Taking your pet abroad

Regulations for taking your pet abroad have now been changed by the government.

With immediate effect passports issued within the EU are no longer valid for British residents.

Even if your pet has an EU passport, if you live in Britain you cannot use it to travel to the Eu and will need an Animal Health Certificate.

TRAVEL TO THE EU (INCLUDING IRELAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND) ONLY - requirements for other countries must be checked by the owner on the APHA website.

An Animal Health Certificate is now required. (AHC)

You can have up to 5 animals on each certificate but there will be additional charges.

Owners must be travelling WITH the animal or within 5 days of the animal travelling.

The certificate can only be signed by a Official Veterinarian (OV) and must be completed within 10 days prior to departure.

The certificate will be valid after the date of issue for:

• 10 days for entry into the EU

• 6 months for onward travel within the EU after you enter the EU

• 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain

• You can travel around the EU for up to 6 months, but you must be back in Great Britain within 6 months of the issue date.

Your pet will need a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip to an EU country from Great Britain or Northern Ireland.

Animals will require a microchip and a rabies vaccination to travel.

The AHC can only be issued 22 days after the rabies vaccine has been given and not before.

A tapeworm treatment will be required between 1 and 5 days prior to entry back in to the UK.

We need to know the initial port of entry into the EU and the date of travel. We only have one OV who may not be available to sign the AHC so please book you appointment ahead of time.