Issue 1 – Following Brexit and the UK no longer being a part of Schengen (European free movement of 26 countries) you can only spend 90 days within 180 days period in the Schengen area without a visa. Therefore, we must exit Schengen and move to a non-Schengen country after our 90 days is up.
Getting a Visa post Brexit is not easy – believe me!!! might get easier as time goes on but being one of the first to apply the answer was no (we met all criteria).
Issue 2 – We have a European Animal Health Certificate which enabled us to bring our dogs with us. However, this is only valid for 4 months and runs out in September (UK passports that were part of the EU are no longer valid since Brexit).
We are planning to go to Croatia at the end of August (not currently in Schengen) we need to either get an extension of the health certificate or (as the advice from Eurotunnel and the internet says) obtain a European pet passport. We are in discussion with an Italian vet, however this is not easy as we are the first to ask since Brexit. The vets are liaising with the Animal Health authorities, we will keep you posted on the outcome; fingers crossed.
Issue 3 – Where we can go that is not in Schengen is very restricted as most of Europe is within Schengen! Also, we need to consider the Covid red zones and further complication is the dogs due to the fact if the country is a high-risk Rabies area (irrespective of them having the inoculation) the dogs will have to quarantine upon re-entrance, an option we will not take. Therefore, our plan to go to Montenegro is off the list as it is a high risk for both Rabies and Covid.
If we don’t get the European passport or an animal health certificate, we will simply have to cut our adventure short and return to the UK. Definitely not what we want!
Brexit is an absolute pain for anyone from the UK trying to travel freely around Europe, our freedom of movement has been seriously restricted!
Travel adventures 