Travelling a dog Stena Line Belfast Cairnryan and back

[ion]

Does anybody have any actual experience of bringing a dog on Stena since the most recent regulatory change.
It states simply that dog must be microchipped, no other requirements. Up till now ROI number plate made no difference.

Thanks
Ion

 

[fallowfellow]

Have been over and back recently.

You need a pet travel certificate. To get that I believe they must be microchipped. They scan it in Cairnryan. You get a pet in car tag so the guys can identify you. Not scanned on return oddly.

Cert is applied for online. Pretty quick and easy.

 

[Foxyboy43]

There you go…

Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad

Take your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: getting a pet passport or export health certificate, microchip, vaccinations and tapeworm treatments.

www.gov.uk

NB also includes your ferret even hidden down your trouser leg…..
Pal was challenged last week at Cairnryan but was ok as he had brought the dog over from NI a week before.
You can leave the dog in the car but make sure you turn your alarm off - 2hrs 20mins of car alarm may have a slightly adverse effect on your little darling’s bowels.
There are also kennels aboard and some ships now have a dog lounge but only for small breeds in handheld cages.

 

[hprfan]

No issues last August bringing pup from Scotland to Belfast, was stopped for a search, she asked the dogs name, said he was a wee cutie and wished us luck.

 

[Foxyboy43]

No issues last August bringing pup from Scotland to Belfast, was stopped for a search, she asked the dogs name, said he was a wee cutie and wished us luck.

This would explain why -
“With effect from June 4, 2025:
A new, free, lifelong Pet Travel Document was launched for travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, replacing the previous system.”.
Just be careful lads…

 

[dunwater]

For peace of mind I’d get the pup a passport, officially your pup needs one to cross the border from ROI into NI.
I travelled Stena, Dublin/Holyhead return last November, no problems outbound, but got pulled and papers checked in Dublin on the return leg.Pet Passport and chip checked, didn’t take 10 minutes.
I think the passport cost around E150, including the rabies shot.
You probably won’t be checked, but why take the chance?

 

[ion]

Any one travelling Stena line Belfast Cairnryan since Brexit will have noticed an appreciable number of 'Free State' car registrations travelling with dogs. Mr Poots declaration that he would not enforce the relevant regulations had a lot to do with that.
The other route that saw increased travel is the Belfast Liverpool route.

At this stage we all know about the hoops we have to jump through to travel on a direct ferry route between Ireland and England.
When I went to get my dogs rabies vaccination updated the Veterinary nurse insisted that I had to get ALL of my 12 yo springers annual vaccinations entered in the pet passport. I cannot find any reference to this in the legislation. Just a requirement for a tape worm dose given and recorded by a VS, valid for 5 days so no need to get a second dose if returning within that time line.

The facility for microchip only travel is confined to residents of NI, and a free online document is available.

What I had hoped for was real life experience. I'd rather not be turned away at the port in the early hours. Having at this stage travelled dogs on this route for 15 odd years, I will probably jump through the correct hoops.

Thanks
Ion

 

[dryan]

Pot luck, my sister came over from Holyhead last week to Dublin, dogs papers were checked and chips scanned, we’re not the previous time.

The police at Holyhead have been very thorough but pleasant when travelling with firearms, the Dublin side no one even checked.