TRAVELLING TO CHINA WITH PETS? CONTACT ME FOR CERTIFICATION AND PRE EXPORT CHECKS
How to obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC )for my pet
What is an Animal Health Certificate?
As of 1 January 2021, the previously used UK-issued pet passports are no longer valid.
The passport system has been replaced with Animal Health certificates (AHCs)
Up to 5 pet animals (dogs/cats/ferrets) can travel on an AHC.
They are used for non-commercial travel of animals from Great Britain (GB) to the EU, and owners need to have proof that they are making the same journey at the same time (or within 5 days of travel if the pet is being transported by someone else on their behalf)
If you are travelling with more than five pets or your pet is being rehomed and you are not travelling with them, or for different species than those listed above, different paperwork is needed.
EU issued passports will remain valid until the Rabies vaccination entry expires. Your EU passport cannot be updated with rabies vaccinations by a vet in GB: once expired they cannot be used to leave GB to go to the EU An AHC would be needed in this situation.
The paperwork can be started ahead of time, but the final signatures need to be completed within 10 days of travel. The initial appointment can be done as soon as you know your dates of travel.
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What will I need to obtain an AHC?
Microchip
Your pet must have a microchip that can be read with a standard chip scanner, with proof of the date of implantation if possible.
Rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination must be done more than 21 days before travel and must be in date (this can vary from 1-3 years validity depending on the vaccine used and the rules of the destination country). I will need to obtain vaccination records from your usual vet to certify that vaccination has been done.
Know your country of entry into the EU
I will need to know your entry point to the EU, as the AHC must be written in this language. For example, if you are planning to travel to Spain by driving through France, your entry point is France and you will require a certificate in French. Note that pets are only permitted to enter the EU through designated Travellers Points of Entry. Not every airport or port is a designated TPE, please check with your airline or carrier.
How long is the AHC valid for?
The AHC is valid for entry to the EU for 10 days from issue
NOTE THAT DAY 1 IS THE DATE OF SIGNING THE CERTIFICATE
The AHC is valid for 4 months of onward travel within the EU and return to GB.
It is valid for a single trip only, unlike the previous passport system.
Tapeworm treatment (before returning to GB: dogs only)
Your dog must be treated against tapeworm before travelling to GB.
Treatment must be administered by a vet not less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before the arrival time in GB. The treatment date and time must be recorded by the vet in the pet’s documentation.
If you’re leaving Great Britain for a short trip i.e less than 5 days, your dog must be treated by a vet before you go. You must wait for 24 hours before re-entering GB and return within 120 hours or you’ll need to get another treatment abroad. You should treat your dog again within 28 days of returning to GB.
If the tapeworm treatment is not administered on time or correctly documented by a vet, it will result in your pet being refused travel.
More about tapeworm treatment (dogs only)
Dogs travelling directly to GB from Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway are exempt from tapeworm treatment.
However, dogs travelling to Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland Malta and Norway must be given tape worming treatment by a vet in GB before departure. This must be administered by the certifying Official Veterinarian at least 24h and less than 120 hours before travel from GB.
Young animals and restricted breeds
Some countries have different requirements if your puppy or kitten is under 16 weeks old. In this case please consult the individual country to check their regulations.
Dogs and cats crossed with a "wild" breed, such as Wolf Dogs, Savannah cats and Bengal cats, and dog breeds listed as "Dangerous", cannot be given an AHC.
Record keeping
All paperwork, including a declaration of non commercial travel, must be stamped, signed and a certified copy made by me. You will travel with the original certificate.
The second copy is kept on record by me in case of inspection by APHA as future evidence in cases where certificate tampering is suspected. You should also retain your proof of travel, e.g. a copy of your travel ticket showing your name and date of travel .