Welcome to Ohmydog's fifth vlog. This time we will talk about the Animal Health Certificate.
How to obtain the AHC (Animal Health Certificate) for your pets?
Firstly, your pet must have a microchip implanted. Then, it will need a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before the trip. Once the pet has received the rabies vaccination, you must take it to the veterinarian for a medical examination at least 10 days before the trip. After this medical examination, the certificate will be issued within 24 hours.
What is the British AHC?
The British AHC is a certificate of animal health issued by an official veterinarian in the UK. It is a legal document that replaces the old UK pet passport and allows pets to enter EU member countries from British territory.
If my pet already has a European passport, will it also need the Animal Health Certificate?
The AHC must be issued unless you have a European pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination. This is because the UK is no longer part of the European Union, and veterinarians in the UK cannot stamp or sign mandatory vaccinations such as rabies in European pet passports anymore.
If my pet already has an Animal Health Certificate, can it be used for unlimited travel?
The AHC must be issued within 10 days prior to the pet's journey and will be valid for the next 4 months for the United Kingdom. It cannot be used for future trips.
In what language should the Animal Health Certificate be issued?
It's important to note that the destination listed on the AHC should be the first transit country in the European Union. For this reason, it is a bilingual document, with English as the first language and the language of the first transit country in the European Union as the second language.
Do I need to get one AHC for each pet I have?
You can include up to 5 pets, including cats, dogs, ferrets, or a combination of them, under a single AHC as long as they have the same owner.
Do I need to deworm my pet before traveling?
It is not necessary. Treatment against echinococcus or internal deworming is required only for dogs entering the UK, Finland, Malta, Ireland, Northern Ireland, or Norway. It is not required for pets traveling from these destinations to other countries within the European Union.