Travelling with an assistance dog
Recognised assistance dogs sail free aboard SailLink, marina to marina, between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer. Here is everything to prepare, step by step, before you book.
SailLink runs the sailing ferry between Dover and Boulogne-sur-Mer, marina to marina. Recognised assistance dogs are welcome on board, there is no charge for the dog, and it stays with you for the whole crossing.
Because we cross an international border between Great Britain and France, each country checks dogs entering its own territory. What you need to prepare depends on the direction you travel. This page sets out the whole process so you know exactly what to do.
Who qualifies
A recognised assistance dog is one trained and certified by a member organisation of Assistance Dogs UK, Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu). This includes guide dogs, hearing dogs, and mobility, medical alert and other certified assistance dogs.
Emotional support animals are not covered by these rules and cannot be carried as assistance dogs. Only a recognised assistance dog, travelling with the person it assists, can be accepted.
Before you book
We can take one recognised assistance dog per crossing, so please make sure the sailing you want still has the dog place free before booking. If you are unsure, contact us first and we will confirm.
If you are travelling to France, please book at least five days before your crossing. We need that time to give French customs the notice they require. After that point we may not be able to add a dog to a France-bound sailing.
What you will need
Your dog must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and accompanied by you throughout. Beyond that, the requirements depend on the country you are entering.
Dover to Boulogne Entering France
- EU pet passport
- Veterinary certificate
- Proof that your dog is a recognised assistance dog (its certifying organisation)
Boulogne to Dover Entering Great Britain
- Microchip
- Rabies vaccination
- Blood test
- Pet passport or Third Country Veterinary Certificate
- Tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival, recorded in the passport
- Proof that your dog is a recognised assistance dog (its certifying organisation)
The one thing to plan ahead: the tapeworm treatment. For any crossing arriving in Great Britain, your dog must be treated for tapeworm by a vet, no earlier than 120 hours (5 days) and no later than 24 hours before you arrive, and the treatment must be recorded in the passport. This means booking a vet appointment in or near Boulogne before you sail back. It is the only requirement that needs organising on the French side, so plan it early.
A return trip (Dover to Boulogne and back) means meeting both sets of requirements. In practice, the main thing to organise is that tapeworm appointment with a vet in France before your return leg.
Full UK guidance is here: Bringing your pet dog to Great Britain: Guide and assistance dogs (GOV.UK).
How booking works
- Book your crossing on our website and tick the box to tell us you are travelling with a recognised assistance dog. There is a comment field too, so you can raise anything specific to your situation or your dog.
- We send you a short email confirming your place. Reply with your crossing date and direction, your dog's type (its breed and the kind of assistance dog it is), and the organisation that certifies it. For any crossing to France, please also send us, before you sail, a copy of your dog's EU pet passport, veterinary certificate and proof of assistance dog status, so we can pass them to the French authorities in advance.
- We confirm everything and, for crossings to France, we notify French customs on your behalf.
- You prepare the documents for your direction. For any leg arriving in Great Britain, arrange the tapeworm treatment with a vet in France before you sail.
On the day
Please arrive at the meeting point 90 minutes before departure so we can carry out the checks calmly and get you and your dog on board in good time. Your dog can only travel if everything is in order at the check.
Entering Great Britain (Boulogne to Dover): our crew check your documents and scan the microchip using the official Pet Travel Checklist (PT45). Your dog can only board if everything is in order. You and your fellow passengers clear UK Border Force, as on any Channel crossing.
Entering France (Dover to Boulogne): the French authorities carry out the animal check. When they are able to attend, this happens at the marina as soon as you arrive. If they cannot come to the marina, the check takes place at the border post in Le Portel, and you would need to travel there with your dog yourself to complete it before you are free to continue. If that happens, we sort out the site access with you in advance, so there is nothing to organise on the day. Please plan for this possibility, as it can mean an extra trip on arrival. You and your fellow passengers clear the French border police (Police aux Frontières), as on any Channel crossing.
Once you are on board, we will look after you directly. A boat is a new and unfamiliar environment for a dog, so we expect to take on much of the assistance role for the crossing, with your dog settling in the cockpit or inside, close to hand and sheltered from the salt and spray. Every passenger and every dog is different, so we will talk through what works best for you before you sail.
We have engaged the UK Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), with whom we have a signed Memorandum of Understanding, and the French authorities, and we apply their requirements in full.
SailLink is listed on the UK government register of ferry and cruise companies recognised to carry assistance dogs. View the register.
Questions and answers
Is there a charge for my assistance dog?
No. A recognised assistance dog travels free of charge and stays with you for the whole crossing.
What counts as a recognised assistance dog?
A dog trained and certified by a member organisation of Assistance Dogs UK, Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or Assistance Dogs Europe (ADEu). This includes guide, hearing, mobility and medical alert dogs. Emotional support animals are not covered by these rules.
What does my dog need to travel from Dover to Boulogne?
To enter France: an EU pet passport, a veterinary certificate, and proof that your dog is a recognised assistance dog.
What does my dog need to travel from Boulogne to Dover?
To enter Great Britain: microchip, rabies vaccination, blood test, pet passport or Third Country Veterinary Certificate, tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival and recorded in the passport, and proof of recognised assistance dog status.
When must the tapeworm treatment be done?
For any crossing arriving in Great Britain, a vet must treat the dog for tapeworm no earlier than 120 hours (5 days) and no later than 24 hours before arrival, recorded in the passport. Book a vet in or near Boulogne before you sail back.
How many assistance dogs can travel on one crossing?
One recognised assistance dog per sailing. Please check the dog place is free on your chosen crossing before booking.
How early do I need to arrive?
Please arrive at the meeting point 90 minutes before departure so the boarding checks can be carried out calmly.
Questions, or another format
If anything here is unclear, or if you would like this information in a different format, get in touch at joris@saillink.co.uk and we will help. If you know the regulations better than we have set them out, or something does not fit your case, tell us in the booking comment field and we will work it out together.