What are AHCs? When and why are they needed? How much do they cost? Check out our comprehensive guide for the answers to all your AHC questions.
Whether you’re taking your dog to France for a short break, or planning to travel through Europe with them, you’ll need to have your travel paperwork in order. Since Brexit, British pet passports are no longer accepted - so if you’re taking your dog, cat or ferret to Europe, you’ll need an Animal Health Certificate.
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is a lengthy document that certifies that up to five dogs, cats or ferrets, identifiable by their microchips, have valid rabies vaccinations and are travelling to Europe legally, for non-commercial purposes.
An AHC may only be issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV), and must be issued within 10 days of your anticipated arrival in Europe (with the date of issue counting as day one).
Vets in the UK must undertake additional training to become OVs, so not all vets (or practices) can issue AHCs. We recommend contacting your practice to book an AHC well in advance of your travel dates to avoid any issues.
Your AHC should be checked and stamped by customs in the first country you enter. It is then valid for onward travel within the EU, and re-entry to the UK, for up to four months. It is a single-use document, so cannot be used to travel back to Europe after you return to the UK.
The OV issuing your AHC will need to know the first country you will enter, as AHCs must be completed as dual-language certificates based on the language of the country where the checks will be carried out.
Animal Health Certificates are valid for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling to the EU, Switzerland and Norway. If you plan to travel to a different country or to take another species of pet, you will require a different certificate.
Planning to travel with your dog to Europe? Check out our new travel planner for details on travel documents, border control, suggested routes and more for 30 countries.
To get an Animal Health Certificate for your pet you’ll need to:
If your pet will be travelling with an authorised person or carrier, the rules are slightly different. Ideally, the person travelling with your pet should be named on the AHC and sign the AHC declaration. However, you may be able to sign the AHC as the owner and nominate a person for them to travel with. It’s best to check this with your vet in advance.
If your pet will be travelling with an authorised person, you’ll also need to provide them with a letter authorising them to travel with your pet. Your pet will also need to be reunited with you within five days of travel.
An Animal Health Certificate costs anywhere from £69 to £250-300. This depends on the number of pets travelling, how quickly the AHC is needed, and the practice or provider offering the AHC.
Specialist AHC providers typically offer lower prices, although the location may be less convenient than your usual vets. Your usual vet may charge more for the service as they do not specialise in offering AHCs, which can be time-consuming and must be fitted in around their clinical work.
An AHC is required for travel to the EU, Norway, Switzerland and Northern Ireland, although routine checks are currently suspended for travel to Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
For other countries, alternative paperwork is required.
All pets travelling to the EU, Norway and Switzerland must have a valid rabies vaccination. If your pet has not previously been vaccinated against rabies, or their previous vaccination has expired, at least 21 days must pass after their rabies vaccination before an AHC can be issued.
If your pet has a valid rabies vaccination, there is no waiting period to issue an AHC after their booster vaccination.
Find out more about rabies vaccinations for pet travel.
Cats and ferrets don’t require tapeworm treatment for travel.
Dogs will need to be treated for tapeworm if they are travelling to Ireland, Malta, Norway or Finland. For travel to these countries, a vet will need to witness your dog’s tapeworm treatment being given between 24 and 120 hours prior to their anticipated arrival. They’ll need to add the details to the table of tapeworm treatments in the AHC and sign and stamp this.
If your dog subsequently returns directly to the UK from a tapeworm-free country, they won’t need a second tapeworm treatment. However, if your dog travels through any other European country they’ll need a tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before returning to the UK.
Find out more about tapeworm treatments for dogs.
Since Brexit, British pet passports are no longer accepted for travel.
European pet passports are accepted by both the UK and Europe; however, it can be tricky to obtain one and keep it up to date.
Different countries also have different requirements to obtain a pet passport, and may require a permanent address, for example.
British vets are also no longer allowed to add vaccinations to European pet passports (although they can still certify tapeworm treatments). Most European countries require yearly rabies booster vaccinations, so unless you travel to Europe every 12 months for a booster before the vaccination has expired, you’ll still need an AHC to travel.
Most pets therefore travel with an AHC.
Animal Health Certificates are typically valid for travel with up to five pets. An AHC may be issued for more than five pets if:
The other AHC requirements also apply, including that the pets must be reunited with their owner within five days of travel, and are being moved for non-commercial purposes.
Ports and other travel operators may also limit the number of pets allowed to travel per vehicle, so this is worth checking prior to travel.
Pets can travel with an authorised person if they have the written permission of the pet’s owner. The authorised person should typically be named on the AHC and attend the appointment with the vet to sign the AHC declaration.
However, if this is not possible - for example, your pet will be travelling with a courier - you may be able to sign the AHC and nominate the carrier as an authorised person without them being present.
You should make your vet aware of the details of your travel plans ahead of time so they can ensure the AHC is completed correctly.
Yes, the OV will need to see your pet and scan their microchip to issue the AHC.
If you’re taking your pet to Europe to leave them with a new owner, will not be travelling within five days of your pet or for any other reason are not eligible for an AHC, your pet may need an Export Health Certificate (EHC). These are less commonly issued than AHCs, so it’s important to get in touch with your vet ahead of time to arrange this.
In addition to ensuring your pet has a valid microchip and rabies vaccination, arranging an AHC and planning their tapeworm treatment (if needed), there are a few other things to consider.
First, it’s important to make sure you’re aware of the requirements of any company you will be travelling with and any areas you will be travelling through. For example, ports may require dogs to be muzzled, and ferry operators may require you to book a pet-friendly cabin or a kennel for longer crossings.
Secondly, you should make sure you know where you will be declaring your pet to customs, and that it is a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry. Depending on the country, you may also need to notify customs in advance of your arrival to arrange your pet’s checks.
Whether you’re planning a European road trip or taking your dog to France for the weekend, everyone wants their travel plans to run smoothly. Find out more about each country’s requirements, suggested routes and travel advice with our detailed travel planner.
