Pet Travel
Travelling to the European Union with your pet?
Since Brexit, all non-commercial (holiday) pet travel to the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. In addition, from 22nd April 2026, EU issued Pet Passports cannot be used for travel where the owner is resident in the UK even if they have a holiday house in the EU.
There are different rules for travel to Northern Ireland where a self certified pet travel doculment can be used. See further information here :
https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-northern-ireland
An AHC is only valid for a single trip.
There are STRICT REQUIREMENTS before applying for an Animal Health Certificate:
Your dog, cat or ferret must be microchipped.
Your dog, cat or ferret needs to be vaccinated against rabies (NB: your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before it can be vaccinated)
You will need to wait 21 days after any primary vaccinations before you can get a certificate to travel so bear this in mind when you are planning your travel and Bollington Veterinary Centre appointments.
How do I get an Animal Health Certificate?
An animal health certificate (AHC) can only be issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV). An appointment for this can be arranged by contacting the Bollington Veterinary Team on 01625 572999.
When you apply for an animal health certificate, you will need to take the following to the issuing vet.
Bring your pet(s) who the certificate is intended for (maximum of 5)
Your pet vaccination records
Medical records - including proof of rabies vaccination
Dates and times and route of crossing into Europe
The owner or person transporting the animal needs to attend the appointment and sign the AHC
An Animal Health Certificate normally includes details of:
Pet owner’s details
Your pet’s description
Rabies vaccination details (your animal will need to have been vaccinated at least three weeks prior to the AHC appointment)
Rabies blood test (as required)
Canine tapeworm treatment (as required)
Intended country of entry into the EU. ***(The AHC has to be issued in the language of the country in which you are entering the EU and NOT your country of destination) ***
Which countries do I need an Animal Health Certificate for?
You need an animal health certificate for your dog, cat, or ferret if they’ll be travelling from the UK to an EU country. If your pet is travelling to a non-EU country, then different rules will apply (for example additional documentation or blood samples). See www.gov.uk/take-pet-abroad for government guidelines on which countries this is applicable to.
Why is an Animal Health Certificate necessary?
An Animal Health Certificate, along with any other official documentation, is a legal requirement in order to bring your pet into the UK or take it to a European Union country without quarantine. The primary purpose is to keep the UK free from rabies, and other foreign diseases such as those transmitted by parasites that do not exist in the UK.
Who can issue an Animal Health Certificate?
Your animal health certificate can only be issued by a Vet (OV) who has been authorised by the government (an Official Veterinarian).
Who can apply for an Animal Health Certificate?
The owner, as named in on the animal health certificate must be aged over 16. Pets must be accompanied either by their owner or by a person authorised in writing by the owner.
How much does an Animal Health Certificate cost?
Our reception team are happy to provide an estimate price depending on your pet requirements. Please do not hesitate to request this at the time of calling to arrange your appointment.
How long does it take to process an Animal Health Certificate?
An animal health certificate can only be issued ten days prior to travel (i.e.: you will have 10 days to use it to leave this country). Please bear in mind that travel to some countries require blood tests and additional treatments, and in these cases, travel certification can take significantly longer to prepare and issue. You should always contact us as soon as possible if you are planning to travel. NB: You must book your appointment with us for a minimum of 21 days after vaccination, documents cannot be signed earlier than this. The certificate is valid for 10 days after signing
How long is the Animal Health Certificate valid for?
Animal health certificates can then be used for travel between EU countries (including the UK) for up to four months from the date your animal enters the EU.
How old does my pet need to be to qualify?
The EU Regulation requires pets to be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. Whilst some EU countries will allow young, unvaccinated pets to travel (subject to certain conditions) the UK does not permit this. This means no pet can enter the UK unless they are 15 weeks old (12 weeks and 21-day wait).
How many pets can one person apply for?
The owner or authorised person can only be accompanied by a maximum of five pets. You cannot take more than 5 pets to an EU country or NI unless you’re attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. You’ll need written evidence of registration for the event when you travel.
Where do I need to go to get an Animal Health Certificate?
You can come to Bollington Veterinary Centre. All animal health certificate appointments must be booked in advance by calling us on 01625 572999.
Where can I get pet travel advice from?
You can contact our friendly team at Bollington Veterinary Centre where we will be happy to help with any questions you may have about travelling with your pet. Specific requirements for individual countries can be found by contacting the Animal Plant and Health Agency on 0370 241 1710.
You can read more about Animal health certificates and pet travel at
DISCLAIMER
These guidance notes are provided based on information available at the time and may not necessarily comply fully with the requirements of the importing country. It is the owner/exporter’s responsibility to check the certificate against any relevant import permit or any advice provided by the competent authority in the importing country.
If these do not match, the owner/exporter should contact the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) in Carlisle, contact details can be found using the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/animal-and-plant-health-agency
For the most up-to-date information on pet travel to Europe visit:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/pet-travel-to-europe-from-1-january-2021
Please note, there are different requirements for some countries, so wherever you are returning from, it is important to check the latest UK Government information about travelling with your pet well in advance of your trip.
It is your responsibility as the pet owner to ensure all requirements are met.