Animal Health Certificates and Pet Travel
If you plan to travel to the EU with your dog, cat or ferret (over twelve weeks of age) for non-commercial reasons, there are certain requirements that must be met to ensure they do not need to spend time in quarantine.
Read on to find out more and don’t forget to contact our clinic to book your pet in with one of our Official Veterinarians for their Animal Health Certificate.
What are Animal Health Certificates?
Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) are the documents that your pet needs in order to be able to travel to the European Union. They are issued by Official Veterinarians who act under the guidance issued from DEFRA, which means they have to abide by these stringent requirements.
Each AHC is specific to the country you are entering the EU through which can then be used for onwards travel through other EU countries. You need the Animal Health Certificate no more than 10 days before you travel and we require certain information about your pet and their planned travelling ahead of the appointment. Furthermore, it is essential that you bring along proof of your pet’s rabies vaccination history and their microchipping date.
We offer Animal Health Certificate appointments to both clients and non-clients, so please do Contact the practice to make your Animal Health Certificate appointment today.
How long are Animal Health Certificates valid for?
It is important to note that your pet will need a new Animal Health Certificate for every trip to an EU country, or to Northern Ireland, from Great Britain. Each certificate is valid for 10 days for entry into the EU/ Northern Ireland, 4 months for onward travel within the EU and 4 months for re-entry into Great Britain.
We can provide you with estimated costs for Animal Health Certificates and the associated examinations.
Travelling to the EU / Northern Ireland
Please note that you are no longer able to use a pet passport issued in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) for travel to an EU country or Northern Ireland. You can still use a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland (for Northern Ireland see additional guidance below).
When travelling to an EU country or Northern Ireland, your pet needs:
- a microchip placed or read before any rabies vaccination
- a valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days before certification and when the pet was at least 12 weeks of age
- an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or a valid non-UK EU passport
- tapeworm treatment for dogs if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Malta (this must be given 24-120 hours prior to entry to EU/ Northern Ireland
You will need to go through a traveller’s point of entry, when you arrive in an EU country or Northern Ireland. A list of these entry points can be found here.
Always check the rules of the country you are travelling to or through for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel – it is your responsibility to check the current rules for travel and arrange the appropriate documents.
Repeat trips to the EU / Northern Ireland
Your pet will need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland.
Your pet will not need a repeat rabies vaccination so long as their rabies vaccinations are up to date.
Travelling back to Great Britain
To re-enter Great Britain from the EU or Northern Ireland, your pet will need the following:
- Microchip
- Rabies vaccination (at least 21 days before travel/certification, and when the pet was at least 12 weeks of age)
- AHC that was used to exit GB can be used to come back within 4 months
- Or UK passport supplied before 31/12/2020
- Or EU passport issued in the EU
- Tapeworm treatment unless travelling from Finland, Northern Ireland, Ireland or Malta (to be given and certified in the original AHC or the valid passport by a veterinarian 24-120 hours before entry to GB)
- You must enter GB via an Approved Route (except for assistance dogs)
Help and guidance
Portland Vets can provide guidance where appropriate on pet travel but it is the responsibility of the pet owner to know the requirements of travel for all the countries they plan to travel to and through.
As a practice, we recommend all pet owners contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) if you have questions or need further information.
For any planned travel outside of the EU, we highly recommend contacting he APHA as soon as possible so they can advise you of any further requirements that need to be fulfilled to enter your destination country. Their contact details are:
Animal and Plant Health Agency
Email: exports@apha.gov.uk
Telephone: 03000 200 301 Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm
