Pet Travel Information
Taking your pet to Northern Ireland
From 4 June 2025 you will need a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD) to take your dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) to Northern Ireland. Your pet needs to be microchipped and the chip will be checked at the port or airport on entry to Northern Ireland. There is no requirement for Rabies vaccination
You can apply for the pet Travel document online at
https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-northern-ireland
It is free of charge and lasts for as long as you own the pet.
The Pet Travel document is valid only for travel between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you are intending to travel onwards to the republic of Ireland or mainland Europe the travel to Europe rules apply - see below.
Taking your pet to Europe
Since January 2021 pets (dogs, cats and ferrets) travelling to the UK to the EU have needed Animal Health Certificate certified by an Official Veterinarian (OV) or a Pet Passport issued in an EU country to travel.
New rules came into effect on 22 April 2026.
An EU pet passport issued to an owner who is resident in Great Britain is no longer a valid document for travelling with pets from GB to the EU even if the rabies vaccination in the passport is still valid. EU pet passports may only be issued to and used by owners whose main residence is within the EU.
To travel from Great Britain to the EU with a pet dog, cat or ferret, all GB residents need to obtain an Animal Health Certificate for every trip.
The Animal Health Certificate must be issued by an Official Veterinarian within 10 days of travel to the EU. It will then be valid for onward travel within the EU and return to great Britian for 6 months from the date of issue as long as the Rabies vaccination are still valid.
What is an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)?
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An Animal Health Certificate is a document which allows owners to take up to a total of 5 of their pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) in one vehicle to Europe and return to Great Britain within 6 months
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It is an official document, completed and signed by an Official veterinarian (OV) who has undergone additional training. At present, these veterinary surgeons are Ola Bonarska, Henry Phillips, Rosie Theakston, and Sarah Fallow.
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The certificate verifies details about the owner and pet and certifies that the Rabies vaccination is valid
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Animal Health Certificates are not suitable for the commercial export of pets to Europe, Travel for species other than cats, dogs or ferrets or travel to non European destinations. For these you will need an Export Health Certificate (EHC) – see travelling outside Europe below
Requirements for an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
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Your pet must be microchipped and the chip read prior to Rabies vaccination
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Your pet must be vaccinated against Rabies (pets must be >12 weeks old)
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The initial Rabies vaccination must be given > 21 days prior to travel. Pets can travel immediately after booster vaccinations as long as these are given within the validity period of the previous Rabies vaccine as sated in the manufacturers data sheet
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21 days must have elapsed between the initial Rabies vaccination and issuing of the AHC by the official veterinarian
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The AHC must be issued by an OV within 10 days of travel
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Travel to some countries (Norway, Finland, Malta, Republic of Ireland) require a worming tablet to be given by and certified on the AHC by an OV 24-120 hours prior to arrival. When travelling to these countries it is best, where possible, to arrange timing of the AHC appointment to allow administration and certification of worming to be completed at the same time, within this window, to avoid incurring additional costs
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Each EU country may have its own specific pet entry requirements—so always double-check before you travel.
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The pet(s) must enter the EU through a designated Travellers Point of Entry
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Worming prior to return to the UK – pets returning from Europe will need to have a tapeworm tablet administered and verification entered in the AHC by a veterinarian 24-120 hours prior to return to the UK unless they are travelling directly from Finland, Malta, Republic of Ireland or Norway. Acorn House recommends that pets receive an additional tapeworm treatment receiving praziquantel 28 days after they return to the UK.
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Please note that AHCs are usually available for Acorn House clients only. If your pet was vaccinated against rabies by a different veterinary surgery it MAY be possible for our OVs to issue the AHC. This is dependent on obtaining appropriate records from the veterinary practice that administered the rabies vaccine. If the records are not in the approved format our veterinary surgeons will not be able to use them as evidence of vaccination and your pet will need to be vaccinated again, wait 21 days and then have the AHC completed.
How to get an Animal Health Certificate at Acorn House
Please contact the surgery by phone and let us know you wish to book an AHC appointment. In the first instance the client care team will send you a form to complete with details about your planned trip and book a provisional extended appointment for completion of the Animal Health Certificate based on your planned dates of travel.
We kindly request that the form is completed in full and returned 7 days prior to your appointment to allow time for the OV to ensure that travel requirements are met and prepare the travel documentation.
When you attend the Animal Health Certificate appointment you will need to bring your pet(s) and proof of their rabies vaccination to the issuing vet. Pets can travel with their owner or with a person authorised in writing by their owner. If pets travel with an authorised person the pet must, travel within 5 days of the owner, and the written permission from the owner and the Animal Health certificate must travel with them. The owner or the named authorised person travelling with the pet must be present at the AHC appointment
Up to five pets belonging to the same owner and travelling together can be included on an Animal Health Certificate. No more than five pets can travel in a private vehicle.
What will be the cost of obtaining an AHC from Acorn House?
AHC £297 first pet, £66.13 for each additional pet (up to 4) on the same certificate
This covers the admin time applying for the AHC prior to the certificate appointment and the 45-minute appointment with the OV to examine the pet and complete the AHC. Appointments will be extended by 15 minutes for additional pets
Payment must be made in full at the time of booking and is non-refundable if you later decide not to attend the appointment or collect the AHC. It is also non-refundable if Acorn House is unable to issue the AHC during the appointment that you have booked because you have not returned the questionnaire / have completed the questionnaire incorrectly / your pet is not up to date with rabies vaccination / proof of rabies vaccination is not presented at the appointment.
Why do I have to pay at the time of booking?
Our vets need to start the official process prior to your the appointment and we need to reserve an extended appointment slot with one of our Official Veterinarians to issue the AHC. We cannot allocate this time if there is uncertainty about your dates of travel or the timing of the appointment, so payment is taken to ensure commitment to the appointment.
Insert microchip £24.50/pet as needed
Rabies vaccination £89.50/pet as needed
How long is an AHC valid for?
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Valid for travel to the EU within 10 days of issue
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Valid for onward travel in Europe for 6 months , or whenever your pet’s rabies vaccination expires (whichever comes first).
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The AHC is valid for return to the UK for up to 6 months after the date of issuing or whenever your pet’s rabies vaccination expires (whichever comes first).
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It is valid for a single trip to Europe only.
Will I need an AHC every time I take my pet(s) abroad?
Yes, a new AHC must be issued by an OV every time you wish to take your pet abroad. The cost will be £297.57 each time.
How often does the rabies vaccination need to be repeated?
The rabies vaccination used at Acorn House is usually valid for 3 years. To check the validity of your pets Rabies vaccination please check your vaccine certificate or ask the veterinary practice that vaccinated your pet.
What other health conditions could affect my pet(s) if I take them abroad?
There are some infectious and parasite-borne conditions that are found in non-UK countries and not in the UK. These can have implications for pet and human health. Please see the separate information sheet "travelling abroad with my pet – disease prevention" for further details.
