Pet Travel

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.

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.

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
• 4 months for re-entry into Great Britain

Travelling to the EU / Northern Ireland

Please note: 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.

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 travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Malta (must be given 24-120 hours prior to entry)

You will need to go through a traveller's point of entry when you arrive in an EU country or Northern Ireland.

Important: 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:

• 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 EU passport issued in the EU
• Tapeworm treatment unless travelling from Finland, Northern Ireland, Ireland or Malta (certified 24-120 hours before entry to GB)
• You must enter GB via an Approved Route (except for assistance dogs)

Help and Guidance

We 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.

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 the APHA as soon as possible so they can advise you of any further requirements. We can also issue an EHC which are used for travel outside of the EU, please contact us at least 6 months prior to travel to discuss the requirements.