Taking Dog to Ireland

[Mick and Ruth]

Crossed this morning from Holyhead to Dublin on the Stenna Line ship “Estrid” for 6 weeks. We picked this ferry as kennels are on top deck with exercise area next to it with seats, if you don’t want to put them in the kennels just sit out on the seats as we did for journey. Our lab is 29kg so won’t fit in a crate you have to carry if you want to use some dog lounges and some of the other ships the dogs are below decks in kennels. Access to food and coffees are feet away through the door. You have to book the kennel(it’s free) but if you don’t want to leave your dog this might be the answer if you have been worried about taking them to Ireland.

 

[ontheroadagain]

Alternatively there are a number of pet friendly cabins available on this crossing.

 

[golly]

When I read the title, I thought it sad TALKING dogs to Ireland. , I thought, thats clever, do they have to lick the Blarney Stone ?

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Alternatively there are a number of pet friendly cabins available on this crossing.

Think they were £60 more which if the Estrid does them for return in October and if I can get one I will probably try and upgrade. However just thinking of those who can’t get one and won’t put dogs into the kennels.

 

[PaulC70]

Ours just stay in the motorhome.

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[TerryL]

Out of interest did you have any paperwork problems/checks on that route. I thought, but may be wrong, you'd need an AHC/EC Pet Passport to enter a European country. Or is that just Schengen?

We travel via Belfast, in N.I, so still technically UK and no regulations (yet!) although we got the pooch an Irish PP last year which covers us for European mainland.

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Out of interest did you have any paperwork problems/checks on that route. I thought, but may be wrong, you'd need an AHC/EC Pet Passport to enter a European country. Or is that just Schengen?

We travel via Belfast, in N.I, so still technically UK and no regulations (yet!) although we got the pooch an Irish PP last year which covers us for European mainland.

She has a passport however we left Holyhead with no checks and Irish customs just looked at it through drivers side window and waved us through no chip check etc didn’t even see the dog unlike France.

 

[Guigsy]

We're heading over on Monday with the cat. Unfortunately there were no pet cabins available. He's going to have to stay in the van.

 

[PaulC70]

Out of interest did you have any paperwork problems/checks on that route. I thought, but may be wrong, you'd need an AHC/EC Pet Passport to enter a European country. Or is that just Schengen?

We travel via Belfast, in N.I, so still technically UK and no regulations (yet!) although we got the pooch an Irish PP last year which covers us for European mainland.

you can use the pp if you go straight to/from the Republic too.

 

[Mohawk Mo]

Crossed this morning from Holyhead to Dublin on the Stenna Line ship “Estrid” for 6 weeks. We picked this ferry as kennels are on top deck with exercise area next to it with seats, if you don’t want to put them in the kennels just sit out on the seats as we did for journey. Our lab is 29kg so won’t fit in a crate you have to carry if you want to use some dog lounges and some of the other ships the dogs are below decks in kennels. Access to food and coffees are feet away through the door. You have to book the kennel(it’s free) but if you don’t want to leave your dog this might be the answer if you have been worried about taking them to Ireland.

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Thanks for the info, really helpful as Son lives in Northern Ireland and I would like to take dogs but wasn't sure about kennels/ferry.

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[SueandAndy]

So could we head to Belfast with our pooch without the AHC. Then sneak down to Dublin where we have family and get him a passport?

 

[ontheroadagain]

So could we head to Belfast with our pooch without the AHC. Then sneak down to Dublin where we have family and get him a passport?

Yes. But no need to sneak . There will be no checks at the border.

 

[Guigsy]

Yes. But no need to sneak . There will be no checks at the border.

To be clear. Legally you should have an AHC.

 

[ontheroadagain]

To be clear. Legally you should have an AHC.

For ROI yes, but very very unlikely you will be asked for it.
We live 25 miles from the border and cross over with our dog at least half a dozen times per year.
We have never been asked.
If you intend returning from a ROI port you will need one as they do sometimes check at the ports.
If returning via Belfast it will not be required.

 

[Guigsy]

For ROI yes, but very very unlikely you will be asked for it.
We live 25 miles from the border and cross over with our dog at least half a dozen times per year.
We have never been asked.
If you intend returning from a ROI port you will need one as they do sometimes check at the ports.
If returning via Belfast it will not be required.

Northern Island is the same. Legally you should have a AHC. Northern Island is still effectively under EU jurisdiction for live animal transits.

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[ontheroadagain]

Northern Island is the same. Legally you should have a AHC. Northern Island is still effectively under EU jurisdiction for live animal transits.

All checks into NI are currently suspended.
There is a possibility that this may change, but this has been the case now for two years.
See link below for details.

Travelling with Pets

When travelling with your pet dog, cat or ferret, the rules you must follow depend on the country you are going to or coming from and the purpose of your travel.

www.daera-ni.gov.uk

Travelling from GB to NI or travelling from NI to GB and returning to NI​

On 15 September 2021, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA announced that checks on all pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from GB to NI would be suspended indefinitely while negotiations between the UK government and EU continue.

The UK Government and the EU have agreed the Windsor Framework(external link opens in a new window / tab). There will be no routine compliance checks on the non-commercial movement of UK origin pets (dogs cats and ferrets) travelling from GB to NI until the Windsor Framework pet travel provisions are implemented.

Please note, until further notice, all current requirements for the non-commercial movements of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) continue to apply.

Further information on changes will be published here in due course.

 

[Guigsy]

All checks into NI are currently suspended.
There is a possibility that this may change, but this has been the case now for two years.
See link below for details.

Travelling with Pets

When travelling with your pet dog, cat or ferret, the rules you must follow depend on the country you are going to or coming from and the purpose of your travel.

www.daera-ni.gov.uk

Travelling from GB to NI or travelling from NI to GB and returning to NI​

On 15 September 2021, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA announced that checks on all pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from GB to NI would be suspended indefinitely while negotiations between the UK government and EU continue.

The UK Government and the EU have agreed the Windsor Framework(external link opens in a new window / tab). There will be no routine compliance checks on the non-commercial movement of UK origin pets (dogs cats and ferrets) travelling from GB to NI until the Windsor Framework pet travel provisions are implemented.

Please note, until further notice, all current requirements for the non-commercial movements of pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) continue to apply.

Further information on changes will be published here in due course.

Aren't they suspended under the agreement that pets won't travel into ROI?

... Not that it matters. We got on the ferry to Dublin and all they checked was that we had an AHC and a 5 second passport opening. They didn't actually even see the cat.

On the way back to Holyhead, they didn't even do that. We drove up to the terminal. They handed us our tickets based on the reg plate. The only words were a greeting, "lane 14" and "thanks". Drove straight off and out the terminal at the other end without stopping. Taking back control!

 

[Mick and Ruth]

Aren't they suspended under the agreement that pets won't travel into ROI?

... Not that it matters. We got on the ferry to Dublin and all they checked was that we had an AHC and a 5 second passport opening. They didn't actually even see the cat.

On the way back to Holyhead, they didn't even do that. We drove up to the terminal. They handed us our tickets based on the reg plate. The only words were a greeting, "lane 14" and "thanks". Drove straight off and out the terminal at the other end without stopping. Taking back control!

The same when we returned from Dublin last week had pet passport in hand and nothing was checked, never even asked if we had a dog with us.