Reviewed by Vet Travel Docs on 17 September 2026. Official requirements can change; the linked government sources remain authoritative.
A dog, cat or ferret travelling non-commercially from Great Britain to an EU Member State normally needs an Animal Health Certificate unless a separately qualifying travel document applies. The certificate must be issued and signed by an Official Veterinarian; Vet Travel Docs currently checks the journey and records but does not create the official AHC.
What the £10 check covers
- one dog, cat or ferret and an ordinary non-commercial journey;
- microchip and rabies-vaccination chronology;
- minimum age, the primary-vaccination waiting period and vaccine validity;
- the proposed first EU entry country and the relevant certificate language;
- owner or authorised-person travel dates and the five-day relationship; and
- dog tapeworm-treatment timing for Finland, Ireland and Malta.
What you still need to arrange
You must obtain the official AHC from an Official Veterinarian within the applicable issue window. The vet remains responsible for examination, documentary review, completion, signature and certification. Carrier acceptance, border admission, unusual territories, commercial movements, young-animal derogations and your return journey are outside this check.
We are not producing an official Great-Britain-issued AHC PDF while the scope and wording are under review.