It’s pretty straightforward, but with significant caveats. It’s a bit wordy, but follow the steps through. There are links to specific advice pages below, but they are not exhaustive and the advice given below is based on our actual lived experience at the end of 2023.
The official line:
Firstly, you will need to get your pet chipped and vaccinated, including against rabies at least 21 days before travelling.
If travelling only to EU, you will need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for each pet (issued within 10 days of travel). The AHC is only valid for 4 months / 1 trip and is only useful for trips leaving the UK into the EU and back again, not beyond. Join the AHC Facebook group for advice on where to get them, as vet prices vary shockingly – we used Abbeywell Vets when we needed them, they were quick and cheap and you can get your AHC as you head to Folkestone for the tunnel.
UK Government Animal Travel Guidelines
For trips going from UK directly to non EU countries, then the process is different, requiring an EHC, not AHC.
Our Advice:
If you intend to go further beyond the EU and return via the EU (eg to a so called 3rd country such as Morocco), or plan to make multiple journeys, you will need an EU pet passport (EUPP). However, we are no longer entitled to them in the UK, so you will need to source them in the EU. It is now pretty much impossible to get one in France without proof of French residency, but they are available elsewhere for now.
Some non EU countries such as Canada, currently accept the EUPP as valid evidence of pet health and vaccinations. It is even valid for travel to the UK!
Note you will most probably need to repeat all inoculations including rabies inside the EU, due to current directives to only put vaccinations in the PP that the vet actually administered themselves (you can find a few exceptions who will copy from an AHC, but not many).
Then 30 days after the EU rabies jab is administered, get a rabies serology test (aka Titre/Titration) to check for the rabies antibodies – this must be done inside the EU including taking the blood sample. This sample CANNOT BE DONE IN UK, even using an EU approved laboratory – do not listen to those who say otherwise. This is needed for travel through the EU to 3rd countries where rabies exists and then return back to EU / UK again. It takes around 10 working days to complete and you will need a stamped certificate from the vet or an entry in the EUPP to confirm it.
Note: for journeys starting outside the EU/UK, the dog cannot travel to the EU or return for 3 months after the blood sample is drawn for the Titre test, even if the Titre test is good. It does not apply for journeys starting and finishing inside the EU.
Once you have an EUPP it is valid for the life of the animal, provided everything is kept in date – UK vets must not enter anything in the EUPP! They will invalidate it by doing so, therefore all future vaccinations, boosters etc will need to be done inside the EU before they expire, so plan ahead.
To return to the UK you will need your AHC / EUPP and the animals will need a tape worming tablet administered by a vet a minimum of 24hrs before travel, but within 5 days. Vets will have the necessary tablets or you can take your own, but the vet must administer and sign in the EUPP/AHC. We use Kath Paws in Marquis, just outside Calais for vaccinations and worming.
Additional info
Some other countries such as Ireland, Finland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway also require tapeworm treatment before entry. Once you have an EUPP, you no longer require the AHC for future travels provided it’s kept up to date.
To enter Morocco and return via Spain, you will need all of the above, plus a veterinary health check certificate (green card) issued in Spain within 24hrs of travelling (not ten days as shown on the certificate), we used Brulina Vet.
You then take all this paperwork and your vehicle V5 document to Algeciras port and get a temporary export licence from the Spanish PIF (customs).
Without this temporary export licence you will probably struggle to reimport your animal – you will find those who profess to have never followed the rules, going back and forth several times, but things are tightening up, it’s not worth the risk. Some officials and vets haven’t caught up yet, but they gradually are being brought into line.
Spanish Government Information
This advice is not exhaustive and there are local variations. Check for official information before you travel and do not risk it on the opinions of someone on Facebook – penalties can be severe!
For example: Spanish quarantine is €600 per day for 15 days minimum and Norway will refuse entry and turn you away / quarantine or euthanise any animal attempting entry without the correct procedures!
The Little Red Bus 