As we plan to leave the EU on 1st January, we wanted to provide you with an update on travelling with your pet to the EU. The government has worked alongside the European Commission to ensure pet travel can continue between Great Britain and the EU and Northern Ireland at the end of the transition period.
From 1 January 2021 onwards, the UK will have Part 2 listed status under the EU Pet Travel Scheme, meaning that if you travel from the UK to Northern Ireland or Europe you will need to follow new requirements.
If you are taking your dog, cat or ferret to the EU for the first time after 1 January 2021, you must complete the following steps. The only new requirement for travel to the EU is the use of a certificate, rather than a pet passport:
- Ensure your dog, cat or ferret is microchipped.
- Ensure you dog, cat or ferret is vaccinated against rabies – pets must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated.
- Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
- Dogs must be treated against tapeworm 24-120 hours before landing, if they are travelling to a tapeworm free country.
- Visit your local The Vet centre to get an animal health certificate (AHC) for your animal, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
To get an animal Health Certificate you must visit us no more then 10 days before travel as this certificate must be signed off by a vet. In order for this to be issued please bring with you:
- your pet’s microchipping date
- your pet’s vaccination history
To ensure successful entry to the EU you will now need to enter through a designated Travellers’ point of entry (TPE) and show proof of:
- your pet’s microchip
- tapeworm treatment (if required)
- rabies vaccination
There will be no change to the current health preparations or documents for pets entering Great Britain from the EU or Northern Ireland from 1 January 2021.
For more information click here Please note that this information reflects the guidance at the time of writing however as Brexit is an evolving situation, changes are likely to be made as we get closer to the 31st December. We will aim to keep you updated on this.
We would also like to remind you that international travel is ultimately your/owner’s responsibility and The Vet will support you in the process, however you must ensure overall ownership of this process.
