It’s not something I’ve had to consider before. Holidays were always human-only, and the dogs were boarded. But now we’ve only got the one, the idea of taking him with us got us thinking – what do we need to do to take him on holiday with us?
There’s a lot of information out there. If you’re travelling from the UK, your dog will need:
🐾 A microchip – this must be done before any vaccinations.
🐾 A valid rabies vaccination – given at least 21 days before travel.
🐾 An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) – issued by an official vet within 10 days of your departure.
If you’re heading to the EU or Northern Ireland, you’ll need to use an AHC for each trip. Pet passports issued in Great Britain are no longer valid for travel, although EU passports issued in an EU country or Northern Ireland still are.
Some countries also require a tapeworm treatment before arrival (for example, Ireland, Malta, and Finland), so always double-check the rules for your destination well in advance. The Gov.uk can help with this.
Oh, and it hadn’t even occurred to me that I would need dog travel insurance! This is a really useful read and also covers pet-friendly airlines and great tips for travelling with a pet in a car, plane or on public transport. Read this: GoCompare
So, I haven’t yet worked it all out, but there is a chance he may end up in France with us in the next year or so. Until then, I’ll continue my research.
Useful info: