Answers before you travel

An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is an official veterinary document required for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to the EU or Northern Ireland. It confirms that your pet is microchipped, has a valid rabies vaccination and meets pet travel regulations. AHCs are issued by Official Veterinarians.

You need an AHC when travelling from Great Britain to the EU and some other European countries unless your pet holds a valid EU-issued pet passport with an in-date rabies vaccination. UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid for travel.

You can use one, but there is a cheaper alternative. Pets travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland may travel without an AHC under the Pet Travel Document (PTD) scheme if they are normally resident in Great Britain, travel directly to Northern Ireland and do not travel onwards to Ireland or another country. Pets normally resident in Northern Ireland do not require a PTD for travel within Northern Ireland.

Not always. An AHC is not required if the EU pet passport was issued in an EU country and the rabies vaccination recorded in the passport is still valid. If the rabies vaccination has expired, an AHC will be required.

An AHC is valid for 10 days from the date of issue for entry into the EU and other accepted European countries, up to 4 months for onward travel within the EU and up to 4 months for return to Great Britain, provided the rabies vaccination remains valid.

Yes. An Animal Health Certificate is single-use, meaning a new AHC is required for each trip from Great Britain to the EU and other accepted European countries.

Dogs travelling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland and Malta must receive tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before entry. When returning to Great Britain from any country other than Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway, Finland or Malta, dogs must also receive tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before re-entry, administered and recorded by a veterinarian on the AHC.

Yes. An AHC can be issued on the day of travel provided all requirements are met, including a valid rabies vaccination and microchip.