A new 'pet reception' area has opened at Eurotunnel's terminal in Cheriton.

It has been created in the Victor Hugo passenger building and will be for the use of pets and those travelling with them, prior to departure.

Since the end of the Brexit transition period on January 1, dogs and cats travelling with their owners must prove their identity and present their vaccination passport to be admitted to the European Union; similar to the case for pets entering the UK for over 20 years.

A deal was agreed earlier this year for all checks to be carried our prior to departure and not on arrival in France. The agreement stipulates that Eurotunnel’s specially trained staff carry out the systematic documentary checks required by the EU and that French Customs services, based at the British terminal, carry out additional random checks and controls.

Eurotunnel estimates 10% of shuttle passengers take a pet.

Each animal must be at least 12 weeks old, hold a European Union Pet Passport or an Animal Health Certificate issued by a veterinarian approved in the UK less than 10 days before departure, and have been vaccinated against rabies after the age of 12 weeks and at least 21 days before travel.

Yann Leriche, CEO of Getlink, Eurotunnel's parent company, said: “Travel restrictions have not slowed down the work and improvements carried out for the comfort and quality of service we want to offer our customers.

"Each year, more than 300,000 of them cross with a dog or a cat aboard our shuttles. When traffic is back to normal, everyone will appreciate being able to go to France with their animal, with the peace of mind that they can drive straight off a shuttle onto the motorway.”

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