When travelling with your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad, the action you need to take will depend on where you’re travelling to. The general procedure for taking your pet on holiday within the EU (+ Norway and Northern Ireland) is set out below. Please note that Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta and Norway have slightly different requirements and these are also detailed below.
Travelling within the EU
EU-issued pet passports are still valid and can be used to travel within the EU (+ Norway and Northern Ireland), as long as the rabies vaccination is in date and the animals microchip is working correctly (we can check this in the surgery – book in a nurse consult). A rabies vaccination can be administered when your pet is 12 weeks’ of age of older and lasts for 3 years. If a rabies booster is required it must be given at least 21 days before you travel.
UK pet passports are no longer valid and your pet will need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) instead to travel within the EU. They will also need an in-date rabies vaccination and working microchip. A rabies vaccination can be administered when your pet is 12 weeks’ of age of older and lasts for 3 years. If a rabies booster is required it must be given at least 21 days before you travel.
Animal Health Certificates must be completed by a vet within 10 days of travelling.
How to book an Animal Health Certificate
Please call or visit us and ask to book your animal in for a health check for an Animal Health Certificate. The consultation must be carried out by a vet within 10 days of travel but please be aware that these slots book up quickly and require a significant amount of vet time to complete the paperwork so we ask that you call us to book in the appointment well in advance of this date.
We will send or give you a form to fill in before your appointment.
The vet will need to see proof of your pet’s rabies vaccination – this can either be from a passport, or history from a previous vets. If your pet received their rabies vaccination at our practice we will already have this proof on our records.
Please do check that the rabies vaccination was given within the last 3 years (if we vaccinated your pet then you can ask us to check their records for you). You must do this well in advance of your travel date, to leave time for the rabies booster to take effect if needed. If a rabies booster is required it must be given at least 21 days before you travel.
Additional requirements for certain countries
There are certain countries that need tapeworm treatment to be administered by the vet within 5 days of travelling. This is a very specific time frame and will need to be done no more than 120 hours before travelling.
Countries requiring tapeworm treatment:
- Finland
- Ireland
- Northern Ireland
- Malta
- Norway
Please let our reception team know if you are travelling to any of these countries so we can book you in for your AHC/additional tapeworm treatment at the appropriate time.
Travelling outside the EU
Please look online at APHA (Animal & Plant Health Agency) and find out the specific requirements for the country you are travelling to.