Animal health certificates for pet travel

Taking your pet abroad can be a wonderful experience for you both, but it can take some organising. At Molesey Vets, we can provide the necessary health checks, blood tests, animal health certificates and any other documentation your pet requires to travel overseas.

Book a pet travel consultation

Taking your cat, dog, or ferret overseas

At Molesey Vets, members of our Veterinary Team hold Official Veterinarian (OV) status, which is needed to issue animal health certificates and other documentation required for pet travel around the world.

Our team has a combined wealth of knowledge and experience dealing with animal travel requirements. You can rest assured that our Vets will be thorough, as well as efficient, whilst helping you get your pet ‘fit’ and ready to travel.

You can find out the entry requirements for your destination here: www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad

Travelling to an EU country / Northern Ireland

We advise that you should arrange a pet travel appointment at least 4-5 weeks before you are due to leave. Your pet will need:

• A health check to ensure they are ‘fit to travel’
• To be microchipped
• A valid rabies vaccination (a rabies vaccine and a blood test after 21 days to prove rabies protection)
• An Animal Health Certificate (or a pet passport issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland)
• Tapeworm treatment (dogs) if you’re travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta, and for entry back into Great Britain (it must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter GB).

Please note:

1. You are no longer able to use a pet passport issued in Great Britain (England, Wales & Scotland) for pet travel to an EU country or Northern Ireland. Pet passports issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland are still permitted.
2. The above requirements also apply to assistance dogs.
3. You may need to produce your pet’s documents on arrival.

For advice on repeat trips and travelling with more than five pets, visit: www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad

Travelling to a non-EU country / Rest of the World

If your pet will be travelling (or exported) to a destination outside of the EU, we recommend that you research the entry requirements well in advance of the ideal travel dates here – www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad. Some countries have strict requirements so you may need to start preparing for your pet’s trip eight months in advance.

For pet travel to a country outside of the EU, they will need an Export Health Certificate (EHC) and an Export Application form (EXA) if you are in England, Scotland or Wales. The EHC checks that your pet meets the health requirements of the country you are travelling to – you must nominate an officially recognised Vet who will be sent the EHC to complete during the required health check. The EHC and EXA forms for each country and pet will tell you how to apply.

Contact us to book a pet travel appointment