Guide and assistance animals

To travel, there must be a valid Eurostar ticket for both the owner and the guide or assistance dog or cat. There is no charge for a guide or assistance dog or assistance cat’s ticket which can be booked through our contact form (select Assistance, then Assistance Animals) or by calling:

For the UK and the Netherlands: +44 (0)3432 186 186
For France: +33(0) 1 70 70 60 99
For Belgium: +32(0) 2 400 67 76

In order to travel, we will ask for basic information via a pre-approval form regarding the dog or cat at the time of booking.

It is important that customers contact us at least 24 hours before they travel and declare the intention to travel with a guide or assistance dog or assistance cat and to make the dog or cat’s booking.

We will book a spare seat next to the customer to ensure the dog or cat has enough space. A maximum number of four guide or assistance dogs or assistance cats (in total) are permitted per train.

When travelling between the UK and the EU, you'll need the following documents for your guide or assistance dog or assistance cat:

• Their own Eurostar ticket
• A microchip or a tattoo applied on or before 3 July 2011
• A valid rabies vaccination
• A valid tapeworm vaccination (for dogs, when travelling to the UK)
• An animal health certificate, unless you have a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland
• Proof that your pet has been accepted for travel with Eurostar (validated documentation, a copy of your confirmation email or your case reference number from Eurostar)

Find out more on the UK government website.

Important: Please check that your guide or assistance dog or assistance cat has the correct documents and vaccinations well in advance. Otherwise, your dog or cat may be placed in quarantine for up to four months.

Please check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

On the day of departure, you must arrive in the station at least 60 minutes before your train departs, with the following documents.

Your documents

• Your Eurostar ticket
• Your passport

Your dog’s or cat’s documents

• Their Eurostar ticket
• Their travel documents outlined above
• Proof that they’ve been accepted for travel with Eurostar (validated documentation, a copy of your confirmation email or your case reference number from Eurostar)

Important

Please check your dog or cat has the correct documents and vaccinations well in advance. Otherwise, they may be placed in quarantine for up to four months.

Please note that we allow guide or assistance dogs and assistance cats as an auxiliary aide. Therefore, we only accept guide or assistance dogs or assistance cats travelling with their owners.

Where to go

You must arrive at the station 60 minutes before your train departs.

No matter where you are travelling to or from, you’ll need to see a member of Eurostar staff, who will complete the final travel document checks for your guide or assistance dog or assistance cat, and approve the animal for travel.

If you don't see a Eurostar staff member before making your way through the ticket gates, we cannot approve the animal for travel.

You can travel with a guide or assistance dog or assistance cat between these stations:

In the UK:

London St Pancras International

Across Europe:

Paris Gare du Nord
Brussels-Midi/Zuid
Lille Europe
Amsterdam Centraal
Rotterdam Centraal

For more information visit our accessible travel hub or download our PDF guide: Making rail accessible: Helping older and disabled passengers (opens a PDF) and our audio version: Making rail accessible: Helping older and disabled passengers is also available.

Contact us

You can get in touch with our team during the following UK hours:

• Monday to Sunday, including holidays – 07:00 - 19:00 (UK time)

By phone:

• For the UK and the Netherlands: +44 (0)3432 186 186
• For France: +33(0) 1 70 70 60 99
• For Belgium: +32(0) 2 400 67 76

By email:

Get in touch by filling out this contact form and selecting the Accessible Travel button.

Important: the urgent assistance request should be selected only if you are travelling out of our office hours and your journey is within the next 24 hours.

Or write to:

Eurostar Assistance Team
2nd Floor Kent House
81 Station Road
Ashford Kent
TN23 1AP
UK

If you have any general questions, please contact the Pet Travel helpline.

Phone: +44 (0)370 241 1710 (open Monday to Friday 08:30 – 17:00, UK time)
Email: pettravel@apha.gov.uk

You can also find helpful information on the UK government website.