If you’re a passionate pet owner, you might be thinking about ways to bring your pet with you on your trip across in the European Union. To accomplish this, you will need to get the Animal Health Certificate.
Do I require an Animal Health Certificate? You must obtain the Animal Health Certificate for your pet when you travel across Great Britain to the EU. A Animal Health Certificate is required by law to ensure that ailments like rabies are not propagate. In countries that are not part of the EU You will require an export Health Certificate.
Find out what you need to know about the Animal Health Certificate. This includes the steps you must take before the Animal Health Certificate appointment, and the time frame you must follow to renew your Animal Health Certificate.
What’s what is an Animal Health Certificate?
A Animal Health Certificate is a document you must have when you plan to bring your pet, cat, or ferret to another nation within the EU or Northern Ireland. It is required that the Animal Health Certificate must be signed and certified by a vet who is approved by the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) in the first 10 days after traveling beyond Great Britain.
What is the reason an Animal Health Certificate Required?
In 2021, the law modified to Great Britain, detailing that Pet Passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid documents to take your pet, ferret or cat abroad. Instead you will need an Animal Health Certificate is required to verify that your pet is properly vaccination-free. This Animal Health Certificate is required for travel in the EU country to ensure diseases like rabies are not spreading.
Do I need an AHC for travel for All Countries?
The Animal Health Certificate is required for traveling with your dog ferret, cat, or dog between Great Britain to an EU Country or Northern Ireland. For countries that are not part of the EU The Animal Health Certificate is not valid, and instead, you’ll need the Export Health Certificate.
A Export Health Certificate is a form of document used to determine whether your pet’s health meets the requirements for health in the country you’re traveling to. It is crucial to remember that every country outside of the EU will have a unique Export Health Certificate application process and, therefore it requires different data.
Are the AHC the same as is a Pet Passport?
It is important to note that the Animal Health Certificate is not identical to it is the Pet Passport. The major distinction between them is the the time they’re valid for. Pet Passports last for the duration of time you keep them up-to current with the appropriate vaccinations. However the Animal Health Certificate is only valid for one visit to the EU so you’d require a new certificate every whenever you fly. Although it is true that the Animal Health Certificate is valid to travel within the EU for four months, a new AHC is required if you leave from the EU at any time in your journey.
What is required to get An Animal Health Certificate?
To qualify to receive the Animal Health Certificate, you must meet a number of standards or you’ll not be allowed to travel with your pet or cat to any of the countries within the EU. Below , we’ve outlined the requirements in order to make things a bit simpler for you to meet them.
Mandatory Requirements
To make sure that your pet is eligible for the Animal Health Certificate they need to satisfy the following conditions:
Your pet should be microchipped prior to or during the same time for their rabies vaccination. Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies for at minimum 21 days prior to an Animal Health Certificate appointment, or if it’s a booster vaccination. Be aware that your pet has to at twelve weeks old or older to be eligible for this vaccine.
Additional Requirements
If you’re planning to travel to countries like Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland, or Norway your veterinarian should be able to treat the dog’s tapeworms. They will confirm this on the Animal Health Certificate. The treatment must be given not more than 24 hours and not more than 120 days prior to the date you leave for your trip.
The treatment has to be recognized by the country it is administered in and include Praziquantel or a similar drug that has been shown as effective in battling Echinococcus Multilocularis tapeworm.
What Information Do I Have to provide prior to my AHC Appointment?
Before the Animal Health Certificate appointment it is crucial to fill in the pre-appointment form as quickly as you can. The form will be sent via text or email, and will require you to complete the information of your pet and upload the copies of your pets vaccination records and the rabies. We cannot complete the paperwork until this is completed. Any mistakes in filling out the form could be a cause for the denial of the AHC.
The record of rabies vaccination can be provided in one of the following methods:
A valid GB as well as an EU Pet Passport
Rabies vaccination certificate/ vaccination card
Previous notes on veterinary clinical practice
The Rabies vaccination certificate is valid insofar as it includes your pet’s microchip’s number as well as the specifics of their history with rabies and the date it was administered, the date of administration, the brand, the date the vaccination was administered, and the batch number, and is approved by a qualified vet.
What do I need to Take to an AHC Appointment?
When you go to the Animal Health Certificate appointment, you must remember to bring two items:
Your pet
Bring your pet for the visit in the event that other tests need to be done.
Their evidence of rabies document
For instance, the rabies vaccination certificate or certificate that has the microchip number of your pet in it. Or even your older Europe/GB Pet Passport with the date of a valid rabies vaccine recorded on it.
What is the length of time the Animal Health Certificate Valid For?
Animal health certificates can be used for entry into within the EU in the first 10 days from their date of issue. They is valid to travel within the EU and for your return journey to the UK for up to four months. When you decide to return across the border and then out of the EU the certificate will cease be valid, and you’ll need to apply for an updated Animal Health Certificate.
How Often Do I Have to Apply for an AHC?
It is mandatory to obtain an updated Animal Health Certificate each time you intend to travel to Europe. EU via Great Britain. Animal Health Certificates are valid for one journey across the EU border, as well as when you return trip to Great Britain. If you leave the EU while on your travels A new AHC will be required to be returned back to EU.
How Long Does It Take to get an AHC?
The moment is a waitlist that can last up to four weeks to schedule your Animal Health Certificate appointment so make sure you book your appointment in advance., AHC paperwork is part-time completed before the appointment time, and the remaining completed at the 45-minute appointment. It is imperative that to ensure that the person filling out the appointment form prior to the appointment AHC form is present at the appointment or else the document is not valid.
This is the reason it is crucial to get your pet organized with proper information and documentation that is submitted prior to your appointment. Once you have that done it is easy and in no time your pet will be capable of traveling.
When do I travel? I require an AHC?
It is recommended to book an Animal Health Certificate appointment within 10 days of your travel date. Make sure you allow extra time to fill out the online form and allow for the paperwork for your pet to be completed. In this way, you’ll be able to make sure that any issues are corrected prior to the time you need to leave for your trip.
An appointment typically lasts 45 minutes to an hour, however please be aware that we require a fifty percent non-refundable deposit upon making the appointment. Please make sure that there are the proper dates and details prior to booking your appointment.
How Old Should a Pet be to get an AHC?
To be eligible to be eligible for the Animal Health Certificate and travel to the EU from Great Britain, your pet is required to be at least 12 weeks old. This is due to the fact that twelve weeks are the minimum age your pet is eligible to get vaccinated against the rabies virus, an essential requirement of this Animal Health Certificate.
Additionally, you will need to wait for at least 21 days from the time your pet’s vaccination for rabies prior to being able to schedule your Animal Health Certificate appointment. Keep this in mind when you make an appointment.
Do Assistance Dogs need an AHC?
Assistance dogs still need to have the Animal Health Certificate when travelling out of Great Britain into an EU country. The process may be more complicated for an assist dog, but if schedule an Animal Health Certificate appointment within acceptable time before you travel it shouldn’t be any problems obtaining the certificate on time.
What Should You Do If You’re Not with your pet
In some instances, you may not be traveling with your pet, alternatively, they could be traveling with family or friends, family, or even with an organization that hires pet transport. What to do in these circumstances:
Pet is Traveling All by Himself
If your pet travels by itself, using an animal transport service then you’ll need to supply the information of the company that is providing the transportation to your vet prior to when an Animal Health Certificate appointment takes place.
It is a obligation to be returned to your pet when they arrive at their destination within five days of the day they leave. The pet transport company should be able to provide documentation detailing the date you intend to reunite with your pet following the journey.
Pet is traveling with friends or family
If your pet travels with a named person, such as a friend or family member you need to give your vet an official letter stating that you’re in agreement with you to allow the person who is named on your form to go with your pet. Also, it is mandatory that you return to your pet within five days after their departure and the person who was named traveling with your pet has to be able to provide documentation that clarifies the details.
I have an Pet Passport – Is It Still Valid?
From January 1st, 2020, Pet Passports are no anymore valid for travel with your pet in the EU except if it was issued in the EU country. Rarely, Pet Passports can still be used for travel but only if the destination is still accepting them.
If you don’t then the Pet Passport doesn’t completely go to waste since it can serve as proof the fact that your pet is immunized against Rabies. It is a mandatory condition when you apply the for the Animal Health Certificate.
When will you be able to return to UK? UK is Tapeworm Treatment required?
The rules for tapeworms generally are only applicable to dogs, however it is important to know this facts to make sure that your pet is able to be allowed to return to the UK in the event that you intend to do that. When you return to the UK after a trip to the EU You must make sure that treatment for tapeworms is administered within 24-120 hours from when you intend to return to the UK with an approved veterinarian.
The vet surgeon must note the treatment for tapeworms in the section two of Your Animal Health Certificate in order to permit your pet return access to UK. This is not the case for those who plan to fly directly back via Northern Ireland, Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway.
Tips for Travelling within The EU With Pets
Travelling overseas can be an overwhelming experience at the most stressful of times, but not the need to plan transport for your pet, too. We’ve outlined our top strategies for travelling within the EU with your pet to ensure your trip is as easy as it can be.
Get your Animal Health Certificate In Advance
The process of obtaining the appointment for your Animal Health Certificate in advance is essential to ensure an enjoyable journey to EU for your furry friend. Because of the time it takes to process paperwork, it is crucial to leave plenty of space between the Animal Health Certificate appointment and the day you are scheduled to travel. This will ensure that you have enough the opportunity to rectify any mistakes you might have made in the paperwork.
It is also suggested to leave some room within your schedule, making sure to account for delays in travel in the event of a return or departure from Great Britain.
Make sure you check the requirements for the country you are traveling to.
There are countries that may have additional rules for traveling with pets, which aren’t an all-inclusive obligation across the board.
For instance, The Faroe Islands only allow pets when you plan to remain for more than three months, whereas Iceland has a lengthy 30-day quarantine period. In France there are several breeds of dogs classified as dangerous (which could impose additional requirements).
Make sure your pet has Had Vaccination for Rabies
At the very minimum it is essential to ensure that your pet is immunized against rabies for within 21 days prior to the Animal Health Certificate appointment. Without the proper shots, you pet may not be permitted to travel within the EU or the EU, and this could create a major delay to the Animal Health Certificate process.
Verify if the country is pet-friendly.
Certain EU countries are considered to be more pet-friendly than other countries. If you’re traveling on holiday, in contrast to visiting relatives or friends it’s worth looking into which countries are most dog-friendly. The last thing you need would be for your dog to be trapped in the same place for the duration of your trip.
