Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Animal Health Certificate (AHC)? What is an Export health certificate? Do I need to be with my pet when I travel? These are all valid questions that you might be asking yourself when it comes to traveling with your pet. Please see The Pet Travel Vet FAQ below for some of the questions my clients come to me about .
If you have a question you don't see below, please get in touch, or you can contact me by telephone on +44 7917 276 218
Do I have to travel with my pet?
If you are not travelling with your pet you can still be issued with an AHC provided you are reunited with your pet within 5 days of travel. If your pet is travelling with a pet courier you will need to provide their details to be added to the AHC. The courier will need to carry evidence that shows you will be reunited with your pet within 5 days, i.e details of travel ticket.
If your pet is travelling with a named friend or family member, then you will need to provide a written declaration that you authorise the named person to travel with your pet and you will be reunited within 5 days.​
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Read more about pets travelling alone here
Can I fly with my pet?
It is possible to fly with your pet but is more complex with routes and potential airline carriers changing frequently. If your pet is around 8kg or less some airlines may let them travel in the cabin with you, otherwise they would travel in the hold.
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No pets are currently allowed to travel directly into the UK in the cabin on commercial airlines, they can only travel outbound. They can potentially travel in the hold. The exception to this is via travel by private jet.
Can I use an EU pet passport?
UK vets are no longer permitted to apply UK given rabies vaccines into EU pet passports. If they do, it will invalidate the passport. You can still travel with an EU pet passport that has a valid rabies vaccine administered within the EU or in the UK prior to 1st January 2021. You should always check with the country you are travelling to that they will accept this.
What type of pets can travel on an Animal Health Certificate?
Dogs, cats and ferrets are allowed to travel on an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). If you wish to travel with a different species of pet, an Export Health Certificate (EHC) would be needed. See below for details on EHCs.
What is an Export Health Certificate (EHC)?
An EHC (Export Health Certificate) is paperwork for pet travel that has been agreed by a non EU country. Most, but not all, countries have EHCs available for pet travel. The requirements vary widely depending on where you are travelling to. Most countries require rabies vaccinations but some require blood tests, parasite treatments etc and some may need the paperwork to be completed within a very short timeframe prior to export.
An EHC only allows your pet to travel one way. The Pet Travel Vet can help guide you through this process.
Can The Pet Travel Vet administer vaccines or microchips?
The Pet Travel Vet does not currently offer this service, your local vet practice will be able to help with this and then I can complete your paperwork.
What is an OV66 and how do I need an OV66 for my pet?
An OV66 vet is an Official Veterinarian (OV) who has applied to the Australian government to be accepted as a vet to perform new checks for pets travelling to Australia.
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This allows pets to complete only 10 days quarantine rather than 30 days.
Two OV66 vets from different practices are required to perform ID declarations as part of this process. The Pet Travel Vet can help with this.
What is an RNATT Declaration?
An RNATT declaration is a document that certifies your pet has an adequate level of rabies antibodies, as determined by a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre (RNATT) test. This declaration is typically required for the importation of pets into countries such as Australia from regions with a high risk of rabies, and it is signed and stamped by an official veterinarian (OV) like the Pet Travel Vet. It serves to confirm that your pet has passed the necessary rabies antibody test and is considered protected against rabies.
'I'm travelling to Australia. Does my pet need an RNATT declaration?'
