Your questions, answered

It's the official document your dog, cat or ferret needs to travel from Great Britain to an EU country. It confirms your pet is microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, and that they're fit to travel.

An AHC can only be issued by a vet authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) as an Official Veterinarian. Your regular vet may not hold that authorisation — many don't.

Travel to Northern Ireland works differently and doesn't need an AHC — see below.

No. Since 22 April 2026, EU pet passports held by residents of Great Britain are no longer valid for travel into the EU, and you need an Animal Health Certificate for every trip.

The exception is residents of Northern Ireland, who remain aligned with EU rules and can still use pet passports. Read more about the change.

Three things, in this order:

• a microchip, fitted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination;
• a valid rabies vaccination, given after the microchip was fitted;
• at least 21 full days between the first rabies vaccination and your travel date.

The order matters more than people expect. If your pet was vaccinated before being microchipped, the vaccination doesn't count for travel and has to be done again — so check this early, not the week before you go.

If the vaccination has expired, it counts as a new course: your pet needs another vaccination and then a 21 full day wait before travelling. If you get the booster done before the current one runs out, there's no waiting period at all.

Worth checking the expiry date the moment you start planning a trip — this is the single most common reason people can't travel when they'd hoped to.

A pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated against rabies, and you then wait 21 full days before travelling. In practice the earliest a puppy or kitten can travel to the EU is around 15 weeks old.

Your certificate must be issued within 10 days of arriving in the EU, so book a slot close to your departure — but book it early, because those ten days fill up quickly in school holidays.

If your pet isn't yet microchipped or vaccinated, start at least a month ahead to allow for the 21-day rabies wait.

Around 30 to 45 minutes. We check your pet's microchip and paperwork, complete the certificate, and sign and stamp it while you wait — you leave with the document in your hand.

From the date it's issued:

• 10 days for entry into the EU;
• 6 months for onward travel between EU countries;
• 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain.

Keep the certificate safe for the whole trip — you'll need it coming home, and a vet in the EU writes into it if your dog needs a tapeworm treatment before returning.

Yes. An AHC covers a single entry into the EU, so every new trip starting from Great Britain needs a new one. Within a single trip you can move freely between EU countries for up to six months on the same certificate.

Yes. Once you've entered the EU, the certificate covers onward travel between EU countries for six months, as long as your pet's rabies vaccination stays in date. Check whether any country on your route has extra requirements, such as tapeworm treatment.

Up to 5 pets on a single certificate, provided they're all travelling with you on the same trip. We charge £99 for the first pet and £45 for each additional pet.

You cannot take more than five pets to an EU country unless you're attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event, or the movement is commercial. Those journeys need different paperwork and evidence of the event.

Get in touch before booking and we'll tell you what's required.

Yes. You must arrive through a designated travellers' point of entry, where your pet's documents and microchip can be checked. Most major ferry ports, airports and the Eurotunnel terminal are designated, but check your specific route before you travel — particularly if you're taking a smaller crossing.

Only for certain destinations. Dogs travelling to Finland, the Republic of Ireland, Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment given by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before arrival.

We can administer and record this during your appointment for £25 per dog — just tell us your destination when you book.

Your AHC covers the return leg for up to six months from issue, so you don't need new paperwork to come home from the EU.

Dogs do need a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arriving back in Great Britain, given by a vet in the country you're leaving and recorded in your certificate. You're exempt if you're returning directly from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.

No — Northern Ireland uses a different scheme. To take a dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain to Northern Ireland you need a Northern Ireland pet travel document (PTD), which is free, lasts for as long as you own the pet, and doesn't require a rabies vaccination or tapeworm treatment. Your pet does still need to be microchipped. You apply for it yourself on GOV.UK.

The Republic of Ireland is a different matter — it's an EU country, so that journey does need an Animal Health Certificate, plus a tapeworm treatment for dogs.

• Your pet — the microchip has to be scanned in person, so the certificate can't be issued without them.
• The vaccination record, showing the rabies vaccine name, batch number and dates.
• Microchip details, including the implant date if you have it.
• Your travel dates and the first EU country you'll enter.
• Owner details — full name and address as they should appear on the certificate.

An Official Veterinarian cannot legally issue a certificate unless every requirement is met and can be verified — that's a rule we don't have discretion over, however inconvenient the timing.

It's exactly why every booking includes a free document pre-check: send us a photo of your pet's vaccination record once you've booked and we'll confirm everything is in order before you make the journey to us.

We check your pet's microchip and confirm they're fit to travel, which is part of certifying the document. It isn't a full health consultation — if your airline or ferry operator has asked for a separate "fit to fly" or "fit to travel" letter, mention it when you book and we'll tell you what we can provide.

In most cases the pet should travel with you or with a person you've authorised in writing, who travels within a few days of you. The rules are specific and depend on your circumstances, so please get in touch before booking and we'll confirm exactly what's needed.

• £99 — first pet
• £45 — each additional pet on the same certificate
• £25 — tapeworm treatment per dog, where the destination requires it
• From £149 — urgent same-day or next-day certificate

No separate consultation fee. Veterinary practices commonly charge £150–£350 for an AHC; as a dedicated certificate service we keep it simpler and cheaper.

You pay securely by card when you book online, through Stripe. Additional pets and any tapeworm treatment are settled on the day.

Usually, yes — including if you've been turned away at check-in with incorrect paperwork. Our urgent same-day or next-day service starts at £149, subject to availability.

Call 01530 222888, message us on WhatsApp, or email hello@thecertvet.co.uk with "URGENT" in the subject line.

Yes, and at no extra charge — they're part of the normal booking calendar rather than a paid extra. Pick whatever slot suits you.

Travel plans change — just let us know as early as you can and we'll rebook you. Our terms set out the cancellation policy in full.

Your certificate is issued by Helen Woolgrove BVSc MRCVS, a veterinary surgeon registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons since 1997, and authorised by APHA as an Official Veterinarian holding the Companion Animal qualification, OCQ(V)–CA.

You can check her registration independently on the RCVS register: Helen Louise Woolgrove, RCVS 6151316.

Melbourne, Derbyshire — convenient for Derby, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Swadlincote, Burton upon Trent, Loughborough, Leicester and East Midlands Airport. You'll get the full address in your booking confirmation.

Tell us — email hello@thecertvet.co.uk and we'll respond within five working days. As an RCVS-registered veterinary surgeon, Helen is also bound by the College's professional conduct standards, and you can raise a concern with the RCVS directly if you ever feel it's warranted.

Only a vet holding APHA Official Veterinarian authorisation can issue an Animal Health Certificate, and not every practice has one — which is why owners are often turned away or quoted several hundred pounds. We do certificates as a dedicated service, which is why we can offer clear fixed pricing and appointments outside normal surgery hours.