EU Pet passport.. latest information??

[Foo Fighter]

We have a PP issued by a friendly vet in Wiltz (Lux) she couldn't countersign UK vet rabies paperwork, so seeing that ours was due to expire soon, gave the pooch his 3 yr booster early. Wanted an EU address. (Used an old Forces MQ address). Dog has travelled back into UK early March with no problems

 

[Billylou]

Please forgive the stupid question. When our van eventually arrives sometime this decade we fully intend to visit Europe. We have recently been adopted by a puppy and they will be joining us on our trips. Can someone explain the benefit of obtaining a EU passport as I don’t seem to understand what the benefit is. Picture of the dog included as thanks for reading.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Please forgive the stupid question. When our van eventually arrives sometime this decade we fully intend to visit Europe. We have recently been adopted by a puppy and they will be joining us on our trips. Can someone explain the benefit of obtaining a EU passport as I don’t seem to understand what the benefit is. Picture of the dog included as thanks for reading.

About £150+For the AHC every time you want to cross over to France, if you obtain a pet passport in Belgium or Spain for around €50-70 on your first trip you can go back over without anymore cost.
You have to have your dog wormed by the EU vet before coming back.

 

[Carpmart]

Please forgive the stupid question. When our van eventually arrives sometime this decade we fully intend to visit Europe. We have recently been adopted by a puppy and they will be joining us on our trips. Can someone explain the benefit of obtaining a EU passport as I don’t seem to understand what the benefit is. Picture of the dog included as thanks for reading.

Pet passport is a one time cost and is useable for every trip for the life of the pet. The alternative is an AHC every time you travel. Costs vary but £40 is roughly the cost of rabies vaccine and pet passport in Spain. AHC’s vary between £100-£230 each time.

 

[ericonabike]

To avoid paying between £100 and £250 for every trip across the Channel. Trawl through this and other threads in the Pet section to find out more... its a well-trodden path!

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[Billylou]

Thanks a million Coastal Cruiser. Understood.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

Best to ring around for the AHC as the cost varies a lot.
If you are near Hampshire there is a good priced vet near Hayling Island.

 

[x17ken]

Best to ring around for the AHC as the cost varies a lot.
If you are near Hampshire there is a good priced vet near Hayling Island.

We used this vet for an AHC before our outward journey to Spain recently (https://www.passpets.co.uk/). We now have pet passports issued in Spain so no longer need to get an AHC prior to future journeys. The cost of the AHC from Passpets was around half the price I could get from local vets where I live. The process was very efficient. We parked our motorhome in the free car park next to the pub around the corner. We walked for about 5 minutes to the vet with our dogs. The vet was fully prepared for us and issued the AHC within about 10 minutes. We were then on our way. When we got to the ferry to Spain the AHC was in perfect order - so no problems.

 

[Coastal Cruiser.]

We used this vet for an AHC before our outward journey to Spain recently (https://www.passpets.co.uk/). We now have pet passports issued in Spain so no longer need to get an AHC prior to future journeys. The cost of the AHC from Passpets was around half the price I could get from local vets where I live. The process was very efficient. We parked our motorhome in the free car park next to the pub around the corner. We walked for about 5 minutes to the vet with our dogs. The vet was fully prepared for us and issued the AHC within about 10 minutes. We were then on our way. When we got to the ferry to Spain the AHC was in perfect order - so no problems.

Only 10min from where I live so was handy.
You have to be careful because apparently there are people turning up at border control most days and getting turned around because the vet had not filled out the AHC correctly .

 

[x17ken]

Only 10min from where I live so was handy.
You have to be careful because apparently there are people turning up at border control most days and getting turned around because the vet had not filled out the AHC correctly .

This is absolutely correct. You must check that every page in the AHC has been fully completed and stamped. This is about 10 pages plus copies of vaccination history from previous passports. If you wanted to design the worst possible border control system for animals this would come pretty close. How the border control people can keep on top of this is beyond me. But Coastal Cruiser is right they are spotting problems and turning people around. Message is - use a vet who is experienced in completing AHCs to the required standard.

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[Carpmart]

The real underlying message in all this shenanigans is get a pet passport and avoid the terrible AHC process going forward.

 

[x17ken]

The real underlying message in all this shenanigans is get a pet passport and avoid the terrible AHC process going forward.

Spot on. But unfortunately there is no way to get an EU pet passport without getting at least one AHC on your outward trip to the EU to get a PP.

 

[Carpmart]

Spot on. But unfortunately there is no way to get an EU pet passport without getting at least one AHC on your outward trip to the EU to get a PP.

Completely agree… as getting one once is more than enough times for any man or woman!

 

[maz]

Actually this is something that still confuses me - all the paperwork seems to be for returning to the UK. Have checks now been introduced for pets on entering EU countries? Either I've missed it or nobody seems to refer to this, just say we need to get an AHC - taking Jamie to the vet shortly for his regular checkup, will ask if they know (and how much they're likely to charge!)

The paperwork is needed for both entering the EU and returning to the UK. Since Br*x*t we have become a ‘third country’ and in particular a ‘Part 2 listed third country’, the same as the US, Australia and many others. Unless you already have a valid EU-issued (not UK-issued) Pet Passport, you will need an AHC to enter the EU. Once you have entered the EU you can obtain a Pet Passport that can subsequently be used to re-enter the EU and return to the UK, doing away with the expense and inconvenience of having to obtain an AHC each time you want to travel.

 

[x17ken]

One point of detail that I should also mention again is that once you have your new EU pet passport, your local UK vet will not be able to stamp it with details of vaccinations administered in the UK. Only vaccinations administered by vets in the EU can be entered and verified in an EU pet passport. This should not be a problem if you are a regular visitor to the EU, but worth bearing in mind in case of a potential argument with your vet. Perhaps also a reason why UK vets are charging so much for AHCs

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[TerryL]

Okay thanks maz so someone checks it going into EU (either in UK before crossing or EU after).

Now I've got to work out what I do about his annual injections! I can either let my UK vet do them and enter into the UK Passport as of now or get them done whilst in EU, but this then begs the question that does not entering his regular injections in the EU Passport actually make any difference or cause problems? Worming seems to be what UK authorities are looking for and that wouldn't (shouldn't?) be a problem, just do as before but it goes in the EU passport. Rabies boosters could go in both, UK when the UK is due and EU when EU booster is due. As far as I am aware boosters every, say, 18 months won't have any health consequences for the dog. Will it? But there again, I don't suppose there's any need to keep the UK Passport up to date any longer as the UK vet will have all the records anyway for the rabies booster.

Or failing that just bite the bullet and get an AHC, then hope that common sense eventually prevails and the UK Health authorities get themselves sorted out and put this ridiculous situation right!

Maybe I am overthinking this? Problem is, not having been to EU for couple of years I'm not really sure if we will be returning on the same basis as we did before Covid/Brexit.

 

[x17ken]

Okay thanks maz so someone checks it going into EU (either in UK before crossing or EU after).

Now I've got to work out what I do about his annual injections! I can either let my UK vet do them and enter into the UK Passport as of now or get them done whilst in EU, but this then begs the question that does not entering his regular injections in the EU Passport actually make any difference or cause problems? Worming seems to be what UK authorities are looking for and that wouldn't (shouldn't?) be a problem, just do as before but it goes in the EU passport. Rabies boosters could go in both, UK when the UK is due and EU when EU booster is due. As far as I am aware boosters every, say, 18 months won't have any health consequences for the dog. Will it? But there again, I don't suppose there's any need to keep the UK Passport up to date any longer as the UK vet will have all the records anyway for the rabies booster.

Or failing that just bite the bullet and get an AHC, then hope that common sense eventually prevails and the UK Health authorities get themselves sorted out and put this ridiculous situation right!

Maybe I am overthinking this? Problem is, not having been to EU for couple of years I'm not really sure if we will be returning on the same basis as we did before Covid/Brexit.

So you need to think only about the vaccinations that are required to be recorded in the pet passport. There are other vaccinations that our animals have in the UK that do not need to be recorded in the pet passport - these are usually in the pet health card that your vet will use as a record. So it is not all vaccinations, it is just those that are needed by EU countries and the UK. For us - tapeworm coming into the UK and rabies going in/out. Happy to take on views from others on this if I have missed something.

 

[RidersofRohan]

We have a PP issued by a friendly vet in Wiltz (Lux) she couldn't countersign UK vet rabies paperwork, so seeing that ours was due to expire soon, gave the pooch his 3 yr booster early. Wanted an EU address. (Used an old Forces MQ address). Dog has travelled back into UK early March with no problems

Presumably the address you gave wasn’t in Luxembourg but in Germany, does that mean any EU country address. We have friends in Spain but aren’t likely to visit there before the dog needs a new rabies jab in August this year.
Our plan is to visit Germany and Austria returning via Luxembourg in June and we are looking for a vet that would do worming, rabies and passport but the best we could do would be a Spanish address.
I appreciate you can’t say what the vet will or won’t do for us, but please could you message with me details of the vet you used in Wiltz.

 

[x17ken]

Presumably the address you gave wasn’t in Luxembourg but in Germany, does that mean any EU country address. We have friends in Spain but aren’t likely to visit there before the dog needs a new rabies jab in August this year.
Our plan is to visit Germany and Austria returning via Luxembourg in June and we are looking for a vet that would do worming, rabies and passport but the best we could do would be a Spanish address.
I appreciate you can’t say what the vet will or won’t do for us, but please could you message with me details of the vet you used in Wiltz.

The EU address requirement seems to vary between countries. In Spain, the vet I used was happy to use the address of the campsite I was staying on. I did not need a permanent address. When I queried this she said that she needed an address for recording on the new Spanish domestic animal database. The address was duly recorded on the Spanish system and in the passport. The next step for us was to add our UK address in the passport as the new keepers of the animals.

 

[maz]

One point of detail that I should also mention again is that once you have your new EU pet passport, your local UK vet will not be able to stamp it with details of vaccinations administered in the UK. Only vaccinations administered by vets in the EU can be entered and verified in an EU pet passport. This should not be a problem if you are a regular visitor to the EU, but worth bearing in mind in case of a potential argument with your vet. Perhaps also a reason why UK vets are charging so much for AHCs

Once you have your lovely shiny new EU Pet Passport your UK vet does not need to go anywhere near it. There is the exception that a UK vet can complete the worming section if you are going for a less than 5-day trip to the EU (to avoid having to find a vet to do the worming on the way back), and also if you are travelling directly to Norway, Finland, Malta or Ireland (and also probably Northern Ireland at some point if the Protocol ever gets sorted out). The fact that these countries don’t have the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm and nor does GB is apparently irrelevant - whoever thought it had to make sense?

What I will refer to as ‘domestic’ (tho’ I suspect there is a better term for them) vaccinations such as DHP and Lepto can be recorded on a separate vaccination card. They are of no interest to Border Control either entering or leaving the EU. The only vaccination that matters for a Pet Passport or AHC is the rabies one. It is very important that only an EU vet enters the details of rabies vaccinations into your EU Pet Passport. If at all possible go for a rabies vaccine with a 3-year duration - it will simplify getting your future rabies vaccinations done in the EU.

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[maz]

Okay thanks maz so someone checks it going into EU (either in UK before crossing or EU after).

Now I've got to work out what I do about his annual injections! I can either let my UK vet do them and enter into the UK Passport as of now or get them done whilst in EU, but this then begs the question that does not entering his regular injections in the EU Passport actually make any difference or cause problems? Worming seems to be what UK authorities are looking for and that wouldn't (shouldn't?) be a problem, just do as before but it goes in the EU passport. Rabies boosters could go in both, UK when the UK is due and EU when EU booster is due. As far as I am aware boosters every, say, 18 months won't have any health consequences for the dog. Will it? But there again, I don't suppose there's any need to keep the UK Passport up to date any longer as the UK vet will have all the records anyway for the rabies booster.

Or failing that just bite the bullet and get an AHC, then hope that common sense eventually prevails and the UK Health authorities get themselves sorted out and put this ridiculous situation right!

Maybe I am overthinking this? Problem is, not having been to EU for couple of years I'm not really sure if we will be returning on the same basis as we did before Covid/Brexit.

Hi TerryL I have probably answered most of your questions in the reply I just did to x17ken

I’m not a fan of giving dogs any more vaccinations than they really need but it does seem that most dogs tolerate fairly frequent rabies boosters without problem. However obtaining 3-year rabies boosters is probably the best route to follow.

Re ‘common sense prevailing’: that will only happen if we become Part 1 listed rather than Part 2. That way we can revert to issuing our own Pet Passports again. However I can’t see that happening until the UK commits to adhering to EU animal health regulations, which is what the other Part 1 listed countries have done.

 

[x17ken]

There is the exception that a UK vet can complete the worming section if you are going for a less than 5-day trip to the EU (to avoid having to find a vet to do the worming on the way back)

Good to know.

 

[Djenks]

This was a really useful thread when comment was limited to those asking questions about pet passports and/or responding with actual experiences in this regard. What is it that prompts people to offer comment on what they ‘consider’ the French, Spanish or Belgian vets are doing and/or should do without their first actually going through the experience. It isn’t helpful.
Clearly there is a tightening up in some if not all EC countries so far as pet passports for British owners are concerned. We were in Normandy last September and a Fecamp vet was quite willing to provide pet passports for our two dogs at that time (subject to medical examination and rabies booster). We didn’t have time but I contacted the vet when we returned to France earlier this year and asked if she could help. She told me that they were having to tighten procedures and would only be able to help if I could provide a local address (a camp site address, she advised, would not suffice).
We continued our journey southwards into Spain and tried again on the east coast at Cambrils. The vet we saw there was happy to help us but he too stated that we needed to provide him with a local address (and that a camp site address would not be acceptable). Fortunately, we were able to provide the address of a friend who has lived in the area for years and the vet proceeded to issue us with the required pet passports (at a very good price). He seemed most sympathetic to our situation.
So, it can still be done (and it is very inexpensive especially when compared with the AHC approach now required in the UK) but, to be certain, try and obtain an EC (local) address.
One thing is for sure - going forward it isn’t going to get any easier (no matter what the would be pundits say).

 

[maz]

This was a really useful thread when comment was limited to those asking questions about pet passports and/or responding with actual experiences in this regard. What is it that prompts people to offer comment on what they ‘consider’ the French, Spanish or Belgian vets are doing and/or should do without their first actually going through the experience. It isn’t helpful.
Clearly there is a tightening up in some if not all EC countries so far as pet passports for British owners are concerned. We were in Normandy last September and a Fecamp vet was quite willing to provide pet passports for our two dogs at that time (subject to medical examination and rabies booster). We didn’t have time but I contacted the vet when we returned to France earlier this year and asked if she could help. She told me that they were having to tighten procedures and would only be able to help if I could provide a local address (a camp site address, she advised, would not suffice).
We continued our journey southwards into Spain and tried again on the east coast at Cambrils. The vet we saw there was happy to help us but he too stated that we needed to provide him with a local address (and that a camp site address would not be acceptable). Fortunately, we were able to provide the address of a friend who has lived in the area for years and the vet proceeded to issue us with the required pet passports (at a very good price). He seemed most sympathetic to our situation.
So, it can still be done (and it is very inexpensive especially when compared with the AHC approach now required in the UK) but, to be certain, try and obtain an EC (local) address.
One thing is for sure - going forward it isn’t going to get any easier (no matter what the would be pundits say).

Not too sure just what comments you consider to be ‘unhelpful’ in this thread. If any of them are mine I can assure you that I have ‘been through the experience’ myself - and obtained a French pet passport for my dog.

What would be helpful for others is if those that have been refused a pet passport or required to comply with certain conditions could ask those vets just what ‘law’ or ‘directive’ or whatever they are being constrained by. Actual EU legislation on the subject has not changed since 2013. Mention is often made of these ‘new requirements’ but nothing seems to be known about their origin ……..

 

[yodeli]

Hi all!
Just had I-Cad on the phone. I insisted on the fact we needed an e-mail so that everyone could refer to it, and also that a lot of you wanted to leave the UK for a holiday and that the timing was very important!
It's going to be done apparently on wednesday this week.
So just a bit more patience and you should have all the answers needed.
Cross your fingers!

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[maz]

Hi all!
Just had I-Cad on the phone. I insisted on the fact we needed an e-mail so that everyone could refer to it, and also that a lot of you wanted to leave the UK for a holiday and that the timing was very important!
It's going to be done apparently on wednesday this week.
So just a bit more patience and you should have all the answers needed.
Cross your fingers!

Many thanks for that, Frankie. I have copied your post over into the I-cad thread to keep everything together.

https://www.motorhomefun.co.uk/forum/threads/i-cad-what’s-it-all-about.260645/#post-4996037

 

[MartinandBev]

We live in Spain and when we went to register our dog, and get his passport we were sent away to get an updated padrón, copies of our residency and proof of address before they would entertain issuing a EU PP, our vet said there were stringent new rules around people proving their residence in order to get an EU passport

please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just relaying what we had to do

 

[maz]

We live in Spain and when we went to register our dog, and get his passport we were sent away to get an updated padrón, copies of our residency and proof of address before they would entertain issuing a EU PP, our vet said there were stringent new rules around people proving their residence in order to get an EU passport

please don’t shoot the messenger, I’m just relaying what we had to do

That is interesting, and thank you. But it would be even more interesting to know just what these ‘stringent new rules’ are and where they are written. Next time you are in the vets could you ask them for us please?

 

[MartinandBev]

That is interesting, and thank you. But it would be even more interesting to know just what these ‘stringent new rules’ are and where they are written. Next time you are in the vets could you ask them for us please?

Will try and pop in this week, he is a friendly guy so don’t see any issues

 

[maz]

Will try and pop in this week, he is a friendly guy so don’t see any issues

That would be great. Thank you.

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