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An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is an official document issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) that allows dogs, cats and ferrets to travel from the UK to the EU and certain other countries. It replaces the old EU Pet Passport for UK residents following Brexit.
The certificate confirms that your pet is microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and meets the health requirements of the destination country.
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An Animal Health Certificate is used primarily for non-commercial travel with pets to the EU and some neighbouring countries.
An Export Health Certificate (EHC) is required for:
Travel to non-EU countries
Commercial movements
Certain destinations with additional health requirements
Both must be completed and signed by an Official Vet, but the requirements vary depending on the destination.
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Yes. If you are travelling from Great Britain to the EU with a dog, cat or ferret, you must have an Animal Health Certificate issued no more than 10 days before entry into the EU.
This applies even if your pet previously had an EU Pet Passport issued in Great Britain.
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An AHC is valid for:
10 days for entry into the EU
4 months for onward travel within the EU
4 months for re-entry into Great Britain
Each new trip from the UK to the EU requires a new AHC.
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Only a government-authorised Official Veterinarian (OV) can issue and sign Animal Health Certificates and Export Health Certificates.
Not all vets are OVs, so it’s important to book with a practice or service that is specifically authorised to complete these documents.
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At a minimum, your pet must have:
A microchip
A valid rabies vaccination
The rabies vaccine must be given after the microchip is implanted and must be at least 21 days old at the time of travel.
Some destinations require additional treatments or tests.
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Yes — for certain countries.
Dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta must receive an approved tapeworm treatment between 24 and 120 hours before arrival.
Cats do not require tapeworm treatment for travel.
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We recommend booking at least 2–4 weeks before travel, especially during peak holiday periods.
The certificate itself must be issued within 10 days of travel, but booking early allows time to check vaccinations, resolve issues, and avoid last-minute stress.
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Yes, multiple pets can be included on a single Animal Health Certificate provided they are travelling together and meet all requirements.
However, there is a maximum number of animals allowed for non-commercial travel. If you are travelling with many pets, you may require an Export Health Certificate instead.
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An Export Health Certificate is required for many non-EU destinations, including (but not limited to):
USA
UAE
Australia
New Zealand
Certain Asian and Middle Eastern countries
Each country has its own specific requirements, and some are more complex than EU travel.
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This depends on the destination.
Some EHCs can be completed within days, while others require:
Blood tests
Parasite treatments
Additional paperwork
Longer waiting periods
We strongly advise contacting us well in advance if you are travelling outside the EU.
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Yes. An Animal Health Certificate can be used to re-enter Great Britain within 4 months, provided all requirements are met.
Some countries require additional treatments before returning to the UK, such as tapeworm treatment for dogs.
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Puppies and kittens must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. The earliest they can be vaccinated against rabies is 12 weeks of age, and the certificate can only be issued from 21 days after vaccination, so the youngest puppy or kitten will be 15 weeks old before it is eligible for an AHC. Some countries have additional age restrictions.
