Travelling Abroad

For up to date information on travelling abroad with your pet firstly contact DEFRA on gov.uk.

Please allow plenty of time to prepare for taking your animal abroad as some countries have very strict protocols. For travel outside of the EU your transport company is the best place for advice on current guidance.

For travel to the EU:

If your pet has an EU or NI passport they can travel to the EU and Northern Ireland on the passport, but a British vet cannot sign a rabies vaccination in an EU or NI passport, so in order to keep these vaccines up to date to travel they must be given to the animal whilst they are abroad.

If you do not have a passport for your pet they will have to travel to Europe or Ireland on an Animal Health Certificate issued by an Official Veterinarian in the language in which you are entering Europe eg. if you are going to Spain via France, in French. This is valid for 10 days from completion to gain entry to Europe, and four months for onward travel and return to Great Britain.

In order to complete the AHC, the pet will have to be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies at least 21 days before completion of the certificate ( 30 days in the case of some EU countries) and have a health check by the OV no more than 10 days before travelling.

Rabies boosters need to be given every 3 years on or before the date they were given in order to remain valid ( yearly in the case of some countries such as Spain).

If travelling to Malta, Ireland, Norway or Finland worming treatment will have to be administered by a vet 24-120 hours before travelling and the relevant section of the AHC completed.

The owner of the animal will have to attend the health check appointment with the pet in the majority of cases in order to complete parts of the paperwork.

All dogs will have to be tapeworm treated 24-120 hours before return to Great Britain by a vet who will complete the section on the AHC.

PLEASE CONTACT THE SURGERY AS SOON AS YOU HAVE DECIDED TO TRAVEL TO THE EU WITH YOUR PET. WE ONLY HAVE ONE OV REGISTERED AT THE PRACTICE, AND ALTERNATIVE ARRANGEMENTS MAY HAVE TO BE MADE WHEN SHE IS ON HOLIDAY. WE WILL ALSO ASK YOU TO COMPLETE A PRE TRAVEL DOCUMENT TO CHECK ALL DETAILS ARE VALID.