Pet Travel - What You Need To Know
To take your pet out of the country you reside in, you may need specific documentation such as a passport or export certification. Not all vets are allowed to issue these; however we have one or more vets who have been certified to issue pet travel documentation. In England, Scotland and Wales these vets are known as Official Veterinarians (OVs) and in Northern Ireland they are called Authorised Certifying Officer (Private Veterinary Practitioner) status (referred to as aPVPs).
The minimum your pet needs to be able to travel is a microchip, implanted prior to any documentation being issued. Whether you need additional documentation or not depends on where you are travelling from and to. Please see the categories below for more information.
To travel to an EU country, your pet will need:
- To be microchipped
- To be vaccinated against rabies
- To have an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued
- Treatment for tapeworm if travelling to Finland, Ireland, Norway or Malta
Rabies Vaccination
Dogs, cats and ferrets must all be vaccinated against rabies prior to travel. They must be at least 12 weeks (about 3 months) old before the vaccine can be administered and must be microchipped prior to vaccination.
Pets cannot travel or have an AHC issued until 21 days after the rabies vaccination is given; the day of the vaccine is day 0. If booster vaccines are given within 3 years, so immunity does not lapse, this wait period only applies to the first vaccine.
Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
A new AHC must be issued for each trip abroad, however up to five pets can be listed on one certificate. The vet will need to confirm your pet’s microchip and vaccination status before completing the AHC.
From the point of issue, an Animal Health Certificate is valid for:
- 10 days for entry into the EU
- 4 months for onward travel within the EU
- 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain
The AHC is a 6-9 page document in both English and the national language of the country you are travelling to. Each AHC is given a unique number at the point of issue, and your vet must complete each section before stamping and certifying every page. This is time-consuming and must be completed carefully to avoid errors. A long appointment slot is usually set aside, and you may be asked to provide information before the appointment.
Once the AHC is completed, you will be required to sign a declaration to confirm the export is not commercial. This should be signed by the owner who is travelling with the pet. If the pet will not be travelling with the owner, the person travelling with the pet will require written authorisation from the owner.
Tapeworm Treatment
Tapeworm treatment is only required before leaving Great Britan (GB) if you are travelling to Finland, Ireland, Norway or Malta with a dog. Treatment must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive. This treatment must be signed on to the Animal Health Certificate, so it is usually given at the time the AHC is completed.
For countries other than Finland, Ireland, Norway and Malta, tapeworm treatment must be administered before re-entering GB. This must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive and must be administered and recorded by a vet in the country you are returning from.
It is essential to plan well in advance for any travel, and speak to your veterinary practice as soon as possible to ensure appointment availability.
For more information, please read the pet travel guidance sheet on the government website or contact the Pet Travel Scheme helpline via email or phone (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm).
To travel from Northern Ireland to another EU member state, your pet will need:
- To be microchipped (or have a legible tattoo imprinted prior to 3 July 2011)
- To be vaccinated against rabies
- To have a valid EU issued pet passport or an EU Health Certificate
- Treatment for tapeworm (before travelling if travelling to ROI, Finland, Norway or Malta, or before returning if travelling from any other country)
Rabies Vaccination
Dogs, cats and ferrets must all be vaccinated against rabies prior to travel. They must be at least 12 weeks (about 3 months) old before the vaccine can be administered and must be microchipped prior to vaccination.
Pets cannot travel until 21 days after the rabies vaccination is given; the day of the vaccine is day 0. If booster vaccines are given within 3 years, so immunity does not lapse, this wait period only applies to the first vaccine.
Pet Passport
Pet passports are issued under the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The vet will need to confirm your pet’s microchip and vaccination status before completing the passport.
From the point of issue, a pet passport is valid until the point that all space is used up (from recording repeat rabies vaccinations or tapeworm treatments). At this point a new passport will need to be issued.
Tapeworm Treatment
Tapeworm treatment is required before entering NI for all dogs unless travelling directly from GB, ROI, Finland, Norway or Malta. Treatment must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive. This treatment must be signed on to the pet passport under Section VII: Anti-Echinococcus Treatment. Depending on the length of trip, treatment may need to be administered before departing NI.
It is essential to plan well in advance for any travel and speak to your veterinary practice as soon as possible to ensure appointment availability.
For more information, please read the government's guidance on pet travel or enquire via email or phone.
From the 4th June 2025, it is now very simple to travel between GB (England, Scotland and Wales) and NI with a dog (including assistance dogs), cat or ferret.
To travel from GB to NI you will need to apply for a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD). This is free and lasts for the lifetime of your pet. The only requirement is that your pet is microchipped, as this will be checked at the port before leaving GB, and/or when entering NI. A separate PTD must be obtained for each animal.
- You can apply for a PTD online
- You can also apply by phone and receive a physical copy of the PTD - lines are open Monday to Friday 8:30am to 5pm (closed on bank holidays)
It can take 5 days for a PTD to be issued, so make sure to apply well in advance of your planned travel.
If you live in Northern Ireland, you do not need a PTD for travel to and from Great Britain, however your pet must still be microchipped.
A PTD is not suitable if:
- You are travelling onwards from NI to the EU (including ROI)
- You are travelling with more than five pets (unless attending or training for an event)
- You are exporting dogs, cats, or ferrets for commercial purposes, such as a change of ownership
Travel requirements to take pets to non-EU countries vary greatly depending on the destination country. Many countries will require an Export Health Certificate (EHC) to be completed by an Official Veterinarian (OV). You must apply for this online, and nominate an OV to be sent the documents, so it is important to confirm that your practice can accommodate your request before applying. Depending on the country, you may also need to apply for import permits or other documentation.
Depending on the country you are travelling to, pets may also need rabies vaccination, rabies antibody blood tests, parasite treatment, additional vaccinations, blood tests for infectious diseases, and a pre-travel examination and certification, if travelling with a commercial airline. This process can be time-consuming and expensive. For example, successfully exporting a dog to Australia takes 7-12 months of preparation. There are many companies that will help organise everything for you, including the travel itself.
It is your responsibility to find out the requirements for the country you are travelling to, and ensure you have everything you need to be eligible for travel. We strongly recommend contacting your veterinary practice as early as possible and explaining your needs. Many non-EU exports require multiple visits with the same OV within set timeframes, so not all practices will be able to provide this service.
For more information about pet travel to a non-EU country, contact the APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) via email or phone (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm).
It is also a good idea to check the government website of the country you wish to travel to, for example:
