To get your dog a passport for international travel (especially to the EU), you need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an official Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an authorized vet, replacing old UK-issued passports. The process involves microchipping, rabies vaccination (wait 21 days), potentially a tapeworm treatment (for certain destinations like Ireland/Finland), and getting the AHC signed within 10 days of travel, with specific rules for onward travel and re-entry.
The cost for an AHC typically ranges from £150 to £350, depending on the specific requirements. This includes a microchip (£10–£30), a rabies vaccination (£40–£70), and the AHC issuance by a vet (£100–£200) after a 21-day wait following the rabies shot.
What Information Does a PET Passport Contain? The pet passport contains the pet's date of birth, microchip number, vaccinations, check-ups, and basic information about the owner.
To secure the pet passport, the dog must receive a rabies shot and/or a certificate denoting an up-to-date rabies vaccination. The vet will also fit the animal with an electronic microchip or tattoo that properly identifies the dog. Some countries also request proof of treatment for ticks and tapeworm.
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How long does it take to get a pet passport?
Pet passports can be issued within 24 hours Monday to Friday. However, after your pet has received their rabies vaccination, you must wait 21 days to travel. Most people allow ample time to get their pets a passport, but it can be obtained in around 3 weeks to a month if needed.
You will need a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection to travel and some airlines require an acclimation certificate. Both of these certificates can only be completed and signed by a federally accredited veterinarian.
However, most countries require that your pet be checked by a federally-accredited veterinarian and that a United States Interstate and International Certificate for Health Examination for Small Animals (7001 USDA-APHIS Form ) be issued by that veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA.
India does not issue “Indian pet passports.” This is the term typically used when referring to obtaining all the correct documents before traveling. Before entering India, you'll need a health certificate and potentially an import permit for your pet to enter the country.
You must take your pet to your vet to get an animal health certificate. The certificate needs to be signed by an 'official veterinarian' ( OV ). Check your vet can issue animal health certificates. If they cannot, ask them to help you find an OV .
How do I get a pet passport? Rather than pet owners needing a GB-issued EU Pet Passport, owners need to obtain the AHC (Animal Health Certificate) from their pet's vet for each trip they take to a European country (including Northern Ireland).
Yes, you can drive to France with your pet dog, as long as it has the valid documentations, including being microchipped, and vaccinated against rabies. In order to gain entry into France from the UK, the dog will need a pet passport, known as a Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
Flying with pets in the cabin from the UK is generally not allowed on most UK-based airlines, but some European carriers, such as KLM, Lufthansa, Air France, and Vueling, do allow it on selected routes. With the right planning, these options can make traveling with your pet in the cabin more manageable.
How do pets go to the bathroom on international flights?
Quick answer: Most healthy cats and dogs hold it during flights. Give a last bathroom break before check-in, line the carrier/crate with an absorbent pad, and use airport pet-relief areas during layovers. Pets traveling as cargo have no mid-flight access, so prep the crate well and plan connections with enough time.
The "7-second rule" for dogs is a simple test to check if pavement is too hot for their paws: place the back of your hand on the surface, and if you can't comfortably hold it there for a full 7 seconds, it's too hot for your dog, who can suffer severe burns on hot asphalt or concrete. This rule helps prevent paw injuries by encouraging walks in cooler morning or evening hours when the ground temperature is safer for pets.
You can buy two seats, but your dog still needs to meet the airline's size requirements and remain in its carrier under the seat. The carrier needs to be under the seat for takeoff and landing but you can pull it into your foot space during the flight. They don't allow dogs on seats.
Pets must remain in their carrier underneath the seat in front of you at all times. Airlines may restrict in-cabin pets on certain aircraft or routes, like those we mentioned already, with strict rabies requirements. If you're traveling with a larger dog, they must travel in cargo.
The pet passport will then remain valid for travel to and from the EU for as long as the rabies vaccination is valid - usually three years for most UK administered rabies vaccinations, however occasionally one year depending on the manufacturer of the rabies vaccination your vet uses.
Appearance. The pet passport itself comes in multiple forms, sometimes a pink A4 sheet, sometimes a small blue booklet. It contains the microchip or tattoo number of the animal, the certification that the animal has had a rabies vaccination, and needs to be signed by an officially approved veterinarian.
Veterinary guidance on the needs of animals should be sought by caregivers for any proposed air travel. Dogs and cats should not be sedated for air transport.
In-cabin rules can vary somewhat depending on the airline, but generally, if your pet and their carrier can't fit underneath the seat in front of you, they'll have to fly as manifest cargo. You can't just buy a seat on the airplane for your dog, especially larger dogs.
