Taking your pet abroad

Pet travel to Europe has changed with effect from 1 January 2021.

EU Pet Passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.

An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) will now need to be issued by your vet.

Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

You will need to take your pet to see your vet no more than ten days before travel to obtain an AHC. The AHC needs to be signed by an official vet. Here at Cornish Paws Bill and Marissa are registered official vets (OV’s).

Timing of AHC appointment

We like to book AHC appointments 5-7 days before the expected date of travel, this allows some extra time for unexpected delays entering the EU, eg. ferry not sailing. Please note the date of issue of the AHC counts as Day 1. One week before your AHC appointment please return the completed sheet confirming all details of travel, without this we will not be able to complete the AHC.

Take with you to your appointment

Please bring proof of the following with you to your appointment:

- Rabies vaccination card

- It is essential that the person travelling with your pet attends the appointment, if this is a different person to the owner we request that - the owner of the pet attends as well

- It is essential to bring your pet to this appointment

- We will endevour to complete the AHC at the appointment but may require 24 hours before this can occur due to clinical work on the day.

AHC validity

Your pet’s AHC will be valid for:

ten days from the date of issue for entry into the EU or NI

on-ward travel within the EU or NI for four months after the date of issue

re-entry to UK for four months after the date of issue

The AHC is valid for one entry only from UK into the EU.

If you return home and would like to make another trip to the EU within the four month window, you will need to be issued with a new AHC by your vet.

Re-entering the UK

In order to re-enter you will need one of three documents:

- a valid AHC

- a valid EU pet passport (not issued in Great Britain) 

- an AHC issued by an EU member country

Tapeworm and rabies

A tapeworm treatment will need to be administered by a vet between 20 – 120 hours before re-entry into the UK by a Veterinary Surgeon

It’s important to keep your pet’s rabies vaccinations up-to-date in order to travel. After a rabies vaccination is given there is a 21 day waiting period before you can travel.

Currently, there is no requirement to have a rabies serology blood test.

Please see the 2 attachments (buttons below):

AHC timeline which shows the whole process clearly

AHC information sheet - please fill this in and return 1 week before the date of your appointment with our OV. If you prefer you can submit the information via the eForm below.

Please re-visit our website for up-dates or visit DEFRA who will post changes as they happen. https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain.

Pet Travel helpline

pettravel@apha.gov.uk

Telephone: 0370 241 1710

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays)

Additional information

1. Please bring your vaccination record, with proof of rabies vaccination, to your AHC appointment.

2. Please book an AHC appointment 1 week before the date of travel.

3. The person who is travelling with the animal must attend the AHC with the animal.