This guide covers the outward and return journeys of pet dogs between the UK and other EU countries and export to third countries.
When planning a trip abroad or moving to another country with your pet, the most important thing to give yourself is time. Some countries have requirements to be met up to 1 year before travel. Ignoring these requirements will mean that you will not be able to travel on the date you intended to travel. There are no exceptions.
In any situation, you should contact your veterinarian in time. It may take a year before travel for some countries. For EU countries, I would advise contacting them several months before the trip. It’s not just about advice, it’s about making sure they have a vet with the right qualifications (OV) to get the certification you need to travel. Find a veterinarian who is confident that they can help you from start to finish. Ask about this in detail, especially for complicated imports.
EU/EEA – Zoosanitary certificates
Travel within the EU used to be controlled by the PETS passport system. Since Brexit, pet passports issued in the UK are no longer valid in the EU. This means that in most cases a zoosanitary certificate is required. The only exception is animals with an EU pet passport completed by an EU veterinarian. UK vets are no longer allowed to write on EU pet passports.
To travel, your dog will need:
- A working microchip that has been placed before/when required vaccines, medications or certificates are given/made. This is for identification.
- A valid rabies vaccination carried out 21 days or more before the date of entry into the EU. Most rabies vaccinations in the UK last 3 years before needing a booster, but confirm this with your vet. The minimum age for vaccination is 12 weeks, which means no dog under 15 weeks can travel.
- A zoosanitary certificate (AHC) completed by an Official Veterinarian (OV) within 10 days prior to the trip. The VO will need to examine your dog during this time. They may also require proof of rabies vaccination to be affixed to the AHC. The VO will need to prepare the correctly translated certificate for the first EU country you will enter, so inform them of this information.
- If you are traveling to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway, tapeworm treatment will need to be administered by a veterinarian 24-120 hours prior to time of entry. Any qualified veterinarian should be able to do this and certify that it has been done.
Your issued AHC is valid for 4 months of further travel within the EU and for re-entry to the UK during this period. Up to 5 animals can be registered on one AHC.
To re-enter the UK, instead of the previous valid AHC, a valid EU issued pet passport can be used. The rabies vaccine must still be up to date and the tapeworm must be carried out 24 to 120 hours before the start of the school year by a veterinarian.
Other countries – Export health certificates
To export dogs to other countries around the world, the requirements vary widely.
Although an Official Veterinarian (OV) can guide you, it is your responsibility to know the exact requirements set by the country you are traveling to. The VO will likely not know the exact and up-to-date requirements of the country you wish to travel to.
You’ll have to:
- Ensure that a working microchip is placed on your dog before any required vaccinations, medications or certificates are given/issued. This serves to identify your dog during the trip.
- Find the relevant Export Health Certificate (EHC) on the UK.gov website. A completed EHC is usually the minimum required for export. The supporting documents included with the EHC will also contain advice for the VO and yourself on the exact steps to take. Any links to an official foreign government site detailing the requirements will be included. here. Select the country with the checkboxes, then find the relevant documents for your animal on the right. Please note that different countries will group species/situations differently.
However, in most cases owners will choose to use a dedicated export company. They will draw up a schedule, after getting all the information about the requirements. They will then obtain the correct certificates and tell you when to make an appointment. Generally, they will hold your hand throughout the process.
- Follow all requirements of the country you are exporting to. This will often include rabies and other vaccines, as well as treatments for ecto- and endo-parasites. It will also include the application and payment for import permits for the country of destination and the completed EHC. Sometimes blood tests to detect infectious diseases are also necessary. There may be other unique requirements depending on the country of destination and other countries passed through.
Ultimately, taking your dog overseas can take a lot of planning, as well as contingency planning for any unwanted delays. Sometimes delays can be due to an error or simply misfortune. It is often the result of a failed test that needs to be rectified and repeated. It is possible to travel with pet dogs, but it requires careful planning.
Recommended preparation
It may not be legally required that certain vaccines or preventive medications be given. However, it is worth discussing the recommendations with your veterinarian. Also discuss this with local veterinarians in the destination country, as they will be more knowledgeable about local diseases.
Good recommendations could include (but are not limited to):
- Up-to-date basic vaccines in addition to rabies vaccines.
- Prevention of ecto- and endoparasites, including anticipated local parasites and vectors capable of transmitting disease. This might involve adding tick prevention or mosquito and sandfly repellents.
- Give another deworming tablet one month after the first
Best tips
- Start thinking about your dog’s journey early.
- Contact and discuss with your veterinarian.
- Follow all advice from your veterinarian and from both destination and source country governments.
- Expect things to go wrong.
- Take responsibility for ensuring that everything is respected. Check every requirement and that everything is booked when it should be. Your vet can remind you if he thinks something isn’t planned well, but don’t expect him to.