Animal Health Certificate Guide for UK Pet Travel
A practical guide to animal health certificates for UK dogs, cats and ferrets travelling to the EU after Brexit.
An animal health certificate, often called an AHC, is the document most pet owners in Great Britain need when taking a dog, cat or ferret to an EU country. Since Brexit, a Great Britain-issued pet passport is no longer valid for travel from Great Britain to the EU.
GOV.UK says pet owners travelling to an EU country must make sure their pet is microchipped, vaccinated against rabies and has the correct travel document. For most journeys from England, Scotland or Wales to the EU, that document is an animal health certificate.
What an animal health certificate does
An AHC confirms that your pet meets the EU pet travel requirements at the time of travel. It records key details such as your pet’s microchip number, rabies vaccination history, owner information and the destination country.
The certificate must be issued and signed by an official veterinarian. Not every vet can issue AHCs, so ask your practice early and check that an official veterinarian is available before you book travel.
When to get an AHC
GOV.UK guidance says an AHC is valid for entry into the EU for 10 days from the date it is issued. After entry, it can be used for onward travel within the EU for up to 6 months and for re-entry to Great Britain for up to 6 months.
That timing means you should book the appointment close enough to departure for the certificate to stay valid, but not so late that a paperwork problem leaves no time to correct it.
What to bring to the vet
Take proof of your pet’s microchipping date and vaccination history. The microchip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccination that is being relied on for travel.
If your pet’s rabies vaccination is a primary vaccination, you normally need to wait at least 21 full days before travel. Your vet can confirm whether a booster is still valid or whether the waiting period applies.
Do you need a new certificate for every trip?
Yes. GOV.UK states that pets need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country from Great Britain or Northern Ireland.
This is one of the biggest differences from the old UK pet passport system. Frequent travellers should plan for repeated vet appointments and keep their pet’s vaccination records organised.
Source
This guide is based on GOV.UK guidance: Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad and Getting an animal health certificate.