Pet Travel

Pet Travel

As of January 2021 the Government have changed the way in which pets travel abroad. With regards to pet travel to the EU and to Northern Ireland the UK will become a Third Country, with Part 2 listed status. This means that Pet Passports will no longer be needed and no longer be valid for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland.

You will instead require an Animal Health Certificate, AHC, in order to enter an EU country.

Animal Health Certificate

You can obtain an AHC from an ‘Official Veterinarian’ (OV) and this must be done no more than 10 days prior to travel. You will need proof of a valid rabies injection as well as microchip details. It is no longer required for the pet to have a rabies blood test due to the Part 2 listed status.

Your pet’s Animal Health Certificate will be valid for 10 days from the date it is issued for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland. It is then valid for 4 months for any onward travel within the EU or Northern Ireland and also for re-entry into Britain. The Government are working with the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) to pursue a more permanent solution for travel into Northern Ireland.

Your pet will require a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip to the EU or Northern Ireland. They will not require a rabies injection each time they travel, as long as they are up to date with the vaccination this will still be valid.

Pets will still require treatment for tapeworm, administered by a veterinarian, before returning to the UK from the EU and they also require treatment for tapeworm 1-5 days before travelling to Northern Ireland, Ireland, Finland, Norway and Malta. This must be recorded on your AHC.

An Overview of the New Requirements

  • Your pet must be micro-chipped.
  • Your pet must have a valid and up to date rabies injection. This must be given at least 21 days before travel and the pet must be older than 12 weeks to receive this vaccine.
  • Book an appointment at the surgery with David, who is an ‘Official Veterinarian’, he will be able to complete all the necessary paperwork required. This needs to be no more than 10 days before the date of your trip.
  • Ensure that you are aware of a veterinarian in the EU who can administer the tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before re-entry into the UK.
  • You will require a new AHC each time you travel.

If you need any more information then please visit the Government website – www.gov.uk/guidance/ or you can call the surgery for further information.