Taking your pet back to the EU with an EU pet passport.

[Tebs]

When you take your pet back into the EU, from the UK, with a Portuguese EU pet passport, what's the procedure with regard to worming, fit to travel, fees and requirements? (last time we went abroad we had the UK health check paperwork)

 

[Apacheman]

Not correct - as the dog will have had a rabies jab before it left the UK the original jab will be valid and any subsequent jabs will be boosters, not a new 'start from scratch'. The officials may want to see the AHC with the original jab on but the owners can use the PPs to ensure that it is okay for future trips, better to find out if there's a problem with it before leaving the EU as there's then time to sort it out instead of when trying to leave the UK.

Would that not complicate things using both an AHC and an EU PP at customs? Perhaps the solution would be to get a PP earlier in the trip together with a rabies jab. Before returning get the PP worm stamped and use it instead of the AHC. That should satisfy all conditions. Could even use the same vets going south and returning north. Others have obviously done it and now use EU PPs.

 

[Saucer]

I think the strict rules are that a new EU passport for doggie is supposed to be based on residency, but it seems that is being ignored by some EU vets

 

[Tebs]

Thank you for all your replies. One thing I would mention, when we last travelled back to the UK from France our dog had his wormer from a vet in Rouen at 14.00 on a Monday. We then tralled up to Calais to get a Shuttle at 11.00 am back to UK on the Tuesday. We were told we couldn't travel until 24 hours had elapsed from the time the vet signed our dogs passport. So we had to board a later Shuttle. They really are that strict with the times.

 

[Brummie64]

I think the strict rules are that a new EU passport for doggie is supposed to be based on residency, but it seems that is being ignored by some EU vets

We travel with our 2 cockers, on Belgium EU pet passports, that clearly shows our UK address, no problems whatsoever, using ferries or the tunnel.
The issue arises if you try to get a French pet passport, French vets demand that your dogs microchip number is registered on their database (i-Cad) before they will issue a passport. Registration requires a French address, so unless you are resident, have a holiday home, or have a friends address you can use, you cannot get a French pet passport.
Other EU countries don’t have this requirement, therefore go to Belgium, Spain, Germany, or anywhere but France to get a passport.

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[Joethejoiner]

Not correct - as the dog will have had a rabies jab before it left the UK the original jab will be valid and any subsequent jabs will be boosters, not a new 'start from scratch'. The officials may want to see the AHC with the original jab on but the owners can use the PPs to ensure that it is okay for future trips, better to find out if there's a problem with it before leaving the EU as there's then time to sort it out instead of when trying to leave the UK.

Sorry it is correct , your rabies jab on the AHC is what you present on your return. Unless your rabies jab on your new EU passport is more than 21 days old .

 

[Zigisla]

Sorry it is correct , your rabies jab on the AHC is what you present on your return. Unless your rabies jab on your new EU passport is more than 21 days old .

We had our foster dog rabies jabbed and an EU passport on a Monday and travelled back to the UK on the passport on the following Wednesday ie 2 days. All I did was present her out of date Bosnian passport to show that her Rabies was a booster not a starter jab.

 

[Speve]

Remember, even with new passport, you will have to use AHC for your return. New rabies jab has to be done 21 days in advance

Not correct we came back in May this year with new passport and didn’t even show AHC the booster for three years was only two weeks old

 

[Richard n Ann]

Wow, been reading through this thread that keeps popping up.. You're all dog mad get a bird, they are very loving and no hassle whatsoever travelling through borders

 

[Brummie64]

Sorry it is correct , your rabies jab on the AHC is what you present on your return. Unless your rabies jab on your new EU passport is more than 21 days old .

Unless the vet that issues the passport transfers the original rabies jab to the passport from the AHC, and then gives them a booster. Which is what our Belgium vet did, so the passport clearly showed 2 jabs.
We returned to the UK 3 days later, and only had to show passport, not the AHC.

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[maz]

I think the strict rules are that a new EU passport for doggie is supposed to be based on residency, but it seems that is being ignored by some EU vets

Not so. Residency has never been a requirement for obtaining or using an EU Pet Passport. This has been discussed on here in many past threads.

 

[maz]

We travel with our 2 cockers, on Belgium EU pet passports, that clearly shows our UK address, no problems whatsoever, using ferries or the tunnel.
The issue arises if you try to get a French pet passport, French vets demand that your dogs microchip number is registered on their database (i-Cad) before they will issue a passport. Registration requires a French address, so unless you are resident, have a holiday home, or have a friends address you can use, you cannot get a French pet passport.
Other EU countries don’t have this requirement, therefore go to Belgium, Spain, Germany, or anywhere but France to get a passport.

Not all French vets 'demand' I-cad registration or a French address - some understand that this is totally irrelevant to a non-resident dog. Unfortunately they are in the minority. I-cad registration has also been discussed on here in many past threads.

 

[maz]

Unless the vet that issues the passport transfers the original rabies jab to the passport from the AHC, and then gives them a booster. Which is what our Belgium vet did, so the passport clearly showed 2 jabs.
We returned to the UK 3 days later, and only had to show passport, not the AHC.

That is actually overkill, as you only need one or the other. However, if a further rabies booster is a requirement for issuing the Pet Passport there is no harm in it.

If your AHC is still valid it makes sense to travel back on that anyway as it saves using up a worming space in the new Pet Passport.

 

[maz]

Any rabies vaccination given to a dog that has recently arrived in the EU on an AHC is going to be a booster, hence the 21-day waiting period is irrelevant. The 21 days is only required for a dog's initial rabies vaccination or if you have allowed the previous vaccination to expire. The AHC provides proof of continuity of vaccination.

 

[Shrimp]

If the Rabies jab has lapsed-out of date, you will have to get a Rabies jab in UK wait the 21 days (I think it’s 21) get an AHC go to an EU country, whilst there get an EU vet to give another Rabies jab (although they won’t do another jab if it’s too close to the date of the UK one) and get the EU passport.

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[maz]

If anyone reading this thread is planning on obtaining an EU Pet Passport, I wrote a long and boring post yesterday that covers all (I think) that you need to know. You can find it here: Tips on obtaining and using an EU Pet Passport

 

[Joethejoiner]

Unless the vet that issues the passport transfers the original rabies jab to the passport from the AHC, and then gives them a booster. Which is what our Belgium vet did, so the passport clearly showed 2 jabs.
We returned to the UK 3 days later, and only had to show passport, not the AHC.

Yea so rabies more than 21 days on passport .
If not you present AHC with older , but up to date rabies ,

 

[Tebs]

Note that when returning to the UK, you need to see a vet to get the worming tablets, and the paperwork to say it was taken by the dog. You will need to wait at least 24 hours from the time the tablet was taken to getting on the ferry/tunnel. And that means 24 hours minimum, not 23 hours 59 minutes. Once taken, it's valid for about 5 days, I think.

Yes , we also fell foul of the minimum time!!
As the vet in Rouen couldn't offer us a morning appointment, only 2pm, for the wormer, hence we then had no leeway as Shuttle was booked for the next day.
Upon arriving at Le Shuttle for a mid morning train, we were then re booked onto a later Shuttle and had to 'sit it out' in the French departure area carpark for 4 hours .
Until the 24 hrs had expired.
Which we deserved, as we'd messed up, we were lucky it was dry and sunny and could make a cuppa.
As there are no facilities there, apart from loos, without exiting the site and going into Calais...

So be warned!
Learn from our mistake..

 

[Tebs]

Not correct - as the dog will have had a rabies jab before it left the UK the original jab will be valid and any subsequent jabs will be boosters, not a new 'start from scratch'. The officials may want to see the AHC with the original jab on but the owners can use the PPs to ensure that it is okay for future trips, better to find out if there's a problem with it before leaving the EU as there's then time to sort it out instead of when trying to leave the UK.

Yes.
This happened to us too..
We discovered that Rufus' brand new Portuguese PP hadn't had Section XII filled in by the Portuguese vet, detailing the Microchip implantation date!!
But the French Pet Centre were happy to accept his pre Brext EU PP, plus the AHC.
So it wasn't a problem.

Other than also having to wait another 4 hrs for his wormer to be past 24 hrs!

Then upon our return having to communicate with the Portuguese vet, and get the PP sent back and forth by courier to be corrected! Which took a while!

Hello Minxy we met you with Rufus at Puerto Mazarron!
In our blue Ford Transit van...

 

[Minxy]

Would that not complicate things using both an AHC and an EU PP at customs? Perhaps the solution would be to get a PP earlier in the trip together with a rabies jab. Before returning get the PP worm stamped and use it instead of the AHC. That should satisfy all conditions. Could even use the same vets going south and returning north. Others have obviously done it and now use EU PPs.

You could do that, however we got one for Bella towards the end of our 2 month trip to Spain, from memory I believe the rabies jab was shown to be a booster so no need to see the AHC.

Sorry it is correct , your rabies jab on the AHC is what you present on your return. Unless your rabies jab on your new EU passport is more than 21 days old .

Not if the rabies jab is down as a booster.

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[Minxy]

Hello Minxy we met you with Rufus at Puerto Mazarron!
In our blue Ford Transit van...

Shhhhhh don't say that ... The others might think I've gone up in the world hob knobbing with van dwellers!

 

[Minnie]

Not strictly true as has been pointed out numerous times on here. A UK vet can administer worming tablets for a short stay journey in to EU. They cannot have anything to do with the rabies jab side of the pet passport.

My English vet was too scared to enter normal annual vaccinations onto the EU passport in case that made it invalid irrespective of the rabies vaccination

 

[1967bowesj]

My English vet was too scared to enter normal annual vaccinations onto the EU passport in case that made it invalid irrespective of the rabies vaccination

Just goes to show not all vets know what they are doing, there’s no need to get any annual vaccinations entered in to the passport. It’s for rabies and worming only.

 

[Zigisla]

My English vet was too scared to enter normal annual vaccinations onto the EU passport in case that made it invalid irrespective of the rabies vaccination

Not a case of “in case it would” it most certainly would have.
Our little foster dog Monty had all of his annual jabs added to his passport by his previous adopted family’s UK vet. When we went to take him to France last month we had to get an AHC as his PP was invalid.

 

[Minxy]

My English vet was too scared to enter normal annual vaccinations onto the EU passport in case that made it invalid irrespective of the rabies vaccination

That's good, the ONLY thing that a UK vet should ever enter is the worming but that's only needed if you are doing a short trip so will be back before the 5 days is up, they shouldn't enter anything else ... nothing, nowt, nada, zilch.

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[maz]

Not a case of “in case it would” it most certainly would have.
Our little foster dog Monty had all of his annual jabs added to his passport by his previous adopted family’s UK vet. When we went to take him to France last month we had to get an AHC as his PP was invalid.

Very interested to read this as it is the first case I've heard of where having 'other' vaccinations entered into an EU Pet Passport by a GB vet has rendered it invalid. Were you issued with a Non-compliance document and, if so, which box on it was ticked, please? Also, was there anything else wrong with the Pet Passport?

It is also a bit surprising that Pet Reception even noticed the other vaccinations page as it is well away from the rabies section. Was this at Eurotunnel?

The general opinion on Facebook pet travel groups [waits for howls of derision to subside ] is that because the 'Other vaccinations' section requires completion by a 'Veterinarian' rather than an 'Authorised Veterinarian', it is ok for GB vets to complete it. I have always kept my dog's other vaccinations on a separate record card, as they are not relevant for travel, but a few on Facebook have mentioned that some campsites want to see these other vaccinations and so they have them entered into the Pet Passport for convenience.

The APHA OV instructions mention that GB vets can only complete the tapeworm and clinical examination sections of an EU Pet Passport. No mention is made at all of the other vaccinations, but then they are not needed for travel so why would they? It might be interesting to ask the question of the APHA.

 

[Zigisla]

Very interested to read this as it is the first case I've heard of where having 'other' vaccinations entered into an EU Pet Passport by a GB vet has rendered it invalid. Were you issued with a Non-compliance document and, if so, which box on it was ticked, please? Also, was there anything else wrong with the Pet Passport?

It is also a bit surprising that Pet Reception even noticed the other vaccinations page as it is well away from the rabies section. Was this at Eurotunnel?

The general opinion on Facebook pet travel groups [waits for howls of derision to subside ] is that because the 'Other vaccinations' section requires completion by a 'Veterinarian' rather than an 'Authorised Veterinarian', it is ok for GB vets to complete it. I have always kept my dog's other vaccinations on a separate record card, as they are not relevant for travel, but a few on Facebook have mentioned that some campsites want to see these other vaccinations and so they have them entered into the Pet Passport for convenience.

The APHA OV instructions mention that GB vets can only complete the tapeworm and clinical examination sections of an EU Pet Passport. No mention is made at all of the other vaccinations, but then they are not needed for travel so why would they? It might be interesting to ask the question of the APHA.

View attachment 968162

When we fostered Monty, we got all his documentation including his passport. Noting the other vaccines were filled in by both his Bosnian vet and his UK vet I asked the question to APHA and had the following reply;-

Good Morning

If the UK vet has entered any Vaccination in the passport then yes this will be invalid, they will need to have this updated in the EU to ensure this is a Valid documents to travel.

UK vets can not add ANY vaccinations in the Pet passport.

Thank you for contacting the Customer Contact Team. Below are some useful links and information that may help. Please respond to our very short customer satisfaction survey - it takes less than a minute to complete and will help us improve our service.



Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Complaints and help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

 

[Odd-no-more]

We're planning a 3 month trip to Spain with our dogs. We have just had rabies jabs done by our vet, at a cost of £168 for the two. We are using Passpets in Havant for the AHC at a cost of £150 for the two. To avoid this cost on future trips we will be getting them EU passports in Spain. I'm hoping we can use the rabies jabs they had here, 3 years, if not hopefully a 3 year booster in Spain.

 

[maz]

When we fostered Monty, we got all his documentation including his passport. Noting the other vaccines were filled in by both his Bosnian vet and his UK vet I asked the question to APHA and had the following reply;-

Good Morning

If the UK vet has entered any Vaccination in the passport then yes this will be invalid, they will need to have this updated in the EU to ensure this is a Valid documents to travel.

UK vets can not add ANY vaccinations in the Pet passport.

Thank you for contacting the Customer Contact Team. Below are some useful links and information that may help. Please respond to our very short customer satisfaction survey - it takes less than a minute to complete and will help us improve our service.



Bringing your pet dog, cat or ferret to Great Britain: Complaints and help - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Thank you for that. So the GB-given other vaccinations were not picked up as a non-compliance issue at Pet Reception.

Trawling back through past posts I managed to locate the one where you had first mentioned this subject: Annual inoculations in an EU Pet Passport

That was posted when we were travelling around Italy with intermittent web access so I missed it originally.

The reply from APHA is interesting as it certainly seems to say that GB vets are not allowed to enter the other vaccinations into an EU Pet Passport. However, the suggestion that this could be corrected by having these other vaccinations updated in the EU does not make sense because they are not needed for travel anyway. It would have been a much better reply if they had specified precisely the different requirements for rabies and other vaccinations. There seems to be great difficulty getting absolutely clear replies from any official source nowadays.

I also found another earlier post that mentions that the rabies in this particular Pet Passport had expired anyway, hence the need for an AHC (ignoring the B&H issue for the moment).
Own goal at the Tunnel tonight

Please note that I am not having a go at you in any way. It is a very interesting issue that you have raised. Thank you.

I suspect that I have OCD when it comes to Pet Passports, but something in me is not entirely convinced that the APHA statement 'UK vets can not add ANY vaccinations in the Pet Passport' is correct. From my personal standpoint it is not an issue as I always keep them separate anyway, but from an academic point of view I would like to find out the definitive answer .......

 

[Zigisla]

Thank you for that. So the GB-given other vaccinations were not picked up as a non-compliance issue at Pet Reception.

Trawling back through past posts I managed to locate the one where you had first mentioned this subject: Annual inoculations in an EU Pet Passport

That was posted when we were travelling around Italy with intermittent web access so I missed it originally.

The reply from APHA is interesting as it certainly seems to say that GB vets are not allowed to enter the other vaccinations into an EU Pet Passport. However, the suggestion that this could be corrected by having these other vaccinations updated in the EU does not make sense because they are not needed for travel anyway. It would have been a much better reply if they had specified precisely the different requirements for rabies and other vaccinations. There seems to be great difficulty getting absolutely clear replies from any official source nowadays.

I also found another earlier post that mentions that the rabies in this particular Pet Passport had expired anyway, hence the need for an AHC (ignoring the B&H issue for the moment).
Own goal at the Tunnel tonight

Please note that I am not having a go at you in any way. It is a very interesting issue that you have raised. Thank you.

I suspect that I have OCD when it comes to Pet Passports, but something in me is not entirely convinced that the APHA statement 'UK vets can not add ANY vaccinations in the Pet Passport' is correct. From my personal standpoint it is not an issue as I always keep them separate anyway, but from an academic point of view I would like to find out the definitive answer .......

I did have a reply previous to the above where she stated the same “update in the EU” bit so asked her to clarify what she meant and reiterated the fact it was the annual jabs and NOT the rabies I was talking about. The reply to that is the above. Didn’t see any point in pursuing it further.
On another note, as you reminded me of my own goal at the tunnel, APHA didn’t pick up on Bosnian passport not valid for travel to the EU then either.

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[maz]

I did have a reply previous to the above where she stated the same “update in the EU” bit so asked her to clarify what she meant and reiterated the fact it was the annual jabs and NOT the rabies I was talking about. The reply to that is the above. Didn’t see any point in pursuing it further.
On another note, as you reminded me of my own goal at the tunnel, APHA didn’t pick up on Bosnian passport not valid for travel to the EU then either.

If that was supposed to be the clarification, then I agree, no point in pursuing it further. However, if they missed the B&H issue then it does make you wonder just how much they can be relied on.

Initial research that I've just started shows that Section IX (other vaccinations) 'may be required by territories or third countries of destination which accept the passport'. This is taken from EU Reg 577/2013 and also appears inside the EU Pet Passport itself.

So that may mean Section IX should be completed by an EU vet but it doesn't specifically say so. Section IX requires completion by just a 'Veterinarian' as opposed to an 'Authorised Veterinarian'.

We already know that a non-EU vet can complete the worming and clinical examination sections. Interestingly, while the worming section requires only a 'Veterinarian', the clinical examination section requires an 'Authorised Veterinarian'. So it seems that we can't read too much into that as a deciding factor on whether the vet needs to be EU or non-EU.

The APHA 'Non-compliance' document lists 'Entries made in an EU Pet Passport by a Third Country Veterinarian (with the exception of the tapeworm section)' as a fail - Section 1 Item 4. Yet we know that GB vets can complete the clinical examination section as well.

The APHA 'Guidance for Authorised Pet Carriers and Checkers' makes no mention of checking Section IX for anything, presumably because the 'other vaccinations' are not relevant - so why would the completion of that section by a GB vet render the Pet Passport invalid?

I'm in danger of boring myself here as well as everybody else, but does anyone have any thoughts on the matter?