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Animal Health Certificates
Animal Health Certificates
In 2021 the laws surrounding pet travel from Great Britain changed, previously issued Pet Passports for taking your dog, cat or ferret abroad could no longer be used for travel into the EU. Instead of this, to travel to EU countries and Northern Ireland, an Animal Health Certificate is now required by law. This is to prove your pet is vaccinated appropriately and to ensure that diseases such as rabies are not spread. You can add up to 5 pets to a single Animal Health Certificate.
The situation relating to travel to countries outside of the EU is different, in this case an Export Health Certificate is required.
Timing of Animal Health Certificates
Animal Health Certificates must be completed within 10 days of travel, and prior to booking this appointment you will be asked to complete a questionnaire to allow us to begin to fill in the paperwork required.
If you are not the person travelling with your pet and they are travelling with friends or family, or a pet transport company, please make us aware when booking the appointment. In this circumstance we will require you to provide additional information.
Rabies vaccinations
To be eligible for an Animal Health Certificate your pet must have been vaccinated against rabies. Rabies vaccination can only be administered to animals over 12 weeks old, and there is a waiting time of 21 days following an initial rabies vaccination before an Animal Health Certificate can be issued. Booster vaccinations to keep rabies vaccinations up to date are administered every three years, if the vaccination lapses another 21 days waiting period would be required before an Animal Health Certificate can be issued.
Please bear this in mind when arranging your Animal Health Certificate appointment.
Who can issue an Animal Health Certificate?
The certificate needs to be signed by an ‘official veterinarian’ (OV), there are vets at each of the branches at Lanes Vets who hold this qualification and can issue Animal Health Certificates.
What to bring to your appointment?
When you come to your appointment you will need to bring your pet so we can scan their microchip, and we will also need to see proof of your pet’s microchipping date and vaccination history. Please bring their rabies vaccination card or old passport with valid rabies vaccination documented, we will need to take copies of this document.
How long are Animal Health Certificates Valid?
An Animal health Certificate is valid after the date of issue for:
- 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland
- 4 months for onward travel within the EU
- 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain
Your pet will need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
Tapeworm treatment (dogs) for travel into the EU
Some countries have specific rules regarding tapeworm treatment for dogs, these include:
• Finland
• Ireland
• Malta
• Northern Ireland
• Norway
If you are travelling directly to these countries a vet must treat your dog for tapeworm using a specific product and record it. The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.
Tapeworm treatment (dogs) for return to the UK
A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm with a specified product and record it on the health certificate (or in the pet passport if applicable) every time you want to bring it to Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland). The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain. Your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine if you do not follow this rule. You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
Please note whilst all details are correct at the time of writing, owners are responsible for checking the most recent Government advice before attempting to travel with pets.
