The official document required to take your dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain into the EU or Northern Ireland. Issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) at Paws & Co — book early, travel confidently.
Since the UK left the EU, the old EU Pet Passport is no longer valid for pets travelling from Great Britain. To take your pet to any EU country (or Northern Ireland), you need an Animal Health Certificate — a vet-signed document confirming your pet meets the entry requirements. We’re an Official Veterinary practice authorised to issue these directly, with no need for referral elsewhere.
What is an Animal Health Certificate?
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is the official document required by the EU and Northern Ireland for pets travelling from Great Britain. It confirms that your pet has been microchipped, has an in-date rabies vaccination, and has been examined by an Official Veterinarian (OV) before travel.
Each AHC is valid for:
- 10 days from the date of issue for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland
- 4 months for onward travel within the EU
- 4 months for re-entry into Great Britain
That means you need a fresh AHC for every trip from GB into the EU. We’ll talk you through the timing on the day so there are no surprises at the border.
What you’ll need before your appointment
1. A microchip
Your pet must be microchipped before their rabies vaccination. If they’re not chipped yet, we can do it at the practice for £20.
2. A valid rabies vaccination
The rabies vaccine must be given after the microchip is fitted, and at least 21 full days before travel. Boosters must be kept up-to-date or the cycle restarts.
3. Tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
For dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, a tapeworm tablet must be administered by a vet 24–120 hours before arrival.
4. Your pet’s vaccination history
Bring proof of the original microchipping date and full rabies vaccination history. If your pet is registered with us, we already have this.
How it works
Book at least 2 weeks before travel
Ideally 4–6 weeks ahead if your pet hasn’t had their rabies vaccine yet, since the vaccine must be at least 21 days old before you travel.
Send us your travel details in advance
We’ll need destination country, departure and return dates, and the names & chip numbers of all pets travelling. This lets us prepare paperwork accurately.
Attend your AHC appointment within 10 days of travel
Allow 30–45 minutes. We’ll examine your pet, scan the chip, verify rabies vaccination dates, and complete the official certificate. You’ll leave with the signed AHC ready for travel.
Travel with your AHC and present at the border
Carry the AHC with you on travel. Show it at your point of entry into the EU. The certificate covers onward EU travel for 4 months, and re-entry to GB for 4 months.
Common timing mistakes — book early
The most stressful AHC appointments are the ones booked last-minute, where it turns out something prevents travel. The most common issues:
- Rabies vaccine given less than 21 days before travel — you cannot travel until the 21 days have passed
- Microchip fitted after the rabies vaccine — the vaccination cycle must restart
- Lapsed rabies booster — the immunity cycle restarts, requiring a fresh 21-day wait
- Travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or NI without the required tapeworm treatment timing
- Trying to use an old EU Pet Passport (no longer valid for GB-issued passports)
If in doubt, ring us early. We’ll review your pet’s records and confirm the right timeline before you book travel.
Returning to Great Britain
To bring your pet back into Great Britain from the EU, you’ll need:
- The same Animal Health Certificate that took you out (valid for 4 months)
- For dogs: tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) before re-entry into GB
- An approved travel route — pets must travel on a Pet Travel Scheme-approved route
The tapeworm treatment must be recorded in your AHC by the issuing vet abroad. Keep all paperwork together and easily accessible during travel.
Transparent pricing
| Service | Price |
|---|---|
| Animal Health Certificate (first pet) | £99 |
| Each additional pet on same certificate | £40 |
| Microchip (if needed) | £20 |
| Rabies Vaccination | £70 |
| Tapeworm treatment (returning to GB) | POA |
An AHC must be issued within 10 days of travel. Prices include the OV consultation, examination and certificate issuance.
Travelling regularly? Save more.
If you travel with your pet often, Companion Plan members get free consultations plus 20% off medications, and get annual rabies boosters as part of standard preventative care — making each trip simpler and cheaper.
Frequently asked questions
How far in advance should I book my AHC appointment?
The AHC itself must be issued within 10 days of travel. But if your pet hasn’t had a rabies vaccine, you’ll need at least 21 days between the vaccine and travel — so 4–6 weeks ahead is sensible. If your pet is up-to-date with rabies, 2–3 weeks gives plenty of breathing room.
Can I still use my old EU Pet Passport?
If your passport was issued in Great Britain, no — it’s no longer valid for travel from GB to the EU. You need an Animal Health Certificate for each trip. Passports issued in EU countries (or Northern Ireland) before Brexit may still be valid; check with the issuing country.
How long is an AHC valid?
10 days for entry to the EU, 4 months for onward travel within the EU, and 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain. So a single AHC covers one full trip out and back, as long as you’re back within 4 months.
Do I need an AHC for Northern Ireland?
Yes — pets travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland currently require an AHC, even though NI is part of the UK. The same rules around microchip, rabies vaccination and (for dogs) tapeworm treatment apply.
What if I’m travelling with multiple pets?
Up to 5 pets can be listed on a single AHC if they’re travelling together. You pay £99 for the first pet and £40 for each additional pet on the same certificate — significantly cheaper than separate AHCs.
Do I need a vet appointment abroad before returning to GB?
For dogs, yes — you need tapeworm treatment administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival back in GB. The vet abroad must record this in your AHC. Cats and ferrets don’t need the tapeworm treatment for re-entry.
What countries can I travel to with an AHC?
An AHC is valid for travel to all EU countries plus Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Travel to non-EU countries (including the USA, Australia, UAE) requires different documentation — we can advise on these on a case-by-case basis.
What if my pet’s rabies booster has lapsed?
If the rabies booster is overdue, the vaccination cycle restarts — meaning a fresh 21-day wait before you can travel. This catches a lot of people out, so always check rabies dates well before booking travel.
Travelling soon? Let’s sort the paperwork
Official Veterinarian on-site. Clear timelines. Travel without worry.