If you’re planning to take your kitty on a trip from the UK to continental Europe, getting an Animal Health Certificate should be the most important point on your to-do list! We are going to provide you with helpful tips and tricks to ensure you have all the necessary paperwork in place, done reliably and affordably. Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about the Animal Health Certificate before embarking on your journey with your cat.
What is an Animal Health Certificate?
There are two main types of documents that allow pets to travel across borders: a Pet Passport and an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Both documents authorise your pet to cross borders, but there are some significant differences between them. Pet Passport is valid for 12 months and allows for multiple trips. AHC is only valid for ten days from the issue date, and you must leave your home country during that time. After leaving, you have four months to travel within the EU or re-enter the UK. Once you’re back in the UK, the document becomes invalid and can’t be used for any further travel.
After Brexit, due to the cancellation of many international agreements, the UK is no longer authorised to issue Pet Passports. This change has made AHCs the only option, which is generally less practical and more expensive for pet owners travelling with their pets. As a result, many people travelling to continental Europe try to obtain a pet passport during their EU trip. While I am not going to discuss this topic here, I highly recommend checking out this Facebook group for more information.
How to Obtain an Animal Health Certificate?
Our ultimate goal is obtaining an AHC, which is a three-step process. Before getting the actual document, we first need to ensure our cat is microchipped and vaccinated against rabies. Let’s look at each step one by one.
Microchip Your Cat
For a long time, microchipping cats was not compulsory in the UK. However, the country has just introduced a new law making it required for all kitties. The procedure is very simple and inexpensive and can generally be done by any vet.
Vaccinate Your Cat Against Rabies
Your cat needs a rabies shot, after which you must wait 21 days before you can travel. However, nothing stops you from having an AHC issued before the end of this period. For example, you can have your AHC done on day 19 so you are ready to travel on day 22.
The vaccination must be adequately recorded! You can have problems obtaining AHC without this, especially if you use other vet’s services. Ensure everything is documented in your cat’s booklet and the surgery’s system. Then, ask for the printout. I am stressing it out because my Official Veterinarian refused to accept the booklet alone.
Obtain the Actual Animal Health Certificate
You can get AHC from both “regular” and “online” providers. I gathered that the process is similar in both cases. After you find an Official Veterinarian (note that not every vet is authorised to issue AHC), you first provide them with all necessary details about your cat and your planned journey. This info includes the microchip number, date of vaccination, expected travel date, and point of entry. At this point, they can start preparing your lengthy documentation.
Then, you need to bring your cat along and collect the documentation. The vet will scan your pet during that appointment and ensure the microchip number matches the records. They will also check your cat’s rabies vaccination records. After that, you can double-check to see if all the details on your cat’s AHC are correct. If so, the vet is going to sign and stamp the certificate.
As I mentioned, there is an option of getting a so-called “online” certificate. My impression is that, generally, providers offering such services don’t operate as typical surgeries and instead specialise exclusively in AHC. But they are still authorised vets who will perform all required checks, including seeing and scanning your cat (which can be done at their place or at yours). While I was initially suspicious, I used one of the affordable “online” services, and everything went perfectly.
Tricks to Save Money on Your Animal Health Certificate
In this place, it is important to mention that you don’t need rabies shots and AHC done by the same vet! Make sure you do your research before booking any appointment. Call all your local vets and ask them about the prices. This can really save you a lot of money!
To give you a rough idea, I am providing the price range I got when I was travelling with my two cats:
- Rabies shots: from 48 GBP to 103 GBP per cat
- AHC: from 150 GBP for two cats to 281 GBP per cat
As you can see, the difference is massive, so make sure to call around. As a rule of thumb, I would say that small clinics are generally cheaper than big veterinary chains for rabies. In turn, for AHC, any regular clinic will likely be much more expensive than an “online” provider.
If you’re in the London, Bristol or Cambridge area, I can’t recommend enough Pet Setters, as they did a great job fixing our AHCs. Otherwise, search for “online” services available close to your place or close to the place from where your ferry departs. Just make sure to check online reviews or ask people for an opinion on the Animal Health Certificate FB group.
Final thoughts on AHC
Obtaining an Animal Health Certificate for your cat can be stressful. When you start looking into all the formalities and requirements, it can feel overwhelming and daunting. I hope this practical guide will make navigating the process easier and less intimidating! Please leave us a comment and tell us if you found this article useful. And, of course, share your own tips and tricks on getting AHC done affordably and reliably.
If you are planning to travel with your cat, stay tuned for more useful information and helpful tips. In our summer series, we will soon be covering topics such as flying with your cat, choosing the right cat sitter, planning a stress-free Euro trip with your kitty, and much more! If you are leaving your cat behind this time and going on holiday alone, make sure to check our tips on finding the right type of care for your kitty.