If you are travelling with your dog from the UK to an EU country or Northern Ireland, you need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). This document verifies that your dog has the necessary vaccinations and parasite treatments to prevent the spread of disease.
The AHC replaced pet passports in January 2021. You cannot use a pet passport when travelling out of Britain. However, pet passports are still used within EU countries and are valid for travel between EU member states.
Getting an Animal Health Certificate
Animal Health Certificates can only be issued by a government authorized Official Veterinarian (OV). To get an AHC, you can contact your veterinary practice to arrange an appointment.
Processes vary from practice to practice, but after you have booked your appointment you are usually sent a form to complete. This form contains information like owner’s details and a description of your dog and needs to be taken to your AHC appointment.
How long does it take to get one?
You should make plans to get an Animal Health Certificate far in advance of your travel date.
Available appointment times will depend on individual veterinary practices. Waiting times can be around 4 weeks, this can be even longer during popular holiday times.
Some practices offer urgent appointment slots, but these are usually significantly more expensive.
Cost
Animal welfare charity Blue Cross puts the average cost of an Animal Health Certificate between £100-£150.
Additional costs may occur if you need vaccinations or to update microchip details. If your travel plans change some veterinary practices may charge to update the AHC.
If you need a short notice AHC appointment this can cost up £400+.
AHC Requirements
There are a number of requirements your dog must meet to qualify for an Animal Health Certificate:
- Microchipping: dogs must be microchipped with up-to-date contact information and details about the dog. Your dog should already have a microchip as this has been UK law since 2016.
- Rabies vaccination: you will need to bring proof that your dog has a valid rabies vaccination. This can be either an inactivated or recombinant vaccine, and it must be approved in the destination country. The vaccine must be administered at least 21 days before the AHC appointment; this waiting period allows the body to develop immunity.
- Tapeworm treatment: some destinations require proof of tapeworm treatment. You should check if this is required before your AHC appointment.
- Official vet: the AHC can only be issued by a government authorized Official Veterinarian (OV).
- Up to date documentation: the AHC can only be issued if you have valid and up-to-date documentation. A list of all required documents should be given to you before your AHC appointment.
Before your AHC appointment, consult your veterinarian to ensure your dog meets all the requirements and that you bring the correct paperwork.
No photo ID required
Unlike the pet passports, UK Animal Health Certificates do not require photo ID of your dog. The certificate itself acts as identification for your pet, along with the microchip and any rabies vaccination records.
Additional information
Some countries in the EU have additional requirements for a valid Animal Health Certificate. For example, Ireland requires tapeworm treatment. This must be administered between 24 hours and 5 days before your arrival time.
It’s always important to check your destinations requirements before travel to ensure your documentation is correct, and any vaccinations are given in time.
How long is the certificate valid for?
After you receive the Animal Health Certificate, it will be valid for:
- 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland (date of issues is day 0)
- 4 months for onward travel within EU countries
- 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain
The AHC becomes invalid if you leave the EU at any point during your trip. If you plan to return to the EU after leaving, you'll need a new certificate.
Returning to the UK
The Animal Health Certificate is only valid for 4 months. If your trip extends beyond this, you’ll need either a GB Pet Health Certificate or an EU Pet Passport depending on the country you’re travelling from.
When returning back into the UK, you must take your dog to a vet within 1 to 5 days for tapeworm treatment. This will then be recorded on the certificate.
Travelling outside of the EU
The Animal Health Certificate is only valid if you are travelling to an EU country, Northern Ireland, or ‘Part 1 listed countries’.
Travelling outside of these regions means you’ll require an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to return to the UK with your dog.
The EHC functions the same as an AHC, but is required for travelling to countries outside of the EU and ‘Part 2 listed countries’.
A full list of Part 1 and Part 2 listed countries can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/listed-and-unlisted-countries
Additional documents to the EHC
Non-EU and Part 2 listed countries may also have additional requirements as well as the EHC for bringing dogs intro their country, so check the regulations of your destination before you travel.
You can find a list of Export Health Certificates and which supporting documents you need here: https://www.gov.uk/export-health-certificates
If you have any questions regarding the Animal Health Certificate it is always best to speak directly with your vet. They can give you more specific advice about what documentation is needed for your travel plans.
