What is an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)?
Since Brexit, AHC's have taken the place of Pet Passports to allow dogs, cats and ferrets to travel from the UK to the EU for non commercial reasons. Up to five pets can go on one AHC (see below if you want to travel with more than 5 pets).
The AHC must be issued within ten days of your travel date and is valid for one outward trip from the UK and lasts for up to four months onward travel within the EU (or until the rabies vaccination expires - whichever is sooner).
What does my pet need to get an AHC?
For an AHC to be issued your pet must be microchipped and have a valid rabies vaccination. Proof of both of these will be required in order to issue the AHC. This can be in the form of an old Pet Passport, a vaccination certificate issued by your vet or a copy of your pets medical history.
Please note that the AHC cannot be issued until at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination was given (unless it is a booster vaccination - ie your pet has had a rabies vaccination before and is getting a top up BEFORE the last vaccination has lapsed).
Does my pet need anything else?
For cats and ferrets, the AHC is the only requirement for travel to the EU. For dogs, a tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet prior to returning to the UK. This treatment must be given not less than 24 hours (1 day) and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before the dog's scheduled arrival time in the UK.
If you are travelling for less than 5 days, I can administer the worming treatment at the AHC appointment before you leave the UK.
If you are travelling to Norway, Finland, Ireland or Malta with a dog, it will need to be given a tapeworm treatment prior to entering that country. I can offer this service and treat your pet at the AHC appointment. For these pets a treatment on your return will not be required.
Can this all be done online?
I will obtain all information required to complete the AHC via an online questionnaire sent to you via email. However, in order to issue an AHC, I must see your pet in person to check its microchip. This will be done at a prior arranged appointment on the day the AHC is to be issued. Once the microchip has been checked I will issue the AHC then and there and you can take it away with you that day.
The appointment is usually carried out at my home address in Tetbury, Glos (GL8). It should take no longer than 15 minutes and you will leave with your AHC. If you do require a home visit or an appointment at a different location, it is possible to arrange this - however please note there will be a small mileage charge added to allow for this.
What if my travel requirements are different?
If you are travelling with a different species to a cat, dog or ferret, or if you are travelling to country outside of the EU, there are different requirements for travel. Please contact me directly for more information on this.
If you are wanting to travel with more than five pets on an AHC to the EU this is only possible if you are attending or training for a competition, sporting event or show and can provide proof of registration to the event.
If you are not travelling with your pet then an AHC can still be provided as long as you will be reunited with your pet within five days of its travel date. There are different requirements depending on who your pet is travelling with - please contact me for further information on this.
Please note that whilst I want to guide you through this process as seamlessly as possible, as the exporter it is your responsibility to ensure that all specific requirements for your trip have been met.
HELP! It still doesn't make sense to me!
Not to worry - if it all still seems confusing to you just drop me an email. It took me a while to get my head around all the rule changes after Brexit so I'm not surprised it sounds confusing to you! If you want clarification, have specific questions, or you want to talk through individual travel requirements then please get in touch - we can discuss via email or I can give you a call. My aim is to make this all as stress-free as possible for you.