What Is in a Pet Health Certificate? A Plain-Language Breakdown

The official pet health certificate is arguably the most important document in international pet travel. A mistake on it can hold up an entire journey. Understanding what it contains helps you check it for errors before departure.

What it is

A pet health certificate is a legal document issued by a licensed vet and countersigned or endorsed by a government veterinary authority. It certifies that the animal has been examined, meets the health requirements of the destination country, and is fit to travel. For most international moves from the UK, the EU AHC (official animal health certificate) format is used.

Section 1: Animal identification

This section covers:

• Species (dog, cat, ferret)
• Breed (as stated, not breed-verified – the vet records what you tell them)
• Sex (male/female, neutered or intact)
• Date of birth
• Coat colour and distinguishing features
• Microchip number (ISO 11784/11785 standard, 15 digits)
• Microchip location and date of implantation

Check: the microchip number must match exactly what is in the pet. Ask the vet to scan the chip and verify the number printed on the certificate. A single digit error will cause problems at the border.

Section 2: Owner information

Name, address, and contact details of the owner or the authorised person responsible for the animal during transport.

Section 3: Vaccination history

• Rabies vaccination: product name, manufacturer, batch number, date of vaccination, date of expiry
• Other required vaccines (if applicable for the destination)

Check: the rabies vaccination must be within its valid period at time of travel. If it expires during a long sea journey or quarantine period, you may have a problem.

Section 4: Titre test result (where required)

For countries that require a rabies antibody titre test: the laboratory that ran the test, the date of the blood sample, the date of the result, the result (in IU/ml), and whether the animal meets the minimum threshold (0.5 IU/ml).

Check: the date of the blood sample (not the result date) must be at least three months before arrival where required.

Section 5: Treatments (tapeworm/ectoparasites)

For destinations like the UK, Norway, Sweden, and others: documentation of tapeworm treatment (praziquantel dose, date, time of administration). This section may also include tick treatment records.

Check: for UK entry from the EU, the tapeworm treatment must be administered between 24 and 120 hours before arrival. The certificate records the time of treatment, not just the date.

Section 6: Veterinary attestation

The vet signs and dates the certificate, confirming:

• The animal was clinically examined on the stated date
• The animal showed no signs of disease or infection
• The animal is fit to travel

This signature and the vet’s official stamp are what make the document legally valid.

Section 7: Government endorsement

For most international moves, a government authority (APHA in the UK, USDA APHIS in the USA) must countersign or stamp the certificate. This adds a layer of official authentication. In the UK, APHA endorsement currently takes 24 to 48 hours online.

Before you travel

Read the entire health certificate carefully. Check: microchip number, vaccination dates, expiry dates, tapeworm treatment timing (if required), and owner name. If anything is wrong, contact your vet immediately – some errors can be corrected by the vet before APHA endorsement; others require a new certificate.