Dogs & pets
Your dog sails overnight in a kennel on board or with you in a pet-friendly cabin. Here is what it needs for the Netherlands, what it needs to come home and how it works on board.
- Kennel or pet-friendly cabin, never the car
- New animal health certificate for every trip
- Free pre-departure check of the pet papers
Overnight to Rotterdam with your dog
Table of Contents
Kennel or pet-friendly cabin
On P&O Ferries your dog spends the night in one of two places: in a kennel on board or with you in a pet-friendly cabin. It can't stay in the car, because the vehicle decks are closed during the crossing.
- Kennels: the air-conditioned kennels are on deck 7 and come in three sizes, for dogs up to 20, 35 and 45 kg. Give your dog's weight and size when you book.
- Pet-friendly cabins: each of the two ships has six. Your dog stays with you all night. With so few of them, they book up quickly, so reserve one early.
You book the kennel or cabin in advance together with your crossing. It can't be added at the port. You see the cost when you book; the prices page has the fares for the crossing, and the cabins page describes the cabins.
Papers for the Netherlands
If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, your dog enters the EU with an animal health certificate (AHC). A pet passport is not accepted, even one issued in an EU country.
- Microchip: fitted before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination: your dog must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, and you can travel 21 full days after the first vaccination at the earliest.
- Animal health certificate: signed by an official vet. You must travel within 10 days of the date it is issued, and your dog needs a new certificate every time it travels from Great Britain to the EU. Take proof of the microchip date and the vaccination history to the appointment. One certificate can cover up to five pets.
- Tapeworm treatment: not needed for the Netherlands.
The Hull - Rotterdam route is approved for pet travel, including dogs travelling with foot passengers. The steps for getting the certificate are on GOV.UK.
Coming home to Hull
For the return to Great Britain your dog needs a tapeworm treatment. A vet gives it between 24 and 120 hours before you arrive and records it on the health certificate or pet passport, with the product, date and time. The treatment has to contain praziquantel or an equivalent.
On this route the timing is tight. The ferry docks in Hull in the morning, so counting back 24 hours brings you to the morning of your departure day at Europoort. The treatment has to be done by then at the latest, and no more than five days before you arrive. The simplest plan is a vet's appointment in the Netherlands one to three days before you sail home.
For trips of five days or less, such as a long weekend, your vet in the UK can give the treatment before you leave. You then need to arrive back in Great Britain at least 24 hours and no more than 120 hours after it, and your dog needs another treatment within 28 days of getting home. If the rules aren't met, your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine.
Free document check
P&O Ferries checks your dog's papers free of charge in advance. Send them at least 24 hours before departure. That way you find out in good time if something is missing, not at the terminal.
At the terminal and on board
With a dog you need to be at the terminal at least 90 minutes before departure, and the papers are checked at check-in. Bring what your dog needs for the night, such as a blanket, a water bowl and food. The check-in page describes the procedure at the terminal.
On foot with a dog
The P&O Ferries coaches between Europoort and Amsterdam or Rotterdam don't take animals, so without your own vehicle you need a taxi from Europoort. The getting there page covers the onward journey.
FAQ
Questions about travelling with a dog
How big are the kennels on board? +
There are three sizes, for dogs up to 20, 35 and 45 kg. Give your dog's weight and size when you book so that it gets the right kennel.
Can I use my dog's pet passport for the Netherlands? +
Not if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. You can't use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU. Your dog needs an animal health certificate from an official vet, and a new one for every trip.
When does my dog need tapeworm treatment? +
Not for the Netherlands. Before you come back to Great Britain, a vet has to treat your dog between 24 and 120 hours before you arrive in Hull. As the ferry docks in the morning, the treatment has to be done by the morning of your departure day at Europoort at the latest.
How do I get a pet-friendly cabin? +
Book early. Each ship has six pet-friendly cabins, and they go quickly. Otherwise your dog travels in a kennel. The cabin types are on the cabins page.
Overnight to Rotterdam with your dog
Book the kennel or pet-friendly cabin together with your crossing.