If you are planning to take your pet on a trip abroad (be it an animal, cat or ferret) then you’re going have to obtain an Animal Health Certificate to get to the destination and return.
You may have heard of an old pet passport system however in a post-brexit society, the pet passports are no longer valid.
Yes, it’s more difficult than it was to travel with your pet and, yes, it’s more expensive.
However, we’re not here to advocate in favour or against the changes resulting from brexit, but solely to outline the information and procedures needed to allow pets to travel from the UK to Europe (and return to the UK) in the current state.
How To Receive An Animal Health Certificate
You’ve got your plans in place for your trip to Europe and you’d like to bring your pet along with you. How do you go about it?
You require The Animal Health Certificate, often abbreviated as AHC!
It doesn’t matter if the pet you have is cat, dog or ferret.
It doesn’t matter if you’re driving and using your time taking the Eurotunnel or ferry or if you’re a foot ferry rider or the Eurostar or the plane.
No matter if you are a holder of the UK issue pet passport.
Still require an Animal Health Certificate.
Below are some steps you have to follow:
Do you have a pet with an rabies vaccine?
If yes , and with a date If yes, skip to step 4.
If not, or it’s expired and requires an increase, you’ll need to provide your pet with a vaccine for rabies at least 21 days prior to the time you even receive an AHC.
You’ll have to give your vet who issued the AHC legal document proof of the status of your pet’s vaccination against rabies. If your vet has have administered the rabies vaccine and is preparing the AHC they’ll have this already. If you do not plan to use your own veterinarian to administer this AHC (more details on that later) they’ll be able to supply you with the documentation required to forward.
That’s it! four easy steps to receive the Animal Health Certificate!
However, if you’re traveling direct to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta (i.e. not traveling via a 3rd country) you’ll also have to have your veterinarian administer the treatment for tapeworms and keep a record of this too.
Which vet should I obtain an AHC From?
Some vets may not give you the Animal Health Certificate.
While not all vets be charging the same amount, so you should not be paying any over PS100 to get an AHC and you should speak with your vet for an estimate.
Today, AHCs are a relatively new type of document, and some vets not have much experience filling out the forms. Particularly in areas not near major international transportation connections, such as ports or big airports.
We’ve received (unverified however very likely) reports of vets filling out the AHCs incorrectly, and animals not being able to travel after reaching the airport or port.
Therefore, for this reason, and in order to show respect to numerous veterinarian practices, should get the Animal Health Certificate issued by an experienced and well-reviewed veterinarian close to the departure point from the UK since they’ve done a lot of work in the past and are now making these forms.
If you have to provide any of the vets listed above with the proof of your rabies vaccination (which should have been given at minimum 21 days prior to taking an AHC) you have two optionsto choose from:
If your pet is covered by current rabies vaccination and you’ve got an old pet passport, this one contains the required details on rabies vaccinations that is recorded as well as signed by a qualified vet. Send scans of relevant pages to the veterinarians.
If your pet isn’t carrying an old pet passport , you must request an Rabies Vaccination Certificate from your vet’s office and give it to the vet who issued the AHC you or ask your vets to send directly to the vets who issue the AHC. (Different procedures differ in the types of vaccines they will accept, so be sure you check in with the issuing vets directly).
What is the length of time the validity of an Animal Health Certificate Valid For?
This is the toughest part.
A Animal Health Certificate is only valid for 4 months and one trip to another country! Be aware it is valid for 4 months since the date of issue of the AHC and not 4 months from the date of entry into Europe!
This means that you’ll need to purchase a new AHC each time you go across the world together with your furry friend!
What date do I have to receive my AHC by?
The Animal Health Certificate must be used within 10 days after the date of issue in order to be valid.
Unfortunately, you can’t obtain your certificate ahead of time as it could expire at the time you want to use it.
However, the top doctors (the that we’ve suggested) will usually allow you to get in touch with them, and send them all relevant information, and pay for the certification several months ahead of time.
They’ll then design and issue the certificate within the appropriate time for you to collect as you travel out of in the UK as well as into Europe.
How many pets can I keep in the same Animal Health Certificate?
You are allowed to have up to 5 pets with your Animal Health Certificate.
The only catch is that all pets have to share the same owner, and also be traveling simultaneously.
But, they don’t necessarily have to be of the same species. They could be a mixture of cats, dogs and ferrets.
What’s the price for the cost of an Animal Health Certificate cost?
There isn’t a standard that can be used to regulate the price you be paying for the Animal Health Certificate.
We’ve heard of individuals paying PS75 as well as been told of people who were over PS250.
With the options offered to you from the vets mentioned above, we’d suggest that if need for a sum that is higher than PS100 to PS150 in order to purchase your AHC (for one pet) Then you might want to look around a more!
It’ll cost a little more to add pets to your AHC.
The Real Process for The Actual Procedure for Your Pet Abroad
Now, you’ve got all you need to know about receiving your AHC What is the procedure to take your pet on vacation and returning it home.
Make sure your pet has received an rabies vaccination for at least 21 days prior to the time you collect your AHC
Get your AHC issued at least 10 days prior to the date the date you plan to travel
Bring your pet along with AHC to the officials at the point of entry into Europe. They’ll need to look over the documents and scan your pet’s microchip.
Enjoy your trip to the world for up to 4 months starting from the date of issue on the Animal Health Certificate.
Visit your pet’s European vet within 24 to 12 hours (1 up to five days) prior to your return in the UK to have it wormed. The vet must administer the worming treatment and record the procedure in your AHC!
Return to the UK and again present the AHC as well as your pet’s ID to authorities at the point of entry into the UK.
A quick note about “points of entry” for Europe or the UK. It is likely to be prior to the time you actually travel. On the Eurotunnel for instance the check of your pet’s outbound is carried out by the UK and is completed at Calais on your return (return) travel.
Your carrier (ferry company, airline) etc. will notify you of the location and how it is handled when you check your pet with them.
Why Can’t I Use my Old Pet Passport?
In the wake of Brexit Great Britain has been awarded a ‘part II designated status’ to allow pets that do not require commercial travel.
This signifies that pets’ passports are removed as well as Animal Health Certificates required on a per-trip basis.
Information & Fact Finding Animal Health Certificate Solutions
There are many individuals who are unhappy about the added expense and difficulty of pet travel in Europe via the UK in an after Brexit world.
There’s a ‘workaround which, although not exactly as per the law and is prone to be a disaster, it has been embraced by a number of people.
If you’re located living in the EU there are some European vets will provide your pet with the EU pet passport, instead of an GB pet passport.
This allows you to move within as well out of EU exactly the same manner as prior to Brexit, as that your rabies vaccination is current by using the European vets who gave you your EU pet passport.
This means that you’ll be required to regularly go to Europe and also the vet that you visit to keep the vaccine current.
However, you’ll encounter difficulties to find a vet who offers this service, as it is being slapped down. You might also have to prove that you have an address for your home within the EU this could be a problem for those who do not have a second home or relatives or friends living in the EU.
What Will Happen When the Old Pet Passport Scheme Come In The Future?
There are rumors, but at this point, they are only the rumor.
It would be fantastic to talk together with EU to revive the pet passport scheme , but at the at the time of writing, there’s no official confirmation of the matter.
