Pet Travel from Wiltshire: Common AHC Mistakes to Avoid
- Jun 14
- 2 min read
Travelling abroad with your pet can be exciting, but the paperwork can feel confusing if you have not done it before.
An Animal Health Certificate is usually required for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to the EU. Getting the details right matters, as mistakes can cause delays or problems at the border.
Here are some of the most common AHC mistakes to avoid.
1. Booking too late
Your Animal Health Certificate must usually be issued within 10 days of entering the EU.
However, this does not mean you should leave booking until the last minute. Appointments can fill quickly, especially around summer, Easter and Christmas.
Book early, then choose an appointment date that falls within the correct travel window.
2. Not checking the rabies vaccination
Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination for EU travel.
One common issue is assuming the rabies vaccine is valid when it has expired, or when the pet was vaccinated before being microchipped.
If the rabies vaccination is not valid for travel, your pet may need a new vaccination and a waiting period before they can enter the EU.
3. Giving the wrong EU entry country
Your AHC is based on how your pet enters the EU.
For example, if you are driving to Spain but entering the EU through France, France may be your first EU entry country.
This is different from your final destination, so make sure your route is clear before your appointment.
4. Assuming a GB pet passport is enough
Many owners still have old pet passports, but GB residents are now generally advised to use an Animal Health Certificate when travelling from Great Britain to the EU.
An old passport may still be useful as evidence of vaccination history, but it may not be accepted as the main travel document.
5. Not checking airline or ferry requirements
The AHC covers official pet travel requirements, but transport companies may have their own rules.
Before travelling, check with your:
Airline
Ferry company
Eurotunnel booking
Pet transport company
This is especially important if your pet is travelling in the hold, as cargo, or with a specialist transporter.
6. Forgetting tapeworm treatment where needed
Dogs travelling to certain countries may need tapeworm treatment before entry. This is particularly relevant for destinations such as Ireland, Finland, Malta and Norway.
If this applies to your journey, it needs to be done within the correct time window.
Book your Wiltshire Animal Health Certificate
At The Pet Passport Co., we help pet owners across Wiltshire prepare for EU travel with clear guidance and convenient Animal Health Certificate appointments.
Whether you’re travelling to Spain, Poland, France or elsewhere in Europe, we can help make the process straightforward.
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