If you are planning on taking your pet on holiday with you, you must have an animal health certificate (AHC) instead of a pet passport.

​

Please be aware that Pet Passports will no longer be valid. An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will now need to be issued by your vet.

​

The recommendation is to start the process at least 1-2 months before your travel.

​

     We are delighted to be able to offer our clients this service.

​

Before you start, there are important things to know:

 

• You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.

• Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated.

• Wait 21 days after the rabies vaccination before travel.

• Call your vet to get an AHC for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.

​

Animal Health Certificates – What you need to know. 

​

• Each certificate is valid for a single entry into the EU within 10 days of the date of issue.

• The Certificate allows further travel within the EU for 4 months from the date of issue.

• A single return into the UK within 4 months from the date of issue.

• The Health certificate cannot be re-used even if you are travelling in and out of the UK more than once during the 4 months period.

• Each trip requires its own individual Animal Heath Certificate.

• If your pet’s Rabies vaccination expires during your pets journey, the Health Certificate will become invalid.

• The owner or authorised person can only be accompanied by a maximum of five pets. You cannot take more than 5 pets to an EU country unless you’re attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. You’ll need written evidence of registration for the event when you travel.

 

On return to the UK, dogs need to be treated for tapeworm by a veterinary surgeon, 24-120 hours (1-5 days) before embarking for the UK (by ferry or air) except from Malta, Finland and Ireland. Cats do not need this treatment.

​

For the most up-to-date information on pet travel to Europe visit: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: Getting an animal health certificate - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

​

There are also local rules which apply to different countries, so before you travel, you must check the country’s requirements on the DEFRA website to make sure that your pet will be allowed entry into the destination country, and more importantly, will also be allowed back into this country.

​