The Animal Health Certificate (8233 AHC)

An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is the necessary EU piece of documentation for pet dogs, cats and/or ferrets (domestic carnivorous) to travel in a non-commercial way, from Great Britain (GB) to the following countries:

• European Union Member States: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden
• Northern Ireland
• Part I – Listed Countries: Andorra, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City State

The above Part I – Listed Countries classification has been stablished by the EU, and the rest of the World countries fall into one of these other groups: Part II – Listed Countries or Unlisted Countries. It is important to note that after the Brexit transition period (31/12/2020) GB became a Part II – Listed Country for the EU

The AHC is intended for the movement of up to 5 such pets (a mix of species is permissible). However, there is an option to certify more than 5 pets in specific circumstances detailed in the certificate, but summarising, when more than 5, those animals should be more than 6 months old and going to participate in competitions, exhibitions/shows or sporting events or in training for those events, and evidence should be provided that the animals are registered to attend such an event or with an association organising such events

For any other type of pet or destination (Part II – Listed Countries and Unlisted Countries), the rules for travel and entry are decided by each country and are not necessarily specified in EU legislation. The OV can help and guide, but it is the owner responsibility to check with the competent authority of the importing country for further information. Apart from the cited carnivorous, the OCQ (V) – CA qualification that OVs hold also allows us to certify the following animals, as long as kept as pets and travelling with their owner: birds (so no poultry), ornamental aquatic animals, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, rabbits and invertebrates (except bees, bumble bees, molluscs and crustaceans). There may be a specific agreed Export Health Certificate (EHC) for some species and destinations; alternatively, you may be required to complete a Private Certificate. Private Certificates must contain all the declarations required by the importing country

A non-commercial movement is defined as a movement which does not have as its aim either the sale or the transfer of ownership of a pet animal. If they do not travel together, pet and owner (or authorised person) must be reunited within 5 days of the pet movement, for it to also meet the non-commercial criteria

In order to cross the border, an AHC will be valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the certifying OV, which would be day 1. Following documentary and identity checks by the competent authority at a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPE), it will be valid for 4 months for onward movement among the above-mentioned countries, or until the date of expiry of the validity of the anti-rabies vaccination (whichever is earlier). The certificate will also be valid for return to GB from the above-mentioned countries within 4 months of the date of issue, provided that the rabies vaccination is kept up to date

If the pet remains in the above-mentioned countries with its owner for more than 4 months or requires a rabies booster vaccination whilst staying in them, it will need a new certificate to return to GB. This can be either a valid and properly completed EU pet passport issued to pet owners resident in one of the above-mentioned countries, or a Great Britain Pet Health Certificate, issued by an authorised vet in the above-mentioned countries. An old GB-issued EU pet passport could also be valid to enter into GB from the above-mentioned countries, as long as the rabies vaccination is up to date, it is correct, and the relevant sections were properly completed on its day (prior to the end of the Brexit transition period, on 31/12/2020) by the relevant authorised vet

The pet does need to be physically presented to the vet, who can verify the ID before the AHC can be signed. This should be done by the OV or by another vet who can pass this information to the OV. Clinical examination/assessment of fitness to travel may be desirable from a welfare perspective but it is not a current requirement in the AHC

Note the AHC requires 21 days to have elapsed following the completion of anti-rabies vaccination, which would be day 0. This would apply to primary vaccinations or overdue boosters

A new AHC is needed for each trip

Exporters must comply with welfare laws in GB relating to the export of animals. If transported by air, animals should be transported in accordance with International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards

And last but not least, ultimately it is the exporter’s responsibility to check the certificate against any relevant import permit or any advice provided by the competent authority in the importing country

Northern Ireland at the moment

On 15 September 2021, DAERA Minister Edwin Poots MLA announced that checks on all pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from GB to Northern Ireland would be suspended indefinitely while negotiations between the UK government and EU continue. This announcement follows the written statement issued by the UK Government on 6 September 2021 confirming that the current Protocol arrangements will continue, including no routine checks on pet travel within the UK. The Statement builds on the proposals set out in the UK Government Command Paper of 21 July 2021 which proposed that pets remaining in the UK, and that meet domestic legal requirements, should be able to move freely between GB and Northern Ireland. There will be no routine physical or documentary checks on the non-commercial movement of pet dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from GB to Northern Ireland until further notice. Officials reserve the right to undertake checks in the interim should there be a suspicion of illegal activity or welfare concerns. This applies to all journeys, irrespective of origin or destination. Despite this situation, the AHC still would be a legal requirement for the pet to travel from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, but for further advice it would always be wise to contact DAERA (Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs of Northern Ireland)

Tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) treatment for dogs

Please, be aware that if travelling with dogs to Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway your dog/s will need to have approved and effective tapeworm treatment (praziquantel or an equivalent) between 120 hours and 24 hours prior to entering into those countries, since they are tapeworm-free; likewise, your dog/s must be treated against tapeworm between 120 hours and 24 hours before returning to GB (if that was the case), unless they are travelling directly from these mentioned states (Northern Ireland, Republic of Ireland, Malta, Finland or Norway); then, you should find a vet in the relevant country that can help you to fulfil this requirement, before coming back. If you are leaving GB on a short trip (less than 5 days), you could have your dog treated in GB by a vet, before you go. You must wait for 24 hours post-treatment before re-entering GB and return within 120 hours or you will need to get another treatment abroad

Other Documents

Please, read the above section “The Animal Health Certificate (8233 AHC)” before reading this

Passports

You can only use a pet passport if the country you are travelling to, accepts valid passports for pets coming from GB. If it is not accepted/valid, you will need another kind of certification instead (e.g., AHC)

From 01/01/2021, the old GB-issued EU pet passports and EU pet passports issued to a pet owner resident in GB are no longer valid for travel with carnivorous pets (dogs, cats, ferrets) from GB to an EU Member State, Northern Ireland or one of the Part I – Listed Countries. The rest of the EU pet passports are valid, as long as the rabies vaccination is up to date, and they are correct and properly completed by the relevant authorised vet

The old GB-issued EU pet passports could be valid to enter into GB from somewhere else, as long as the rabies vaccination is up to date, and they are correct and properly completed by the relevant authorised vet

Export Health Certificates and Private Certificates

For any other type of pet or destination (Part II – Listed Countries and Unlisted Countries), the rules for travel and entry are decided by each country and are not necessarily specified in EU legislation. The OV can help and guide, but it is the owner responsibility to check with the competent authority of the importing country for further information. Apart from the cited carnivorous, the OCQ (V) – CA qualification that OVs hold also allows us to certify the following animals, as long as kept as pets and travelling with their owner: birds (so no poultry), ornamental aquatic animals, reptiles, amphibians, rodents, rabbits and invertebrates (except bees, bumble bees, molluscs and crustaceans). There may be a specific agreed Export Health Certificate (EHC) for some species and destinations; alternatively, you may be required to complete a Private Certificate. Private Certificates must contain all the declarations required by the importing country. The EHCs and the Private Certificates will just be valid for the export journeys

Export Health Certificate 8454 EHC

It is the necessary piece of EU documentation for dogs, cats and/or ferrets (domestic carnivorous) to travel in a commercial way, from Great Britain (GB) to the following countries:

• European Union Member States
• Northern Ireland
• Part I – Listed Countries

A commercial movement is defined as a movement which does have as its aim either the sale or the transfer of ownership of these animals. An 8454 EHC will also be necessary in these 2 other scenarios:

• the number of animals which accompany the owner or an authorised person during a single movement exceeds 5, and any permitted exceptional circumstance is not met
• the animals will be travelling with a contracted carrier, more than 5 days earlier or 5 days later than the owner or an authorised person

Animals travelling with an 8454 EHC should enter the above-mentioned countries via a Border Control Post (BCP). The animals must be clinically examined by the OV within 48 hours of dispatch. If tapeworm treatment applies, it must be given between 48 hours and 24 hours prior to arrival to the relevant state

When these animals travel by sea (even for just part of the journey), they will also need a Master Of the Vessel Declaration 8466

The 8454 EHC will only be valid for the export journey

Fit-to-fly Certificate

Some airlines may ask for this kind of private certificate, to allow a pet to travel in their aircrafts