Dog Travel Requirements

Travelling with your dog can be so much fun, whether you’re living full time van life or just heading away for a foreign holiday together.

There’s still so much confusion surrounding what you need to do by way of preparation for your dog before you head off so let me break this down for you.

Travelling to an EU Country from the UK

• Pet Passports were abolished in the UK on 1st January 2021 and are now invalid.

• You need an Animal Health Certificate for your dog, cat or ferret if you’re travelling from Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland) to an EU country or Northern Ireland.

• Your dog will need to have a Rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to travel. Day 1 is the day after the vaccination.

• Your dog does not need additional vaccinations to travel but obviously for health reasons they should be up to date with all vaccination boosters.

• Prices vary hugely and you are entitled to ring around for the best price.

• You can have up to 5 dogs per certificate, so don’t be fooled into paying for an Animal Health Certificate for each dog.

• Your dog must be microchipped.

• You must obtain your Animal Health Certificate no more than 10 days prior to travel.

• Your pet’s Animal Health Certificate will be valid after the date of issue for:

  • 10 days for entry into the EU or Northern Ireland

  • 4 months for onward travel within the EU.

  • 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain.

  • Your pet will need a new animal health certificate for each trip to an EU country or Northern Ireland from Great Britain.
    

Returning to the UK from an EU country

• Before returning to the UK you must take your dog to see a Vet for a Health Check and a Tapeworm treatment.

• The treatment must have been given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you enter Great Britain. Your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine if you do not follow this rule.

• The EU Vet will stamp this information into your Animal Health Certificate.

• The treatment must be approved for use in the country it’s being given in and contain Praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus Multilocularis tapeworm.

• If you’re leaving Great Britain for a short trip, your dog must be treated by a vet before you go. You must wait for 24 hours before re-entering Great Britain and return within 120 hours or you’ll need to get another treatment abroad.

• You should treat your dog again within 28 days of returning to Great Britain.

• You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.
  

Travelling to a non-EU country from the UK

• If you’re travelling to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an Export Health Certificate (EHC). You’ll also need to complete an export application form (EXA) if you’re in England, Scotland or Wales.

• The Export Health Certificate and the export application form for each country and pet will tell you how to apply.

• An EHC checks that your pet meets the health requirements of the country you’re travelling to.

• You must nominate an official vet who will be sent the EHC. They’ll check your pet has met the correct health and identification requirements before you travel.

• Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.