What do I need in order to travel with my pet?

All pets travelling first need a working microchip and a valid rabies vaccination (done by your regular vet).

Then an Official Veterinarian such as Pet Nomads can examine your pet and issue a travel certificate. For the EU and Europe, this is an animal health certificate (AHC). Most other countries require an export health certificate (EHC) but requirements vary.

Some airlines also request a need a fit-to-fly certificate. For tapeworm-free countries (N. Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Finland, Malta), dogs also need a tapeworm treatment 24-120hrs before travel.

How soon after a rabies vaccination can I travel?

The first vaccine must be given at least 21 days before travel. The day the rabies vaccination becomes valid (the ‘valid from’ date on your vaccine certificate) is the earliest we can issue a certificate.

Vaccines last either 1 or 3 years and the course will need to ‘restarted’ if a booster is missed.

What is an animal health certificate (AHC)?

An AHC is a single-use document which allows UK pets travelling with their owners entry to the EU and other European countries. It replaced the GB pet passport after the UK left the EU.

How long is the AHC valid for?

The AHC is valid for outbound travel for 10 days from the date it is issued (the date we examine your pet). Once you leave, the certificate can be used for up to 4 months for onward travel within the EU, and for return to the UK (as long as the pet’s rabies vaccination does not expire before this). They are single use, so cannot be used for future journeys once you’ve come back to the UK.

Do I need an AHC or an export health certificate (EHC)?

If you are travelling to the EU or other European countries with your pet, you need an AHC. For most other countries, it’s an EHC. Owners need to apply for EHCs themselves, and often extra tests, vaccines and parasite treatments are needed. Please get in touch to find out more.

If I have an EU pet passport, do I still need an AHC to travel?

Pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel. Passports issued in other EU countries can be used as long as they contain details of a valid rabies vaccination (i.e. the current date is after the ‘valid from’ and before the ‘valid until’ dates of the vaccine). If this is the case you won’t need an AHC.

If you have an EU pet passport but the rabies vaccine has expired, you will still need an AHC. UK vets are unable to enter any rabies vaccine details in passports.

Do you need my pet’s history from our usual vet?

Because we are a bespoke travel service rather than a veterinary practice, it’s important you remain registered under your usual vet. For most cases we do not need to request the history. In some cases we may do so with your consent, for example to obtain rabies vaccination details if you don’t have a vaccination card.