Animal Health Certificates/Pet Passport

portman_blue

Last year, after not going abroad in the motorhome for a couple of years (Covid + medical issues) we decided to venture to Europe again. In the meantime, though, the rules about pet passports had changed. Animal Health Certificates are required for our dog not the familiar EU Pet Passports.

We had planned our first post-Covid trips to Ireland and then continental Europe for this year. Our dog, Dotty, had had an EU UK Pet Passport pre-Brexit for several years. Post Brexit, we knew from the UK Government website that she would require an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each trip to continental Europe.

We researched  extensively the various government websites and motorhome magazine articles and came up with this plan of action:

1. Go through the pain (to us!) and expense of getting the Animal Health Certificate for Dotty – 2 visits to a specialist vet (not all vets are qualified to fill out these forms) at a cost of £200;

2. Visit Ireland in June as planned and source a vet to supply an Irish EU Pet passport. This was surprisingly easy - we called at a supermarket in Co. Galway and there happened to be a veterinary practice next door. While Sue was shopping, I popped into the vet and asked if we could get an EU Pet Passport there and then. Yes - no problem! The vet copied information from the original UK EU Pet passport and the AHC and charged us 30€. Dotty now has an Irish EU Pet Passport. (If we not already booked the Irish Ferry (some years ago - postponed due to Covid regs and medical issues) we would have crossed Stranraer to Larne. No AHC required and then drive into the Irish Republic.)

3. Drive to Europe in August via Eurotunnel. We presented the Irish EU Pet passport at the Pet check-in and received the helpful comment from the (French) official that the date of Dotty’s rabies vaccination was before the date the Irish vet had scanned and recorded Dotty’s microchip - not an issue for this official. We realised this might be a problem in the future as we could be asked to prove that Dotty’s microchip insertion was prior to the rabies jab. As we didn’t want to take any chances on an over-officious border guard, we found a vet in the Netherlands and Dotty had a rabies jab (she still had 2 years left on her previous one). It was recorded on her Irish EU Pet passport at a cost of 47€. With hindsight, we would have asked the Irish vet to administer the rabies jab.

4. Then, as in days of yore, 3 days before returning to the UK we found a vet in France to administer a worming tablet (which we supplied). This was recorded on Dotty’s Irish Pet passport and cost 38€.

5. We went through pet control in Calais on our return – no problems!!

So, for much less than the cost of a 1-trip AHC @ £200, Dotty now has the documentation that can be used for all Euro trips ad infinitum. We will still have to go through the worming tablet routine each time we return to the UK and keep the rabies vaccinations up-to-date - administered in an EU country as UK vets are no longer able to update EU Pet Passports.

BTW – at no point leaving or re-entering the UK to go to Ireland (Holyhead-Dublin-Holyhead) at the start of this master-plan were we asked for any pet documentation!

Frank Curry

michele-p

Great idea to get the EU passport in Ireland. We took our 2 dogs to France with us about 5 years ago, at the time with the EU passports. We shopped around all the local vets as found they all charged vastly different prices to do the paperwork and supply the passports.

With the new system, and our oldest hound being a but doddery now, I don't think we'd take them abroad again, as you have to pay per trip. 

MayoLynch

Hi. Could you give me an idea of where the vets was in Galway that did the animal health certificate? We go to Ireland at least four times a year  and have recently got a new cat. This is going to prove expensive for us. We also have a property there so we do have an address there. Any help appreciated if you don't want to give me the full details. Cheers.  

sheramber

The Animal HealthCertificate is for pets from UK travelling abroad and is issued in the UK. 

A vet in Galway Co would issue a Pet Passport which is cheaper than the AHC and lasts longer.

You may need an AHC issued by a vet in Uk to travel to Ireland and then get a PetsPassport issued by a vet in Ireland when you are there.

MayoLynch

Thanks yes sorry didn't make myself clear.  Thats what I am hoping to do.

gill_holehouse

I’ve read that the new Animal Health certificate isn’t being enforced or checked in N Ireland.  Is this true?  see travelunity website - taking a dog to N Ireland. 

thriftytracey

Has anyone been successful in obtaining an EU pet passport in France without an owning a property there?  i.e. provide campsite address.

sheramber

The rukes were tightened recently

https://www.frenchentree.com/living-in-france/local-life/pets-in-france/reader-question-can-i-get-an-eu-pet-passport-in-france-as-a-second-home-owner/

Note that if you are not staying more than three months in France, your vet will not be able to register your pet with I-CAD and, therefore, will not be able to issue an EU Pet Passport.

thriftytracey

Here's another question:  If we go to Spain and get an EU pet passport and rabies booster, (I understand Spain are more relaxed about providing EU pet passports to UK residents who do not have a residence in Spain), then the following year when we will need another rabies booster, (as Europe require annual boosters), would we be able to get that in France, or would we have to go to Spain again?