Travel and borders
What do you need to take your dog to France from the UK?
Post-Brexit, taking a dog from the UK to France requires an Animal Health Certificate, not the old EU pet passport. The AHC must be issued by an Official Veterinarian within ten days of travel. Your dog needs a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. The AHC is valid for a single journey only.
What changed after Brexit
Before Brexit, UK-issued pet passports were accepted throughout the EU. After the UK left the EU single market, the pet passport scheme no longer applied to UK-issued passports for travel into the EU. The replacement system requires an Animal Health Certificate for each trip. The AHC is a standardised EU document issued only by Official Veterinarians, who are vets specifically authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Not all vets are OVs. The document cannot be issued in advance and then held for a future trip.
The microchip and rabies requirements
Your dog must have an ISO-compatible microchip implanted before or at the time of the rabies vaccination. If the microchip was implanted after the vaccination, the vaccination does not count from the EU's perspective and your dog needs a new one. The rabies vaccination must be current. Most EU countries accept a vaccination as valid for three years if the booster is given within the validity period of the previous dose. Check the expiry date on your dog's vaccination record before you book the AHC appointment.
Finding an Official Veterinarian
The APHA maintains a list of Official Veterinarians. Your regular vet may not be an OV. Many veterinary practices have an OV on staff or can refer you to one. The appointment typically costs between £150 and £300 for the consultation and certificate. Book at least two weeks before you need the AHC, as OV slots are in demand during peak travel periods, particularly around Easter, summer and Christmas.
What the AHC covers and what it does not
The AHC covers a single outbound journey and the return. It does not allow you to travel to a third EU country and back without a new certificate. If you travel to France and then on to Spain, you need the AHC; the document covers your EU trip. If you return to the UK and then want to travel to France again, you need a new AHC for the second trip. For frequent travellers, this cost adds up quickly.