Taking Your Dog to Ireland: 2026 UK Guide

Yes, and many people do every year. The practical route is by ferry across the Irish Sea, since the airlines flying between Britain and Ireland do not carry pet dogs in the cabin or hold except registered assistance dogs. The good news is that dogs travel free on the Irish Sea ferries, so the main job is getting the paperwork and timings right.

Because the Republic of Ireland is part of the EU, your dog is treated as entering the EU and must meet the EU pet entry rules. These are set out by the UK government on its taking your pet abroad pages, which are the authoritative source to check before every trip. Northern Ireland, as part of the UK, has its own simpler arrangement, covered further down.

Four things have to be in place, and the order and timing matter. Start planning at least three to four weeks ahead, because the rabies rule alone requires a three-week wait.

The crossing is by ferry, and there is a good choice of routes depending on where you start. The main Irish Sea car-ferry routes that carry pets are:

• Holyhead to Dublin, the busiest and fastest of the main routes, run by Stena Line and Irish Ferries.
• Fishguard to Rosslare and Pembroke to Rosslare, handy for the south and west of Ireland.
• Liverpool to Dublin, a longer overnight option from the north of England.
• Cairnryan to Belfast, the quick route from Scotland into Northern Ireland.

Dogs travel free on these routes, but you must book their space in advance, as pet cabins and kennels are limited and fill quickly in summer.

How your dog travels depends on the operator and route, and it is worth choosing deliberately:

• Pet-friendly cabins let your dog stay with you for the whole crossing. Stena Line offers them on its Liverpool, Holyhead and Fishguard routes, with vinyl floors, water bottles and pee pads, and Irish Ferries has a dedicated Pet Den plus pet cabins on its Dublin to Holyhead ship. These sell out fast, so book early.
• Onboard kennels are free on several routes, including Cairnryan to Belfast, Holyhead to Dublin and Fishguard to Rosslare. Your dog travels in a kennel on the car deck or a pet area, and kennels must be pre-booked.
• Staying in the vehicle is allowed on some crossings, but not all, and is less comfortable for the dog. Check your operator's policy when booking.

A maximum of two pets per cabin usually applies, with any extras going in kennels or the vehicle. Whichever you choose, bring water, a familiar blanket and a lead for boarding and disembarking.

Northern Ireland is part of the UK, so the rules are far simpler. For travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland only, you do not need a rabies vaccination, an Animal Health Certificate or a tapeworm treatment. Under the current arrangement you travel with a Pet Travel Document, and the Northern Ireland authorities set out the detail.

The important catch is onward travel. If you plan to cross from Northern Ireland into the Republic of Ireland, your dog is then entering the EU, and the full requirements apply: a valid rabies vaccination, an Animal Health Certificate and a tapeworm treatment. There is no border check on the island, but the legal requirement still stands, so plan as though you are going to the Republic if there is any chance you will cross.

Coming home is more straightforward. To return to Great Britain from Ireland your dog needs its microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and either the same Animal Health Certificate, which covers the return leg within its four-month window, or a pet travel document issued in the EU.

Helpfully, you do not need a tapeworm treatment to bring a dog back into Great Britain from Ireland, as Ireland is one of the few countries exempt from the GB tapeworm rule. As always, check the current GOV.UK guidance before you travel home, as the rules are reviewed periodically.