Written by Sharon Lambert | Wild River Campers Family
Here at Wild River Campers, we’re lucky to have a wonderful community of friends and fellow adventurers who share our love of campervan travel.
For this blog, we’re handing over to Sharon Lambert, a member of the Wild River Campers family who has travelled across Europe with her dogs on several occasions.
Sharon knows first-hand how daunting taking your dog abroad can feel, especially when you’re doing it for the first time. From organising rabies vaccinations and Animal Health Certificates to navigating ferry crossings and getting everything sorted for the journey home, she’s been through the process herself.
She’s put together this straightforward guide to help anyone planning their first European adventure with their four-legged companions.
Over to Sharon…
Travelling with Dogs on Ferries and the Channel Tunnel
Travelling abroad with dogs can feel really daunting the first time you do it. There seems to be a lot of paperwork, a lot of rules, and that slight fear that you’ll get all the way to the port and realise you’ve missed something important.
But honestly, once you understand the process, it is much simpler than it first looks.
This guide is written for ordinary dog owners travelling from Great Britain into Europe with their dogs — not people who already have property abroad, not people who already know the system inside out, and not people relying on EU pet passports. This is for general pet owners who need an Animal Health Certificate, often called an AHC.
Before you travel, always check the latest official guidance on GOV.UK or with DEFRA/APHA, as pet travel rules can change. At the moment, the main requirements for travelling to an EU country are that your dog is microchipped, has a valid rabies vaccination, and has the correct pet travel document.
Start with the rabies vaccination
The first thing to sort is your dog’s rabies vaccination.
Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old before they can have their rabies vaccination, and they must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination. If the microchip is done after the rabies vaccination, the rabies jab may not count for travel and your dog may need to be vaccinated again.
Once your dog has had their first rabies vaccination, you must wait at least 21 full days before travelling, although some vaccines may have a longer waiting period, so always check with your vet.
My advice would be to get the rabies vaccination done at least six weeks before you travel. That gives you breathing space. You do not want to be counting days right up to your ferry crossing or worrying that you have left it too late.
Your dog’s usual annual vaccinations are still a good idea, and we would always recommend keeping those up to date, but for pet travel the key vaccination requirement is the rabies vaccination.
You will need an Animal Health Certificate
If you are travelling from Great Britain to an EU country with your dog, cat or ferret, you will usually need an Animal Health Certificate. The AHC must be issued by an Official Veterinarian and is valid for entry into the EU for 10 days from the date it is issued. A new AHC is needed for each trip from Great Britain to the EU.
You can have up to five pets on one Animal Health Certificate, which is handy if, like us, you are travelling with more than one dog.
This certificate must be arranged before you travel. Do not leave it until the last minute if you can help it.
You can find full details of the requirements and validity periods in the government’s Animal Health Certificate guidance.
Finding the right vet for the paperwork
Not every vet can issue an Animal Health Certificate. It has to be signed by an Official Veterinarian, so it is worth checking early.
You can ask your normal vet, but another good option is to search for mobile pet travel vets in your area. We have personally used a mobile vet who met us close to home within the 10-day travel window. It meant we had the paperwork in our hands before setting off, which gave us peace of mind.
There are also vets near ferry ports and the Channel Tunnel who offer this service, but personally, I prefer having it sorted before we get anywhere near the port. That way, you can relax and enjoy the journey rather than adding another job to travel day.
Once you contact the vet issuing the AHC, they will usually ask your normal vet to send proof of your dog’s rabies vaccination and microchip details directly to them. A receipt or vaccination card may not be enough on its own, so be prepared for the information to go vet-to-vet.
The pet travel vet will ask for your date of departure and arrange the appointment so the certificate is issued within the correct time window.
The earlier you plan, the better. Last-minute appointments can be harder to get and may cost more.
At the port or tunnel
When you book your ferry or tunnel crossing, make sure your dogs are added to the booking in advance.
At passport control / check-in or pet reception, they may ask to see your Animal Health Certificate and scan your dog’s microchip. Sometimes they pass the scanner to you and ask you to scan your dog yourself. If you have more than one dog, they may clear the scanner between dogs and ask you to scan each one separately so they can check the chip number against the paperwork.
Do not panic if things happen slightly differently from one trip to the next. We have travelled before where very little seemed to happen on the way out of the UK, and we sat waiting for the ferry worrying that we had somehow missed a step. On another trip, the dogs were scanned properly before we boarded.
The main thing is to have your paperwork ready, know where your dogs are, and allow yourself plenty of time.
Dogs on the ferry
If your dogs are staying in your vehicle during the crossing, the ferry company will usually give you something to display in your windscreen showing that there are dogs on board.
Many ferries now also offer pet lounges. These usually cost a little extra, but they can be brilliant if your dogs cannot be left unattended in the vehicle. Some pet lounges have access to an outside area, and you may also have facilities like hot drinks, seating and charging points.
Our dogs are very used to travelling, so we leave them in the comfort of the van with access to water and a fan on them. Our friends’ dogs cannot be left unattended, so they use the pet lounge. It really comes down to your dogs, their temperament, and what makes the journey less stressful for everyone.
Arriving in Europe
Once you arrive in Europe, in our experience, there are no further dog checks as you drive off the ferry. The doors open, you roll off, and your adventure begins.
That said, you should still keep your paperwork safe and accessible throughout the trip. You will need it again, especially for your return journey.
Coming back to Great Britain
Before returning to Great Britain, your dog will usually need a tapeworm treatment given by a vet.
This treatment must be given not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours — 5 days — before you enter Great Britain. It must contain praziquantel or an equivalent proven to be effective against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm.
You can visit a vet abroad for this. Some people take their own worming tablet with them, but it must be the correct type, and the vet must be happy to administer it or witness it being given. The important part is that the EU vet records it properly on the Animal Health Certificate.
Make sure the vet fills in the correct section of the AHC, usually the Echinococcus treatment section. The paperwork should include the product name and manufacturer, the date and time of treatment, and the vet’s stamp and signature.
This is one of the most important parts of the whole process. If the wrong page is filled in, the time is missing, or the certificate is not stamped and signed properly, it can cause problems when you try to come home.
Always check the latest tapeworm treatment requirements for dogs before arranging your return journey.
Leaving Europe and returning to the UK
When you arrive at your return point — whether that is the ferry port or tunnel — your dog’s paperwork will be checked and your dogs will usually be scanned.
Once everything has been checked and you are allowed through, you should not normally be checked again when you leave the ferry or tunnel back in the UK. The checks have already been done before you board on the European side.
Our practical tips
The biggest thing is to plan ahead. Get the rabies vaccination sorted early, book your Animal Health Certificate appointment in plenty of time, and make sure you know when your dog needs their tapeworm treatment for the journey home.
Keep all your paperwork together in one folder and have it within easy reach at the port. Do not pack it away in the back of the van under four pairs of shoes, the dog food and the camping chairs. You will need it when you least want to be rummaging.
Also, think about your dog’s comfort. If the weather is hot, plan shaded stops, make sure they have water, and think carefully about whether they are better staying in the vehicle or going into a pet lounge with you.
Travelling abroad with dogs sounds complicated at first, but once you have done it, it becomes just another part of the adventure. With a bit of planning, the right paperwork and a calm approach, it is absolutely doable.
And honestly, there is something pretty special about rolling off the ferry with your dogs in the van, knowing the road ahead is yours to explore.
Just remember: rules can change, so always check the latest official guidance before you travel.
FAQ
Do I need an Animal Health Certificate to take my dog to France?
Yes. If you’re travelling from Great Britain to France with your dog and don’t have an applicable alternative travel document, you’ll need an Animal Health Certificate issued by an Official Veterinarian.
How long does an Animal Health Certificate last?
An Animal Health Certificate is valid for entry into the EU for 10 days from its issue date. It can then be used for onward travel within the EU and re-entry to Great Britain for up to six months, subject to the relevant conditions.
How far in advance should my dog have its rabies vaccination?
Your dog must be at least 12 weeks old before receiving its rabies vaccination. You must then wait at least 21 full days after the initial vaccination course, although some vaccines require longer. Sharon recommends arranging it at least six weeks before travelling to avoid any last-minute worries.
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment before returning to the UK?
In most cases, yes. When returning to Great Britain from France, your dog must receive the correct tapeworm treatment from a vet between 24 and 120 hours before arrival.
Save Our Travelling Abroad with Dogs Checklist
Planning your first European adventure with your dog?
We’ve put together a simple checklist covering everything from rabies vaccinations and Animal Health Certificates to ferry crossings and the all-important preparations for coming home.
Whether you’re heading off in your campervan or travelling by car, it’s a handy little reminder of what needs sorting before you set off.
Save our checklist on Instagram or Facebook so you’ve got it ready when planning your next adventure.
And remember, always check the latest DEFRA guidance before travelling.
Happy adventures from all of us at Wild River Campers!
About the Author – Sharon Lambert
Sharon is part of the Wild River Campers family and loves exploring Europe with her dogs. Having experienced the pet travel process herself on several occasions, she’s sharing her practical tips to help other dog owners feel more confident about taking their four-legged friends abroad.
This article is based on Sharon’s personal experiences. Pet travel regulations can change, so always check the latest official government guidance before travelling.
