Animal Health Certificate Changes 2026: What Every Pet Owner Travelling to the EU Needs to Know
Last updated: 5 September 2026
Quick answer: From 1 October 2026, a new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) template must be used for dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from Great Britain to the EU. The previous template can still be used for certificates issued up to and including 30 September 2026.
Alongside this, the new template gives more prominence to the vet’s assessment of the animal’s health at the time of signing. This does not mean pets must be in perfect health to travel — but it does mean owners of older or medically complex pets should plan a little further ahead.
The biggest change: more emphasis on your pet’s health
An Animal Health Certificate has always been, in name, a veterinary document. In practice, though, most owners have experienced the AHC appointment as something close to a compliance check — confirming a microchip number, checking a rabies vaccination date, filling in a form.
The new template and its accompanying guidance, introduced for use from 1 October 2026, give the health attestation more prominence than owners may be used to.
This is our professional reading of the redesigned paperwork, based on what we’ve seen so far — APHA hasn’t badged it as “a new health check requirement”, and we’d rather say that plainly than overstate it.
What it means in practice is straightforward: your pet’s health now needs to be considered more explicitly in the context of the specific journey being certified, not just recorded as a series of ticked boxes.
At The London Travel Vet, we don’t view an AHC as simply a piece of paperwork. The purpose of the veterinary appointment is to make sure the certification requirements are properly considered alongside the individual animal and its journey.
Does my pet need to be completely healthy to travel?
No. Being older, or living with a stable, well-managed condition, doesn’t rule a pet out.
What matters is whether that individual animal’s health is compatible with that particular journey — the duration, the transport method, the conditions on the day.
A senior dog on well-controlled medication for arthritis is a very different case from a dog three days out of surgery. Both deserve a proper look; only one is likely to need a change of plan.
What actually happens at the appointment
An AHC appointment with an Official Veterinarian (OV) at The London Travel Vet still covers the paperwork you’d expect — identification, rabies vaccination history, and any destination-specific requirements. As part of the identification checks, the OV must now record where the microchip is located on the animal. This is a relatively small change to the paperwork, but is another example of the new template requiring more specific information about the individual pet. Alongside that, depending on the animal, the OV may also want to talk through:
general condition and age
any recent illness, surgery or treatment
current medication
the length and method of the planned journey
anything specific to that route or destination
For a healthy pet with a straightforward trip, this adds very little to the appointment. It’s a conversation, not an obstacle.
It is also worth remembering that this veterinary assessment is not the same thing as an airline or transport provider’s separate “fit to fly” requirement. If your airline requires a fit-to-fly certificate, that remains a separate consideration.
If there’s a health concern
A health concern raised at an AHC appointment doesn’t automatically mean a pet can’t travel. It means the issue gets looked at properly instead of surfacing at check-in.
Depending on what’s found, an OV might suggest further investigation, some treatment or stabilisation before travel, a short postponement, an adjustment to the travel plan, or a conversation with the transport provider. Which of these applies — if any — depends entirely on the animal and the journey.
Travelling with an elderly or medically complex pet? Mention this when you book. International travel adds physical demands — waiting, transit, changes in routine — that are worth planning around in advance rather than discovering on the day.
The question isn’t only “can we get an AHC?” It’s also “is this trip right for this animal, as things stand?”
Those are different questions, and a good AHC appointment answers both.
Changes to the paperwork around who’s travelling
Separate from the health emphasis, the new AHC template and Notes for Guidance also change some of the detail recorded about the person travelling with the pet. This matters more than it might sound, particularly where:
a spouse or partner is travelling instead of the owner
the travelling person has a different surname
a friend or family member is accompanying the pet
an authorised person is involved
a pet transport company is used
the travelling person changes after the certificate is arranged
Some of the practical detail here is still being worked through. We’ve raised specific questions with APHA and haven’t had full clarity on every point yet.
Where the guidance is clear, we follow it. Where it isn’t, we’ll say so rather than guess — and we’ll update this page as that changes.
When does the new certificate come in?
The current template can still be issued for certificates signed up to and including 30 September 2026.
From 1 October 2026, OVs must use the new template.
If your travel dates sit either side of that changeover, it’s worth confirming with your vet which version applies to your appointment.
Is this the same as the April 2026 pet passport change?
No — and it’s worth being clear about the difference, because both are 2026 changes and easy to conflate.
Earlier in the year, new EU rules came into effect for GB residents travelling to the EU with their pets. For people living in England, Scotland and Wales, an EU pet passport can no longer be used to enter the EU, even if it was issued in the EU. An AHC is required for those journeys unless another specific document or exemption applies.
The 1 October 2026 change is different: it’s about which version of the AHC template is used, and what the certificate itself asks the vet to attest to.
Is an AHC still required at all?
Yes.
If you’re travelling from Great Britain to the EU with a dog, cat or ferret, you need a valid AHC issued by an OV, unless a specific exception applies to your circumstances.
The underlying requirements — identification, rabies vaccination, applicable waiting periods, and destination-specific rules such as tapeworm treatment for certain routes — continue to apply alongside the new template.
For a full explanation of how an AHC works, including the requirements, timings and what you need to prepare before your appointment, see our complete guide to Animal Health Certificates.
FAQs
Has the Animal Health Certificate changed in 2026?
Yes. A new template must be used from 1 October 2026, following a transition period during which the previous template remained valid. The new version also changes some of the detail recorded about the person travelling with the pet.
Does my pet now need a health check for an AHC?
The AHC appointment has always involved a veterinary assessment. The new template gives that assessment more prominence, and asks the vet to consider your pet’s health more explicitly in relation to the specific journey.
Does my dog have to be completely healthy to travel to Europe?
No. Age or a stable, well-managed condition doesn’t automatically prevent travel. What matters is whether that animal is suited to that journey.
Can an elderly dog travel on an AHC?
Often, yes. Many older dogs travel without issue. It’s worth flagging your dog’s age and any conditions when you book, so there’s time to plan properly if needed.
Can my pet travel if it has a medical condition?
Potentially. A stable, controlled condition may not affect travel at all. A recent illness, surgery, or an unstable condition is more likely to need a closer look — sometimes just a conversation, sometimes a short delay.
What happens if my vet is concerned about my pet’s health?
They should talk it through with you. Depending on the situation, that might mean further investigation, treatment before travel, postponing, adjusting the journey, or speaking to your transport provider.
Can a vet refuse to issue an Animal Health Certificate?
An OV can only certify an animal where the certification requirements are genuinely met. If there’s a concern, they should explain what it is and what would need to happen for travel to go ahead.
Can someone other than the owner travel with a pet on an AHC?
In some circumstances, yes, but the paperwork needs to be completed correctly, and some of the detail is still being clarified with APHA. If someone other than the owner will be travelling, mention it when booking your appointment.
What happens if the person travelling with my pet changes after the AHC is arranged?
Tell your OV as soon as possible. The details on the certificate need to be handled correctly for the actual journey, and this is one of the areas where care matters most.
Is the April 2026 pet passport change the same as this?
No. The passport change affecting GB residents travelling to the EU took effect in April 2026 and is already in force. The October 2026 change is about the AHC template itself.
When exactly does the new AHC have to be used?
For certificates signed from 1 October 2026 onward. The previous template can be used for certificates signed up to and including 30 September 2026.
Will this make pet travel more difficult overall?
For most healthy pets on straightforward trips, the practical difference should be modest. For older pets, pets with medical conditions, or more complicated travel arrangements, a bit of extra planning is worthwhile.
We’re watching this closely
The September 2026 guidance is an important change, but it is also an evolving situation.
Some parts of the new guidance — particularly around travelling companions and authorised persons — are still being clarified, and we’ve raised specific questions with APHA directly.
At The London Travel Vet, we are actively monitoring these changes and will update this page as further clarification comes through.
If your pet’s situation isn’t straightforward — an ongoing medical condition, a recent procedure, or an unusual travel arrangement — get in touch before you book flights or ferries. It’s far easier to plan around a question than to answer it at the border.
About The London Travel Vet
The London Travel Vet provides specialist veterinary support for pets travelling internationally from Great Britain. As Official Veterinarians focused on pet travel, we track changes to UK, EU and international requirements so our clients don’t have to.