If you're planning to travel with your pet for non-commercial reasons to the EU, Switzerland, Norway or Northern Ireland you will need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an Official Veterinarian.
You can order an Animal Health Certificate online and collect it from your local Jollyes store. This is what you will need to do:
You can do this before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination.
You will need proof of an in-date rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before your travel date.
Check whether your pet needs a tapeworm treatment or not.
An Animal Health Certificate must be accompanied by a declaration of non-commercial movement. You will need to sign this when you collect your AHC.
Collect your AHC from an E&J vet at your local Jollyes branch. Your appointment will need to be within 10 days of your travel date.
Fill in the appointment form and attach proof of your rabies vaccination.
Once we have verified the vaccination status, we will send you a secure Paylink. The AHC is confirmed once payment is received.
Your appointment will be within 10 days of your departure date. It will take around 15 minutes to go through the document, check the microchip and administer a worming tablet if needed.
Airlines, train, and ferry companies in the EU can read microchips that meet ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 standards. If your pet’s microchip does not meet these standards, you may need to travel with your microchip reader. You can check this with your travel company before your trip.
If your vet cannot read the microchip, you’ll need to chip and vaccinate your pet again and obtain a new Animal Health Certificate. If this means your pet has two chips, the following will need to be added to the “Marking of animals” section on the Animal Health Certificate:
You do not need to have your pet microchipped if your pet was tattooed with an identification number before 4 July 2011, your pet was vaccinated against rabies after it was tattooed, and the tattoo is still legible.
If your pet needs a rabies vaccination, you must wait 21 days after the vaccination date before you get an Animal Health Certificate. You will also need proof that your pet was at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination and that your pet’s microchip was scanned.
A rabies booster vaccination is valid on the day it is administered, provided it was given within the validity period of the previous vaccine. Check your pet’s vaccination record to find out when the booster vaccination is due. If you’ve missed the date for your rabies booster, your pet will need to be vaccinated again and wait 21 days before travelling.
Your pet’s vaccination must be recorded in the Animal Health Certificate, and your pet can be stopped from travelling if the details are in the wrong place. Your pet’s record must show:
UK and Australian authorities have now reduced the standard 30-day quarantine for pet travel to Australia to just 10 days.
To qualify for the 10-day quarantine, you will need to complete two official OV66 identity checks, which specially authorised veterinarians must carry out.
Planning is essential for pet travel to Australia, especially with the 180 – 365 day timeframe required for ID checks.
At E&J, we’re here to help you every step of the way—from your pet’s first ID check performed by our vets who hold OV66 authorisation to their final travel documentation.
These identity checks confirm your pet’s identity and reduce the risk of fraud or error. Two separate ID checks by different OV66 vets at different practices are mandatory.
E&J can provide the first ID check and/or the second ID check.
We also provide Export Health certificates and Fit to Fly certificates.
Our Fitness to Travel certificate service costs £60. Or if issued alongside a Health Certificate, the cost is £50.
The requirements for EHCs vary significantly depending upon the destination country. If you’re unsure whether your destination requires an EHC, feel free to contact us—we’re happy to advise.
An Export Health Certificate is required for pet travel to non-EU countries.
Some airlines require a Fit to Fly certificate for long haul journeys
What is an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)? 
Previously known as a pet passport, an Animal Health Certificate is issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) to allow pets to travel from GB to the EU, Switzerland, Norway and Northern Ireland for non-commercial reasons.
It is a bilingual document completed in English and the official language of the port of entry.
Do I need an Animal Health Certificate for each of my pets?
No, you can add up to 5 pets on a single Animal Health Certificate, from a mix of species of cats, dogs or ferrets.
Do I need to treat my pet for tapeworm?
Tapeworm treatments are only required for dogs.
Before travelling, check to see if a worming treatment is needed. If needed, the worming treatment must be administered by a vet and recorded in the Animal Health Certificate. Treat your pet no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before departure.
A worming treatment is not necessary unless you will be visiting Norway, Finland, Malta, Ireland, or Northern Ireland. Remember, the worming treatment must be administered by a vet and recorded in the AHC.
Before travelling back to Great Britain, you will need a worming treatment (unless you are returning directly from Norway, Finland, Malta, Ireland, or Northern Ireland.) They will need the treatment 24-120 hours before re-entering the UK. The relevant AHC section should also be completed and signed by a vet.
If you’re leaving Great Britain for a short trip to visit countries other than Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland, or Norway, you could have your dog treated by a vet before you go.
You must wait for 24 hours before re-entering Great Britain and return within 5 days (120 hours) or you’ll need to get another treatment abroad.
How soon can I travel once my pet has had their rabies vaccination?
You must wait at least 21 days after your pet’s rabies vaccination before you can get an Animal Health Certificate. For example: A vet vaccinates your pet against rabies on 1st September. This means you can travel on 22nd September.
Does my pet need any other vaccinations?
The only requirement to enter the EU is a valid rabies vaccination. You do not need evidence of any other annual vaccinations.
How old does my pet need to be to travel?
Your pet needs to be at least 15 weeks old before they can travel.
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be given a rabies vaccination. You will then need to wait at least 21 days before you get your Animal Health Certificate.
How long is an AHC valid for?
An AHC is valid for entry into the EU and NI up to 10 days after the date of issue. The date of issue is counted as day one, so a certificate issued on the first of the month can be used to enter the EU/NI up to and including the 10th of that month. It is only valid for one entry so owners will need a new AHC for each trip from GB to the EU/NI.
Why is the Owner declaration necessary?
An Animal Health Certificate must be accompanied by a declaration of non-commercial movement.
Pets may travel with their Owner, a person authorised in writing by the Owner or a commercial carrier. If a commercial carrier is used, the owner or authorised individual must be reunited with the pet within 5 days.
The declaration should be completed by the person travelling with (or within 5 days of) the pet. They must detail who will be responsible for the pet during transport.
It is advised that this responsible person travelling with the animal readily carries the Owner’s authorisation letter if proof is required during documentary checks.
How do I get my AHC?
You can book your appointment online now.
Don't I need to apply for a pet passport?
Pet passports are no longer issued in Great Britain; these have been replaced with Animal Health Certificates (AHCs). You can use our online service to obtain an Animal Health Certificate.
Can I enter the EU at any port or airport?
No, you’ll need to enter the country via a designated travellers’ point of entry, where they will carry out documentary and identity checks. You should research this before travelling with your pet.
What do I need to do before returning to GB (England, Scotland or Wales)?
If you are travelling with a dog, it may need tapeworm treatment before returning to GB. This will not be necessary if you are returning from Norway, Finland, Malta, Ireland, or Northern Ireland.
A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive and record it in the Animal Health Certificate. The treatment must be approved for use in the country where it’s being given and contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven effective against Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.
What if I'm travelling outside the EU
You will require an Export Health Certificate if you wish to travel with your pet to a non-EU country, if pets are travelling more than 5 days apart from you, their owner or if your pets are travelling for commercial reasons.
There are over 300 different pet EHCs and the requirements vary greatly depending on the destination; because of this, each EHC is priced differently.
Regardless of your travel plans, we are always happy to provide advice.
Will I need a Fitness to Travel certificate?
Fitness to Travel or “Fit to Fly” certificates are often required by airlines for long haul flights. You should check with your airline whether you will require a Fitness to Travel certificate for your journey.
We are happy to provide a Fit to Fly certificate at a reasonable cost of £60 for a standalone Fit to Fly certificate or £50 when issued alongside an Animal Health Certificate or Export Health Certificate.
What do I need to do if I wish to take my pet to Australia?
For pet travel to Australia and to be eligible for the 10-day quarantine, your pet must complete two ID checks:
In addition to completing both ID checks, your pet must also:
Get in touch to find out more about our services.
