Pets Exports
When travelling with pet dogs, cats or ferrets, the rules you must follow depend on the country you are going to or coming from. Some moves may require an Export Health Certificate (EHC). The details below are designed to help you know what is required for your move.
Note: the term ‘pet’ on this page generally refers to dogs, cats or ferrets. For advice on travelling with any other type of pet please contact DAERA Trade Exports by e-mail.
Before you start
General Advice on Travelling with Pets
Detailed information on travelling with your pet, including the Pet Travel Scheme and moving between NI and GB is available here:
Travelling to GB
No EHC is required to take your pet to GB. The only requirement is that dogs are microchipped if they are over 8 weeks old. If returning with your pet to NI there are no additional requirements for NI residents.
Moving Pets within or through Europe
The Pet Travel Scheme is designed to facilitate the movement of up to FIVE pets travelling with their owner for non-commercial travel using pet passports only with no additional certification required.
An EHC is required to move pets within or through the EU if the move is classified as ‘commercial’. This classification is not always as simple as it sounds, please check the details below to determine the classification of your move.
Non-commercial – The movement of a pet (dog, cat, ferret) with no change of ownership and with the owner, or an authorised agent of the owner (e.g. friend or pet travel company). The pet may travel up to 5 days before or after the owner. You may move up to 5 pets under the Pet Travel Scheme.
Commercial moves – Any movement of a pet (dog, cat, ferret) where there is a change of ownership. This does not necessarily require money to change hands so rehoming an animal for free to a new owner would be considered a commercial move. Pets travelling more than 5 days before or after their owners are considered as a commercial move, as is the movement of more than 5 pets at one time. You may be able to apply for an exemption in certain circumstances e.g. if you are travelling to a show or exhibition. Pet travel rules, including the exemption rules, are provided at Travelling with Pets.
Non-commercial pet exports
A valid EU pet passport is all that is required for travel within the EU.
There will be two types of pet passport in circulation, and both are valid if completed correctly. The first type is a re-labelled pet passport, as shown in the first photo. The second is a new EU Northern Ireland (XI) pet passport, as shown in the second photo. Details on how the pet passport should be completed can be found on EU Pet Travel Scheme - How to Complete Pet Passports, and can be used as assurance that the document is legal and completed correctly to allow for travel. Although the relabelled Pet Passport, as shown below in the first image, has GB prefix at the bottom of each page, it is still a legal EU Pet Passport for Northern Ireland.
The newer pet passports, which are not relabelled and use the Northern Ireland prefix XI at the bottom of each page, are shown in the second image.
Requirements for Commercial movement of pets to European Union (EU) Member States or to a Third Country through an EU Member State (including Ireland)
This type of move will require an Intra Trade Animal Health Certificate (sometimes referred to as an ITAHC) arranged through the EU trade platform known as Traces NT, and a valid pet passport. Your premises will need to be registered and listed as an export premises on Traces NT. A link to the required information, including how to apply for premises registration, is provided below. It is free to register.
Completing an Export Health Certificate (EHC) application for a Third Country i.e. non-EU countries
An Export Health Certificate (EHC) is usually required if the final destination of the animals is a non-EU country, whether the export is commercial or non-commercial.
You can check if an EHC is available using Defra form finder(external link opens in a new window / tab). You can search for the destination country in search bar. If no EHC is available for the country you wish to travel to please contact Daeratradeexports@daera-ni.gov.uk for advice
To apply to use an available EHC you should downland a copy of the current Export Health Certificate (EHC) onto your desktop. NOTE: The earliest you can apply is 10 days before the planned date of export.
You (the pet owner/exporter) then complete the first part of the EHC (exporter, pet and recipient details). When completing EHC templates obtained from Form Finder or the DAERA website you MUST use dedicated pdf reader software to do so. At present, the Department recommends Adobe Acrobat Reader, which can be downloaded for free at the Adobe Website.
Next submit your application. This can be accessed via the green button at the end of this page (see screen shot below)
Follow the on-screen instructions and make sure you indicate the correct authorised private veterinary practitioner (aPVP/vet) who is responsible for issuing the final EHC. If your practice is not available from the dropdown menu you can add it manually. You will be asked to upload the EHC application to DECS.
You will receive a confirmation email and reference number for your application. DAERA will process your application and forward a certificate to the vet you have nominated to issue the final EHC.
Guidance on using the tool is available in the DECS (formerly DECOL) exporter’s instructions at the link below:
Important Note: The version of the certificate you download from Form Finder is NOT to be used by your vet to certify your pet. You must submit an application via DECS which will generate a certifiable copy with a unique authorised certificate number.
If you need help to complete an application for an Export Health Certificate (EHC) please contact your Armagh’s regional DAERA Direct Office by emailing post.armagh-dvo@daera-ni.gov.uk for assistance.
Notes for Guidance (NFG) for each certificate are available via the Defra Form Finder(external link opens in a new window / tab)). These guidance notes are primarily designed to be read by the vet who will sign the certificate but it is advisable for you to familiarise yourself with them as well to ascertain if import permits or importing authority approvals are required. If there are additional requirements these should be obtained from the importing authorities prior to applying for an EHC and uploaded along with all other application documents via DECS. You should advise your vet to read all available guidance before completing any certificates.
The NFG may also advise you need to complete an Owner/exporter declaration. Where one is needed it can be obtained from the Armagh DAERA Office. daeradirect.armagh@daera-ni.gov.uk.
Your transport company may need a statement from your vet confirming that your pet is fit to travel. Check with the country you’re travelling to for information about any extra documents you’ll need to enter with your pet.
Exporting Cats or Dogs to Australia
If exporting cats or dogs to Australia there are additional stringent steps required by both the exporter and the certifying aPVP. Further information on this may be found on the Pet Exports to Australia page.