Pet Travel

ANIMAL HEALTH CERTIFICATE (AHC) REQUIREMENT FOR TRAVELLING TO EUROPE INCLUDING IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND.

Due to Brexit, UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid. Any pet with a valid up to date rabies vaccine in an EU-issued passport can travel on their passport, but UK vets are no longer able to write in these passports and keep them up to date. To keep EU passports valid, the rabies vaccine has to be done in an EU country and signed and dated by an EU vet. The UK passports are no longer valid at all.

Instead of pet passports, your pet will need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). This allows travel to EU countries in the scheme, but is not a fit to travel document. These documents can be produced for dogs, cats and ferrets.

The basic requirements are:

1. Your pet must be microchipped (a legal requirement in the UK for dogs and soon to be for cats)
2. They must have a rabies vaccine at least 21 days before the AHC can be issued. Do not leave it until the last minute, as soon as you know you want to take your pet to the EU, book an appointment for a rabies vaccine and discussion.
3. The AHC is valid for 10 days after issuing (i.e. You have 10 days to depart once the AHC has been issued.
4. Unlike pet passports, the AHC is single trip use only.
5. The AHC is valid for onward travel within the EU and Northern Ireland and return to the UK within 4 months.
6. Dogs travelling from GB to EU listed tapeworm free countries including Northern Ireland, Malta, Ireland, Finland, and Norway must be treated for tapeworm prior to travel in accordance with EU requirements. This has to be done by a vet 24-120 hours before travel and document signed.
7. Dogs returning to the UK form the EU need to be treated for tape worm by a vet and document signed 24-120 hours before retuning.  Pets travelling directly to GB from Northern Ireland, Finland, Ireland, Malta, or Norway are exempt from this treatment.
8. Travel must be for non-commercial purposes. So, there must be no change of ownership.
9. The person that travels with the pet must be the owner or an authorised person. If the pet is not travelling with the owner, they must be reunited with the owner within 5 days of entry to the EU.
10. The AHC has to be signed by the person travelling with the pet – therefore the person travelling with the pet must come to the AHC appointment to sign the document.
11. Pets need to travel through a designated traveller’s point of entry (TPE)
12. Make sure that all the documentation is correct for your particular journey. The AHC is specific to the country of entry to the EU (NOT eventual destination). Please note that it is the owner’s responsibility to make sure the microchip is working and that all your pet’s documents are correct and valid for travel through all the relevant countries on your trip.
13. AMENDMENT FOR PETS TRAVELLING WITH OWNERS TO NORTHERN IRELAND ONLY Until further notice, for advice about travelling to Northern Ireland with dogs, cats and ferrets, we are directing you to the Irish government website. This advice changes frequently, so please ensure you have checked for up-to-date information prior to travelling: https://www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/travelling-pets

Travelling from GB to NI or travelling from NI to GB and returning to NI

On 6 September 2021, the UK Government issued a written statement confirming that the current Protocol arrangements will continue, including no routine checks on pet travel within the UK.

Please use the website address for more details. https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/writtenstatements/detail/2021-09-06/hlws257(external link opens in a new window / tab)

There will be no routine checks on the non-commercial movement of pets from GB to NI until further notice. ·

Please see Q&As for Pet Travel from 1 January 2021

Officials reserve the right to undertake checks in the interim should there be a suspicion of illegal activity or welfare concerns.

So, in short, it is still a legal requirement for pets to be issued an AHC to travel to NI from GB, and if you decide to go to Northern Ireland without this documentation, it is your responsibility should you be stopped and checked.

Please note you still need documentation if travelling on into Ireland as this is within the EU.

AS SOON AS YOU KNOW YOU ARE TRAVELLING TO THE EU OR NORTHERN IRELAND THEN PLEASE CONTACT THE SURGERY AND THEY WILL BE ABLE TO BOOK THE NECESSARY APPOINTMENTS