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Here are some of the most common questions we receive from clients on Export Health Certificates. At our practice in Kensington we have a wealth of experience in pet travel and issuing travel certificates.
An Export Health Certificate (EHC) is required for most animals travelling from the UK to another country outside of the EU or Schengen area.
This commonly includes:
Other species may also require an EHC depending on the destination country. Requirements vary, so it’s essential to check the specific rules for your pet and destination.
Most countries outside of the EU require an export health certificate for travel; however, one is not required when travelling with your dog or cat to the USA.
Each country has a unique EHC and you can use the government form finder to find the right one for your travel.
A common misconception is that vets handle the full application process for an Export Health Certificate, but this isn’t the case.
Pet owners are responsible for applying for an EHC through DEFRA themselves, or through employing an agent.
Vets will only:
“At our practice in Kensington we have a wealth of experience in pet travel and issuing travel certificates.”
Once applied for, an Export Health Certificate must be completed and signed by an Official Veterinarian (OV). This is usually emailed to them once the pet owner or agent has applied.
Both of the vets at our practice are Official Veterinarians (OVs) so can complete your EHC.
Generally, we would say that it isn’t necessary to use an agent to apply for an EHC and many pet owners complete their application themselves.
However, we would recommend using an agent for destinations with more complex travel requirements, particularly Australia, South Africa and Japan. These countries have strict regulations and errors can lead to travel delays or even refusal of entry.
Typically, an EHC for pets takes 3-4 weeks to process and applications should be submitted well in advance to allow for document checks. However it is advisable to check the requirements several months before travel as some EHCs require testing in advance of issue. Test results may take several weeks to come back.
An OV will then carry out a final health check and sign the certificate several days before travel, the exact timing depends on the EHC requirements.
At our practice in Kensington, the cost for issuing an EHC starts from £129.
EHCs at short notice will incur a higher cost.
If you’re using an agent for your application, this will also be another cost to consider too.
No, Export Health Certificates are country-specific.
This means:
If you’re travelling through multiple countries, it’s important to plan this in advance.
Regulations and durations vary by country heavily, so it is important to check either with us or on the government website to see how long your EHC will last in your chosen destination.
If you have any other questions about Export Health Certificates or would like to arrange for one of our Official Veterinarians to issue one for your upcoming travel, please get in touch with our practice.
The care and health of your pets is Kensington Veterinary Care's top priority. That is why we offer a comprehensive first opinion veterinary service for your furry friends.
Kensington Veterinary Care understand how special your pets are to you. That’s why we strive to provide only the highest quality veterinary care.
