Dogs are not allowed on Eurostar services from London. That applies to all sizes, all carriers, and all breeds. There are no exceptions for small dogs in bags, no quiet carriages where pets are permitted, and no plans to change the policy as of 2026. If you are planning to take your dog from the UK to France or Belgium, you need a different route.
Why Dogs Are Banned on Eurostar from London
Eurostar’s official position is that the ban exists “in the interests of the comfort and safety of our customers, crews and animals.” A 2007 letter from Eurostar’s Head of International Customer Relations put it more plainly: “the vast majority of travellers’ part of Eurostar’s appeal is that they can make their journeys in a pet-free environment.”
The ban is not a legal requirement under the Channel Tunnel Acts. It is Eurostar’s commercial policy. Eurostar has also chosen not to register as an approved carrier under DEFRA’s Pet Travel Scheme, which would be required if they wanted to accept pets on cross-Channel routes. Unless that changes, there is no route to getting a dog on a London departure.
Seven petitions have been launched since 2007 trying to change this. The most recent, started by Tara Barker in 2025, describes what the alternative journey looks like: “I have to catch a train from London to Dover, then I use a pet courier to take me under the tunnel to Calais. Then I end up waiting at Calais train station for a couple of hours before being able to catch a train to Paris. In total the journey can take eight hours, as opposed to 2.5 hours on Eurostar. The return trip can cost between £500 and £600.” None of the petitions have resulted in any policy change.
What About Small Dogs in Carriers?
Small dogs in carriers are also banned. Eurostar’s prohibited routes include all London departures, Brussels to Lille, and Eurostar’s Sun and Snow ski routes. If a family shows up at St Pancras with a dog in a bag expecting to treat it like hand luggage, they will be turned away at the gate.
The only exception is guide dogs and accredited assistance animals, which are covered separately below.
Eurostar Red (Former Thalys): Pets Are Allowed
In October 2023, all Thalys services were rebranded as Eurostar. This creates genuine confusion. The “Eurostar” brand now covers two different things: the cross-Channel services from London (where pets are banned) and the continental routes between Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, and Cologne (where pets have always been allowed).
On continental Eurostar services, small pets under 6 kg travel free in a carrier (maximum dimensions 45 x 30 x 25 cm). Larger dogs pay €30 per single journey, purchased from the Train Manager on board. Dogs must be leashed and muzzled. Up to 2 small pets or 1 large dog per passenger is permitted. Prohibited animals include dangerous dog breeds under French law categories 1 and 2, wild animals, and birds.
If a nearby passenger objects, the Train Manager will relocate the pet owner rather than the complaining passenger. Worth knowing before you book.
Guide Dogs and Accredited Assistance Animals
Guide dogs, assistance dogs, and assistance cats from accredited organisations travel free on all Eurostar routes including London departures. The dog must be trained by an organisation affiliated with Assistance Dogs International (ADI), the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), or Assistance Dogs UK (ADUK). Non-accredited assistance dogs require a separate application process.
You must contact Eurostar at least 24 to 48 hours before departure (Eurostar’s own pages give conflicting figures on this). A maximum of 4 assistance animals are allowed per train, due to Eurotunnel evacuation protocols. You must arrive 60 minutes before departure for London-bound journeys.
On UK-to-EU routes, the dog still needs full post-Brexit documentation: microchip, rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate. For EU-to-UK travel, add tapeworm treatment administered by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival. Emotional support animals are not permitted. The Office of Rail and Road has confirmed this in writing: “Any other animals, including emotional support dogs, are not permitted to travel on Eurostar services.”
Assistance dogs depart from London St Pancras or Ebbsfleet International outbound, and from Paris, Brussels, Lille, or Calais on return.
How to Get Your Dog from the UK to France: Your Alternatives
The realistic options depend on whether you have a car.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (with a car)
Le Shuttle is the most straightforward option for dog owners with a car. Your dog stays in the vehicle throughout the 35-minute crossing between Folkestone and Calais. The pet fee is £22 per pet each way. Eurotunnel reports carrying over 4 million pets since 2000, with 71% of pets entering the UK choosing this route.
There is no cage or carrier requirement. Dogs stay in the car. You can sit with them during the crossing. It is significantly less stressful for most dogs than any ferry option.
Ferries (with or without a car)
Multiple ferry routes accept dogs. P&O Ferries (Dover to Calais) charge £15 per pet each way, with a Pet Lounge upgrade available for £12 extra per dog. DFDS runs the Newhaven to Dieppe route at £20 per pet, and Newcastle to Amsterdam at £30 per pet. Brittany Ferries charge from £35 one-way to France and from £50 to Spain. Crossing times range from 1.5 hours (Dover to Calais) to overnight (Newcastle to Amsterdam).
Most ferry operators require dogs to stay in the vehicle or in a designated pet area. Some operators offer pet-friendly cabins on longer routes. Check the specific operator’s policy before booking.
For more on travelling by car with a dog, see our guide to travelling with large dogs.
Le Pet Express and Pet Taxis (without a car)
For foot passengers, DFDS Newhaven to Dieppe is the most accessible ferry option. The other realistic route is a pet taxi or courier service. Le Pet Express operates a door-to-door service from around £400 (depending on distance), transporting you and your dog through the tunnel as vehicle passengers. It is expensive but it solves the problem for those without a car.
Folkestone-based taxis will also carry dogs through Le Shuttle for a fee, allowing foot passengers to reach Calais and then continue by French domestic train.
Comparison at a Glance
| Option | Car needed? | Pet cost | Journey time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eurostar (London routes) | No | Banned | — |
| Eurotunnel Le Shuttle | Yes | £22 per pet each way | 35 min crossing |
| P&O Ferries (Dover–Calais) | Yes (or foot) | £15 per pet each way | ~1.5 hours |
| DFDS (Newhaven–Dieppe) | Yes (or foot) | £20 per pet | ~4 hours |
| DFDS (Newcastle–Amsterdam) | Yes | £30 per pet | Overnight |
| Le Pet Express | No | From ~£400 | Varies |
Post-Brexit Pet Travel Requirements
Since January 2021, UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid for entering the EU. Every trip now requires an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV). A standard vet is not sufficient. The AHC must be from a vet who holds OV status.
The AHC is valid for 10 days from issue for EU entry, then 4 months for onward EU travel and for re-entry to the UK. A new certificate is required for every trip.
The Rabies Microchip Timing Trap
This is the most common and expensive mistake dog owners make when preparing for EU travel. If the rabies vaccination is administered before the microchip is implanted, the vaccination is considered invalid under DEFRA rules. The entire vaccination must be re-done, with a new 21-day waiting period from scratch.
The correct sequence is: microchip first, then rabies vaccination. Both can happen on the same day as long as the microchip goes in before the injection. Most UK dogs are already microchipped (it has been a legal requirement since April 2016), but if yours is not, get the chip confirmed and recorded before any vaccine is given.
Tapeworm Treatment on the Return
Tapeworm treatment is not required when leaving the UK for France. It is required when returning. A vet must administer tapeworm treatment (praziquantel) not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (5 days) before the dog arrives back in Great Britain.
You need to find a vet in France or Belgium to do this before your return crossing. EU vets typically charge £20 to £50 for the treatment. Book in advance, particularly in rural areas.
Full Documentation Checklist
- Microchip (ISO 11784/11785 standard)
- Rabies vaccination (dog must be at least 12 weeks old; 21-day wait after first vaccination)
- Animal Health Certificate, issued within 10 days of EU entry by an Official Veterinarian
- Tapeworm treatment by an EU vet 24 to 120 hours before returning to the UK
What an Animal Health Certificate Costs
Cost varies significantly by provider. General vet practices typically charge £220 to £260. The Royal Veterinary College in London charges £260 for 1 to 2 animals and £310 for 3 to 5. Specialist travel clinics charge considerably less: Abbeywell Vets in Folkestone starts at £69, PassPets charges £99 plus £55 per additional pet, and Vet Home Certs offers a standard certificate for £99.
If you travel regularly with your dog, it is worth identifying a low-cost OV clinic near you. The certificate itself is the same regardless of who issues it. Paying £260 at a general practice when a specialist clinic charges £69 for the same document is simply a difference in where you book.
| Item | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Microchip (if not already done) | £10–£30 |
| Rabies vaccination (first) | £40–£70 |
| Animal Health Certificate (budget clinic) | £69–£99 |
| Animal Health Certificate (general practice) | £220–£260 |
| Eurotunnel pet fee | £22 each way |
| Tapeworm treatment (EU vet, return) | £20–£50 |
| Estimated total (first trip, large dog, budget options) | ~£161–£432 |
The rabies booster on subsequent trips does not require a new 21-day wait, as long as there has been no break in vaccination cover.
Dog Welfare on Long Journeys
Cross-Channel travel involves at least a few hours in a moving vehicle, a busy terminal, and an unfamiliar environment. The RSPCA recommends feeding no sooner than 2 hours before travel and providing water throughout the journey. The Blue Cross notes that trains and ferries can be overwhelming for dogs, citing heat, crowding, and unfamiliar smells as common stressors.
Acclimatise your dog to travel with short local journeys before attempting a long cross-Channel trip. Exercise your dog for 20 to 30 minutes before departure. Bring a familiar blanket or toy. Monitor for stress signs including lip-licking, yawning, panting, trembling, or excessive sniffing. Avoid sedating your dog for travel as sedation interferes with temperature regulation and can cause complications at altitude or in enclosed spaces.
If your dog regularly struggles with travel sickness or anxiety, see our guide on what to do if your dog gets travel sick before planning a long trip.
Will Eurostar Ever Allow Dogs?
There is no indication that Eurostar intends to change its policy on London routes. When contacted by petition organisers in 2020, the company cited “very small demand.” In October 2025 Eurostar ordered 30 new Celestia trains from Alstom in a €2 billion investment. No mention of pet policy change was included in any of the related announcements.
Campaigners are now targeting rival operators planning new London–Paris services. Virgin Trains, Evolyn, and FS Italy have all announced plans for competing cross-Channel rail services, expected around 2030. Whether any will be pet-friendly from launch is unknown, but they represent the first realistic possibility of change since the ban began in 1994.
For a broader look at pet-friendly travel options across different modes of transport, we cover what works and what to watch out for.
