Traveling with pets in the UK requires compliance with the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) regulations, which ensure that animals are fit to travel and meet the necessary health standards.
Primary Care Service
Traveling to the EU or Northern Ireland
Pet passports are no longer accepted. Instead, you’ll need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip, which can be obtained from your veterinarian within 10 days prior to travel. Ensure to schedule this appointment early, as not all practices offer this service.
When traveling with a dog, cat, or ferret, the rules vary based on your destination. For detailed guidance, refer to the Government’s guide on taking pets abroad or contact the Pet Travel Scheme helpline at 0370 241 1710.
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies and other diseases not present in the UK. If your pet’s rabies vaccination is outdated, visit your vet at least 21 days before travel. Additionally, ensure your pet is microchipped, as it’s a legal requirement in some countries.
For pets traveling to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway, a tapeworm treatment is mandatory. This must be administered by a vet between 24 hours and five days prior to arrival.
Ensure your accommodation is pet-friendly and has emergency vet contacts. Visit your vet at least a month before your trip to verify vaccinations and treatments are up to date. Your pet should wear an identity tag with your contact information.
You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination. If you do not, they’ll need to be vaccinated again.
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies before it can travel. Your vet needs proof that your pet is at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.
If your pet needs a rabies vaccination, you must wait 21 days after the vaccination before your pet can travel.
If your pet has already been vaccinated, check if they need a booster vaccination.
You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover.
Get an animal health certificate from your vet if you’re going to an EU country or Northern Ireland.
Your pet’s animal health certificate will be valid after the date of issue for:
You can also use a valid pet passport if it is accepted in the country you’re travelling to. You can no longer use a pet passport issued in Great Britain to enter the EU.
A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it in either an animal health certificate or a valid pet passport if you’re travelling directly to:
The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive.
You’ll need to go through a travellers’ point of entry when you arrive in an EU country or Northern Ireland.
You may need to show your pet’s animal health certificate or a valid pet passport, containing proof of their:
The rules for returning with your pet into Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) depend on what country you’re coming from.
Find out what you need to do if you’re bringing your pet to Great Britain.
You cannot take more than 5 pets to an EU country or Northern Ireland unless you’re:
Monday to Friday: 8:00am – 6.00pm
Saturday: 9:00am – 12:00pm
Closed Sunday & Bank Holidays
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