxes when vehicles return or travel to the UK by ferry or through the Channel Tunnel.
UK border authorities expect drivers to take reasonable steps to ensure that their vehicle, trailer, boat and any carried equipment are secure and free from unauthorised passengers. In some circumstances, penalties may apply where a person is found to have been brought into the UK concealed in or on a vehicle.
For this reason, it is sensible to:
- Check your trailer, boat and covers before boarding and again before leaving the ferry or train
- Ensure access points are secured where practicable
- Make a general visual inspection of your vehicle, trailer and any roof boxes.
Keeping a basic record of checks, such as photographs taken before departure, can be helpful if questions are raised later, but this is not a formal requirement.
If you suspect that someone may be concealed in or on your vehicle or load, do not try to deal with the situation yourself. You should instead inform port authorities or contact the police.
Key points to remember
- You are importing a boat you tow into the EU
- Temporary Admission is a relief which delays the need to pay import VAT and duty as the intention is to re-export
- Be clear with customs that you are bringing the boat into the EU temporarily
- If you do not intend to re-export the boat, you must declare it at import and (unless another relief applies) pay import VAT and duty
- Carry supporting paperwork, even if it may not be requested
- Local practice can vary – plan and prepare in advance
Bringing food into Great Britain
UK government guidance on bringing food, plant or animal products into Great Britain for personal use is published on GOV.UK and should be checked before you travel:
The rules vary depending on where you are arriving from and the type of food.
There are strict prohibitions and restrictions on bringing meat, dairy and certain animal products into Great Britain, even when they are for personal use. Prohibited items may be seized and destroyed, and penalties can apply
Bringing food into the EU from the UK
Since the UK is now treated as a third country by the EU, personal imports of meat, milk and products containing them from the UK into the EU are generally prohibited.
EU law bans travellers from bringing meat and dairy products from non‑EU countries into the EU as part of their personal luggage, with only limited exceptions (such as small quantities of infant formula or medical foods). This is set out in EU animal health legislation and explained on European Commission guidance pages.
More information on the rules concerning the introduction of animal products into the EU is available in European Commission guidance on personal imports.
Food on board boats travelling to the EU from abroad
EU legislation recognises that food may be carried on board a vessel operating internationally for consumption by crew and passengers.
Under Article 6 of Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2122, products of animal origin and composite products are exempt from official controls at border control posts provided that:
- they are intended for consumption by the crew and passengers on board means of transport operating internationally; and
- they are not unloaded on Union territory
This suggests that food of UK origin kept on board a vessel and not landed ashore in the EU does not form part of travellers’ personal luggage for these purposes.
In practice, checks on food carried on board private vessels are likely to take place at the border, if at all, but requirements and enforcement may vary between Member States.
Northern Ireland and food waste
If you are arriving in NI from GB or another non-EU port you should be aware that the NI Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) classifies food waste from private boats together with food waste from planes and ships as International Catering Waste (ICW).
Food and drink are not treated as ICW while still intended for consumption, but once food becomes waste, it is classed as ICW and must be disposed of in accordance with strict controls to prevent the spread of animal disease. There are strict requirements for disposal methods, and cleaning and disinfection of bins and areas used to store ICW.
Before disposing of food waste ashore in Northern Ireland, you should check with the marina or harbour authority what arrangements are in place and what procedures must be followed.
Key points to remember
- Personal food rules apply to boaters as well as other travellers
- Meat and dairy from the UK cannot usually be brought into the EU
- Food kept on board and not landed may be treated differently
- Food waste disposal rules in Northern Ireland are particularly strict
- Always check official guidance before you travel
Arriving in Great Britain with a pet
A pet (dog, cat or ferret) may only arrive in Great Britain on a private boat if it is travelling from:
- Northern Ireland
- The Channel Islands
- The Isle of Man
- The Republic of Ireland
If your pet is arriving from any other country, it must enter Great Britain using an approved transport company and route. Direct entry with pets from other countries is not permitted on a private boat.
Approved routes are listed in government guidance on bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain
Leaving Great Britain with a pet
If you are leaving Great Britain with your pet, you must ensure your pet meets the entry requirements of the destination country, including documentation, vaccination and entry point rules. These vary by country.
European Union (EU)
Pets entering the EU from another non-EU country must:
- Enter through a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPE)
- Travel with an EU Animal Health Certificate (UK-issued EU pet passports are not valid for entry)
- Meet EU vaccination and identification requirements.
Read EU Rules on travelling with pets
Channel Islands
Separate pet travel arrangements apply for:
Northern Ireland
For GB residents travelling to Northern Ireland (NI) by private boat with a pet, the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme applies. Under this scheme, introduced on 22 April 2026, you must hold a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document for each pet.
You can read the full requirements, including important information for onward travel to the EU (including Republic of Ireland) on the DAERA website.
Republic of Ireland (ROI)
Pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) arriving in the Republic of Ireland from Great Britain or another non‑EU country must comply with EU pet travel rules.
If you are arriving by private transport, including a private boat:
- Your pet must enter through a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPE)
- You must give advance notice to the Irish authorities before arrival.
If you are leaving the Republic of Ireland with your pet, you must ensure the pet is prepared in accordance with the entry rules of the destination country. This includes meeting documentary, health and approved‑route requirements, which vary by country.
More details can be found on gov.ie