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Travelling with your pets

Whether you're jetting off on a vacation or heading to a new home, we're here to make sure you have everything you need to get your pet travel-ready.

Travel Guide - Getting Started with Creature Comforts

1

Working out what you need

To travel you will need either an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) or an Export Health Certificate (EHC) . For non-commercial travel to the EU you will need an AHC and for all other travel you will need an EHC. Although we’re here to help, it is your responsibility to check you are getting the right documentation. Please read our FAQs for more guidance on what you need. 

You will also need to check your pets medical records to see if they’re up to date with the necessary vaccinations and that they have a working microchip.

For example; for an AHC - your pet must have a valid Rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before the date of your AHC appointment

2

Getting in touch

Get in touch with our Virtual Care Team via live chat on the app, or call one of our clinics. They will talk through your requirements, send you our travel questionnaire and get you booked in for your 45 minute travel appointment.

Health certificates can only be issued by ‘Official Vets’ or OVs. All our clinics have OVs.

3

Confirming your booking

If your pet is eligible to travel, complete and return our Travel Questionnaire and pre-pay for your appointment via the payment link we’ll send directly to you.

For London clinics, Animal Health Certificates cost £225 for All Access members, additional animals can be added for an extra £81 per pet. For Pay-As-You-Go members, a certificate costs £250 and additional animals can be added for an extra £90 per pet.

For clinics outside of the M25, Animal Health Certificates cost £207 for All Access members, additional animals can be added for an extra £77.85 per pet. For Pay-As-You-Go members, a certificate costs £230 and additional animals can be added for an extra £86.50 per pet.

Export Health Certificate costs vary depending on where you are travelling.

4

Documentation

Come in for your Travel Appointment. Please arrive 5 minutes before.

Bring the animal that will be travelling as the pet will need to have their microchip scanned, rabies vaccine information checked and final details will be confirmed.

This appointment does not include a clinical examination unless requested, if you have any health concerns about your pet please let us know. There may be additional fees associated with the consult and medication prescribed.

The paperwork will take around 30-45 minutes to complete after the appointment has finished, and then it will be ready for you to collect.

What will I need for an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) ?

  • Your pet must be microchipped.
  • Your pet must have a valid Rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before the date of travel.
  • Dogs must be treated for tapeworm 1-5 days before returning to the UK by an EU vet and the treatment entered on the Animal Health Certificate. If you are travelling to Ireland, Finland, Norway or Malta there is a requirement for dogs to be treated for tapeworm 1-5 days before entering these countries. The treatment is not required to return to the UK directly from these countries.
  • We will need to know which country is your first point of entry into the EU.
  • We will need to know your date of travel and return.

Frequently Asked Questions

In order to travel with your pet you will need documentation signed by an Official Veterinary Surgeon (OV). Animal Health Certificates (AHCs) are for non-commercial travel and return from the UK to the EU of pet dogs, cats and ferrets. Export Health Certificates are for travel outside of the EU and all commercial travel. Some airlines also require a fit to fly certificate.

We have OVs at our sites. Animal Health Certificates can be organised from the clinic, but Export Health Certificates must be issued by the APHA via the Government gateway website where you nominate Creature Comforts as your vet clinic. Fit to fly certificates can be issued by any of our vets.

If you are travelling to the USA, and your dog has not been out of the UK for the past 6 months then please ensure you fill in this form from the CDC.

  • This can be completed on your day of departure, but we recommend this is filled in a few days before.
  • You will also need a certificate proving that your pet is healthy
  • You will need an up-to-date rabies vaccine, and carry proof of vaccination with you on your travels
  • If your pet has been to a high risk country, then follow the guidance on the CDC website. Get in touch with us if you have more questions

We recommend that you use the UK government website to research what documentation, pre-travel vaccinations and testing is required. You can also use your destination country’s government website for information.

If your pet is travelling with an Export Health Certificate (EHC) there will be a form for you to fill in via the government gateway

  • We are then sent the details to fill in the remaining information required for your travel
  • You will need to book a travel appointment with us for the final completion of this
  • Some countries require rabies vaccinations and titre testing (blood tests) to be completed at least 6 months before travel
  • Please check what other vaccinations are required for your destination country as well as if proof of flea/worm treatment is required

If you planning to travel to a non-EU country, get in touch with us as soon as possible.

  • Completed Creature Comforts Animal Health Certificate (AHC) questionnaire
  • A physical copy of proof of Rabies vaccination (eg passport or record card)
  • The pet(s) travelling must come to the appointment

AHCs must be issued less than 10 days before you travel and are valid for 120 days from the date of issue for return to the UK.

No - an AHC is only valid for a single trip into the EU and returning to the UK.

It depends. Any UK pet passport is no longer valid. If you have an up to date passport issued in the EU it can still be used, but please be aware UK vets are no longer allowed to sign and update EU pet passports.

Up to 5 pets can travel on the same AHC. There is an additional charge of £80 per additional pet.

Yes - you are able to nominate an individual or a company to accompany your pet(s), but we need this information before issuing the documentation.

It is the owner or exporter who is responsible for ensuring that all travel testing and documentation is completed. Our OVs are available to help you with this, but please be aware, when completing travel documentation, our vets are acting on behalf of the Government not yourselves.

Tapeworm treatments are required for dogs travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Norway or Malta.

  • A tapeworm treatment is required for re-entry into the UK from Europe
  • Tapeworm treatment must be given by a vet no later than 24 hours before travel and no more than 5 days before

No, but we recommend coverage appropriate for the countries that you are visiting, speak to your vet at your appointment to discuss what is best for you and your pet.

Southern Europe and the Mediterranean have particularly high levels of sandflies which can transmit diseases and require a repellant treatment that we can supply.

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