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Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret from GB to an EU country using an Animal Health Certificate - Here are the requirements

What does your pet need to travel to an EU country?


  1. A microchip

  2. A valid rabies vaccination

  3. An Animal Health Certificate (or a valid EU Passport)

  4. Tapeworm treatment for dogs travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta. This needs to be administered by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.

Please note an animal health certificate can only be issued for 5 pets or less. Please see the government website for more information on travelling with more than 5 animals.


What does your dog need before returning to England, Wales or Scotland


If returning from an EU country your dog requires tapeworm treatment. The exception to this rule is if your dog is returning from Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway. If your dog is travelling back from all other EU countries, the tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet. Following administration, you need to wait at least 24 hours before re-entering the UK, but you must not wait any longer than 120 hours (5 days) to re-enter.


The tapeworm treatment must:

  • be approved for use in the country it’s being given in

  • contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm


If you are planning a short-trip, you may want to have your dog treated by a vet before you go.


The timeline:


Day 0 - Take your pet to a vet so they can insert a microchip or scan your pet's existing microchip and administer a rabies vaccination. Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old.


Day 0 - day 21 - You must wait 21 days after the vaccination date before you get an animal health certificate. Day 1 is the day after the vaccination.


No more than 10 days before the date of entry into the EU, you must have an animal health certificate issued by an Official Veterinarian.


This certificate is valid for 4 months of onward travel within the EU. If you are travelling for less than 4 months, you can use this certificate to re-enter GB. If travelling for over 4 months, you can obtain an EU pet passport to return to GB.



What information is required on your pets rabies vaccination certificate?


Your pet’s vaccination record must show:

  • your pet’s date of birth

  • microchip number, date it was put in or read, and where it is on your pet’s body

  • vaccination date

  • vaccine manufacturer and product name

  • vaccine batch number

  • date the vaccination is valid until

  • the vet’s signature and contact details


For more information please visit the government website on pet travel. Please note, requirements can change so it is important to review the government website for the the most up-to-date information.




 
 
 

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