.png){kind=small}
New Animal Health Certificate from 1 October 2026: A Plain-English Guide for UK Pet Owners
From 1 October 2026, vets in Great Britain can only issue the new version of the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for dogs, cats and ferret travelling to the EU. What your pet needs is mostly the same. What has changed is the form, the paperwork that goes with it and a few timing details that catch people out.
DEFRA's official guidance for vets on the new certificate runs to 14 pages of technical language. This guide is written for families travelling or moving from the UK to Europe by road.
Last updated: 26 September 2026. This page is updated whenever the rules change.
The 30-second summary
1. Vet appointment on or after 1 October? Your vet must use the new certificate. A certificate signed on the old form up to 30 September still works until it runs out.
2. The 10-day rule. The certificate must be signed no more than 10 days before your pet enters the EU. The day it is signed counts as day 1.
3. Microchip, then rabies, then wait. The microchip goes in first (or the same day), then the rabies vaccine, then at least 21 days' wait after a first vaccination. This means puppies and kittens must be at least 15 weeks old to travel.
4. Someone else driving your pet? You must travel within 5 days before or after your pet, and the driver carries your signed permission.
5. Dogs and tapeworm. Dogs going to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival. Most dogs also need one before coming back to Great Britain.
Key words explained
The official documents use a lot of shorthand. Here is what each term means.
Term | What it means in plain English |
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) | The travel document your pet needs for each trip from Great Britain to the EU. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, it replaces the EU pet passport for entering the EU. |
Official Vet (OV) | A vet authorised by the government to sign travel certificates. Not every vet is one, so ask when you book. |
APHA | The Animal and Plant Health Agency. It works for Defra on pet travel and sends briefing notes to vets. Defra publishes the guidance vets follow. |
Non-commercial movement | Your pet travels with you, or with someone you have authorised, and is not being sold or given to a new owner. The AHC only covers this kind of trip. |
Authorised person | Someone you give written permission to travel with your pet, such as a friend, relative or pet transport driver. |
Travellers' point of entry | An approved border point where officials check your pet's papers and scan its microchip as it enters the EU. |
Tapeworm treatment | A worming treatment a vet gives your dog and records on the certificate before it enters certain countries. |
Rabies booster | A repeat rabies vaccine given before the last one runs out. If it is on time, there is no new 21-day wait. |
What changed in 2026, and when
There were two separate changes this year: new travel rules in April, then a new certificate form in October. People often mix them up.
Date | What happened | What it means for you |
22 April 2026 | New EU pet travel rules for people living in Great Britain came in. | EU pet passports should no longer be used to enter the EU. You need a new AHC for every trip. The AHC now lasts up to 6 months for onward travel and the trip home. |
19 August 2026 | APHA told vets that new certificate forms were coming. | Nothing for you to do yet. |
2 September 2026 | The new AHC forms were published for vets. | Vets could start using the new form straight away. |
30 September 2026 | Last day vets can sign the old form. | An old-form certificate signed by this date stays valid for its normal period. |
1 October 2026 | The new form becomes the only option. | Every certificate signed from this date must be on the new form. |
Sources: GOV.UK announcement, 21 April 2026 and APHA Briefing Note 23/26.
What has changed, and what has not
Most of the health rules are the same as before. The changes are about paperwork, time limits and numbers.
What has changed
Topic | Before 2026 | Now |
EU pet passport (if you live in Great Britain) | Many owners used EU-issued passports to enter the EU | Should no longer be used to enter the EU. Get an AHC for every trip. |
How long the AHC lasts once in the EU | 4 months | 6 months, or until the rabies vaccine runs out if that is sooner |
How many pets can travel | Up to 5 per person | Up to 5 per private vehicle (on foot, it is still 5 per person) |
Youngest age to travel | Some EU countries allowed younger, unvaccinated pets under special conditions | Not from Great Britain. Your pet must be at least 15 weeks old. |
The certificate form | Old form | New form only, for certificates signed from 1 October 2026 |
What has not changed
• Your pet needs a microchip, fitted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccine.
• The rabies vaccine can be given from 12 weeks old, followed by at least 21 days' wait.
• No rabies blood test is needed for pets travelling from Great Britain on normal road routes.
• The AHC must be signed by an Official Vet no more than 10 days before your pet enters the EU.
• You need a new AHC for every trip from Great Britain to the EU.
• Dogs need tapeworm treatment for Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway, and for most trips back to Great Britain. Cats and ferrets do not.
• If someone else travels with your pet, you must travel within 5 days before or after them.
Vet appointment close to 1 October? Check your situation
The cut-off is about the date your vet signs the certificate, not the date you travel.
Your situation | OK to travel? | Why |
Old form signed 28 September, pet enters the EU on 5 October | Yes | Signed before the cut-off and still inside its 10 days (valid up to and including 7 October). |
Old form signed 30 September, pet enters the EU on 9 October | Yes | 30 September is day 1, so 9 October is day 10, the last valid day. |
Old form signed 30 September, pet enters the EU on 10 October | No | That is day 11. You need a new certificate, and it will be on the new form. |
Old form signed on or after 1 October | No | Vets cannot sign the old form after 30 September. |
New form signed in September | Yes | Vets could use the new form from 2 September. |
Old-form certificate used to enter the EU in September, coming home in December | Yes | It stays valid for its normal period: return within 6 months of the signing date while the rabies vaccine is in date. Dogs still need tapeworm treatment before coming home, unless returning straight from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway. |
Tip: when you book, ask the practice which form they will use, then check the signing date against your crossing date.
How long the certificate lasts
One certificate has three time limits, and each starts from a different day. Up to 5 pets can be listed on one certificate.
What you use it for | Time limit | Counted from |
Entering the EU | 10 days | The day the vet signs it (that day is day 1) |
Travelling between EU countries | 6 months, or until the rabies vaccine runs out if sooner | The day officials check your pet at the EU border |
Coming back to Great Britain | 6 months, or until the rabies vaccine runs out if sooner | The day the vet signs it |
How to count the 10 days: if the vet signs on the 1st of the month, your pet must enter the EU by the end of the 10th.
Two things can cut your trip short:
• The rabies vaccine runs out mid-trip. The certificate stops working for onward travel and the trip home.
• Your pet needs a rabies booster while abroad. A booster given in the EU does not extend the certificate, so your pet will need a different document, a Great Britain pet health certificate, to come home.
Keep the certificate safe after you arrive. You need the same one for the return journey.
The timing rules, with real dates
Many problems at the border come down to one date being a day out. These worked examples use the counting method in DEFRA's guidance for vets.
Rule | How to count | Worked example |
Rabies wait | The day the vaccine course is completed is day 0. The vet can sign the AHC from day 21. | Vaccinated 1 March, AHC can be signed from 22 March. |
Youngest age | Your pet's birthday is day 0. Rabies vaccine from 12 weeks, then the 21-day wait. | Born 1 May, rabies vaccine from 24 July, AHC from 14 August, when the pet is 15 weeks old. |
The 10 days to enter the EU | The signing day is day 1. | Signed 22 March, pet must enter the EU by 31 March. |
Tapeworm treatment (dogs) | At least 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before arrival. | Treated Monday at 8am, the dog can arrive between Tuesday 8am and Saturday 8am. |
Three things to know:
• Some rabies vaccines take longer than 21 days to protect. Your vet follows the maker's instructions and will tell you the date.
• If your pet's rabies booster is given before the last one runs out, there is no new 21-day wait.
• On a long drive, such as to Finland, time the tapeworm treatment around your arrival in that country, not the day you leave home.
Which language your certificate needs
Your AHC must be in English plus a language of the first EU country your pet enters, not your final destination. The vet also writes that first country on the form. On most road journeys from the UK, the first country is France. The crossings below are common examples.
How you cross | First EU country | Certificate language |
Channel Tunnel, Folkestone to Calais | France | French and English |
Ferry, Dover to Calais or Dunkirk | France | French and English |
Ferry to the Netherlands, such as Harwich to Hook of Holland | Netherlands | Dutch and English |
Ferry to northern Spain, such as Portsmouth to Santander or Bilbao | Spain | Spanish and English |
Ferry to Ireland, such as Holyhead to Dublin | Ireland | English |
Example: you are moving from London to Madrid and driving through the Channel Tunnel. Your pet needs a French and English certificate, even though you are going to Spain.
If your first EU country has more than one official language, such as Belgium, check with the border point which one to use. Pets must also enter through an approved point of entry, so check your crossing is on the EU list of travellers' points of entry before you book.
Dogs only: tapeworm treatment
Cats and ferrets never need tapeworm treatment for these trips. Dogs need it in two situations: entering certain countries, and coming back to Great Britain.
Journey | What your dog needs |
Great Britain to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway | Treatment by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arriving in that country |
Great Britain to any other EU country, such as France, Spain or Germany | Nothing for entry. The vet leaves the treatment table on the certificate blank, so a treatment can be added before the trip home. |
Most EU countries back to Great Britain | Treatment by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arriving back in Great Britain, written on the same certificate |
Straight back to Great Britain from Ireland, Northern Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway | Nothing |
Northern Ireland: these tapeworm rules apply when your dog travels on an AHC. If you use the Northern Ireland pet travel document instead, check DAERA's requirements.
The treatment must contain praziquantel, or another medicine proven to work against this tapeworm. The vet writes the product, date and time on the certificate and adds their stamp. For the trip home, any registered vet in that country can do it. They do not need to be an Official Vet.
Going for less than 5 days? Your UK vet can give the return treatment before you leave. Your dog must then arrive back at least 24 hours and no more than 120 hours after it. If you miss that window, your dog needs another treatment abroad. DEFRA advises a follow-up treatment 28 days later.
If someone else is driving your pet
Many families fly ahead while a relative or a pet transport company drives the pets. That still counts as a non-commercial trip, which the AHC covers, as long as every rule below is met.
Rule | What it means for you | If you miss it |
The 5-day rule | Your own journey must be no more than 5 days before or after your pet's. | The trip becomes a commercial move, which needs different and stricter paperwork. |
Written permission | You sign a declaration naming the person travelling with your pet, such as the driver. It names a person, not a company. It lists each pet's microchip number, the certificate number and your travel date. It must be in English and the language of the first EU country. | The driver has no proof they can travel with your pet. |
Proof of your travel date | DEFRA advises that the driver carries proof of your travel date, such as a copy of your booking. | Border staff may not be able to confirm the 5-day rule is met. |
No sale or new owner | The pet must stay yours. The certificate must name you as the owner. | Any sale or change of owner means commercial rules apply. |
You can ask APHA for a blank copy of the permission form using its pet travel contact form. The Official Vet does not need to sign it.
Your paperwork pack: a checklist
Everything below travels with your pet. The vet staples the certificate pages, declaration and certified copies together.
• The Animal Health Certificate, on the new form if it was signed on or after 1 October 2026
• Every page numbered in order, such as "Page 1 of 10", with the certificate reference number at the top
• Every page of the certificate, declaration and certified copies signed and stamped by the Official Vet, in ink of a different colour to the printing
• A signed declaration that the trip is non-commercial (signed by you or the person travelling with your pet)
• Copies of your pet's microchip and vaccination records, marked "Certified Copy" and stamped by the vet
• Written permission for the person travelling with your pet, if that is not you
• Proof of your own travel date, if someone else is travelling with your pet
• Tapeworm treatment written on the certificate, if your dog needs it
• The same microchip number, names and dates on every document
What your vet checks at the appointment
• Your pet in person. The vet scans the microchip before filling in the form, so your pet must be there.
• Microchip before rabies. The microchip date must be on or before the rabies vaccine date.
• Healthy and fit for the journey. The vet checks your pet shows no signs of disease and can cope with the trip you are planning. Tell them how long the drive is.
• Genuine records. Bring records straight from your vet practice. Defra has warned vets about altered or AI-edited vaccination records, and a vet can refuse to sign if the records are not good enough.
Common mistakes that get pets turned back
If a pet fails the checks at the EU border, EU rules allow it to be sent back, held in quarantine or, as a last resort, put to sleep. DEFRA's guidance also tells vets that one footnote on the form is the single biggest reason pets are refused entry. A careful check before you leave is worth the time.
Mistake | What happens | How to avoid it |
Old form signed on or after 1 October | The certificate is not valid | Ask which form the vet will use when you book |
Pet enters the EU on day 11 | The certificate has run out | Count the signing day as day 1 and allow for delays |
Rabies vaccine given before the microchip | The vaccine does not count, so the vet cannot sign | Check the dates before the appointment. If the order is wrong, your pet needs a new rabies vaccine after the microchip, then the 21-day wait |
Certificate in the wrong language | It does not meet the entry rules | Tell the vet your crossing route, not just your destination |
Tapeworm treatment too early or too late | Your dog does not meet the entry rules | Time the treatment against your arrival, not your departure |
Owner travels more than 5 days apart from the pet | Commercial rules apply instead | Book your own travel inside the window and keep proof |
Using an EU pet passport while living in Great Britain | Your pet may be refused entry | Get an AHC for every trip |
Puppy or kitten under 15 weeks old | The vet cannot sign the certificate | Plan the trip for after your pet is 15 weeks old |
Details that do not match across documents | Your pet may be refused entry | Check the microchip number, names and dates on every page |
The official documents behind this guide
Every rule in this guide comes from the sources below. Most are written for vets and officials rather than pet owners, which is why we have summarised them.
Document | Written for | What it covers |
New EU rules for pet travel for GB residents, GOV.UK, 21 April 2026 | Pet owners | The end of EU pet passports for GB residents, 6-month validity, the 5-day rule and 5 pets per vehicle |
APHA Briefing Note 23/26, 19 August 2026 | Official Vets | The new certificate forms and the 30 September to 1 October changeover |
Defra Notes for Guidance 8233NFG, version 8, published 7 September 2026 | Official Vets | How the new certificate is filled in and signed: validity, declarations, language, tapeworm rules and the 15-week age rule (14 pages) |
Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU, Your Europe | Travellers | EU entry rules, tapeworm-free countries and what happens if a pet fails border checks |
Travellers' points of entry, European Commission | Travellers | The approved border points where pets can enter the EU |
Moving to Europe with your pet? Let us check the paperwork
Exec Pets is a Defra and DAERA approved pet transport company with an EU licence (IE/0221), so we operate legally on both sides of the Channel. Before every journey, we check your pet's certificate and treatment dates, so problems are found at home, not at the border.
Our road transport service carries one family's pets at a time, door to door via the Eurotunnel or ferry. Popular routes include UK to Ireland and pet transport to Finland.
Frequently asked questions
Q. What is changing with the Animal Health Certificate on 1 October 2026?
A. From 1 October 2026, Official Vets in Great Britain must use a new version of the AHC form for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling to the EU. The health rules are mostly unchanged. Certificates signed on the old form up to 30 September stay valid until they run out.
Q. Is an AHC signed in September still valid in October?
A. Yes, if it was signed on or before 30 September 2026 and your pet enters the EU within 10 days of the signing date. After that, it works for onward travel and the trip home for up to 6 months, while the rabies vaccine is in date.
Q. Can I still use an EU pet passport if I live in the UK?
A .You should not use one to enter the EU if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. Since 22 April 2026 it may not be accepted, so get an AHC for every trip, even if the passport was issued in an EU country. You can still use an EU pet passport for the journey back to Great Britain.
Q. How old does my puppy need to be to travel from the UK to the EU?
A. At least 15 weeks. The rabies vaccine can be given from 12 weeks old, and the vet can sign the AHC no sooner than 21 days later. The exception some EU countries allowed for younger, unvaccinated pets no longer applies to pets coming from Great Britain.
Q. Can a pet transport company take my dog to Europe without me?
A. Yes, if you give written permission to the named person travelling with your dog, such as the driver, and you travel within 5 days before or after your dog. Your dog must not be sold or given to a new owner. If either rule is broken, commercial rules apply instead. Choose a company that meets animal welfare in transport rules.
Q. Which language does my AHC need for a Channel Tunnel crossing?
French and English. The certificate must be in English plus a language of the first EU country your pet enters. On the Channel Tunnel that is France, even if you are moving to Spain, Germany or anywhere else.
Q. Do I need an AHC to take my pet from Great Britain to Northern Ireland?
A. Not if you live in Great Britain and your pet is only going to Northern Ireland. You can use a Northern Ireland pet travel document instead, which needs a microchip but no rabies vaccine or tapeworm treatment. You can also use an AHC. If your pet will travel on to the Republic of Ireland or another EU country, it needs an AHC.
Q. Does my cat need tapeworm treatment?
A. No. Tapeworm treatment is for dogs only. Cats still need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccine and an AHC.
More guides:
• Pet travel documentation and regulations in the UK and Europe Request a free quote for your pet's journey.
Comments