.png)
Animal Health Certificate
Official veterinary documentation for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to the EU and certain neighbouring countries, prepared after careful review of microchip, rabies vaccination and travel details.
How to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Straightforward, as long as your pet's microchip and rabies vaccination are in place.
Microchip
-
ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip
-
Must be implanted before (or on the same day as) the rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
-
Up-to-date rabies vaccination recorded by a vet
-
First rabies vaccine: wait 21 full days before travel (and before an AHC can be issued)
-
Boosters on time no 21-day wait
*Top tip: Keep the rabies record safe and ensure the microchip number is correctly recorded in the clinical notes.
AHC appointment with an Official Veterinarian
-
Issued close to travel (typically within 10 days of departure)
-
At the appointment we will:
Scan and verify the microchip
Review rabies documentation
If required for your destination: administer tapeworm medication (see FAQ)
Complete and issue your official AHC paperwork​
What you’ll need (quick checklist)
To prepare your AHC, please have:
​
-
Your travel date and destination country
-
Your pet’s rabies vaccination record/certificate
-
Your pet’s microchip number (and proof it was scanned at the last rabies vaccination)
-
The passport name and details of the person travelling with the pet
-
Any previous travel documents (if relevant)
If anything doesn’t match exactly (names, spellings, dates), we’ll flag it early — helping you avoid last-minute stress before you travel.