[Update September 22 at 15:50 – A Connexion reader has informed us that she was quoted £285 for an AHC this year, considerably more than the approximately £100 which has previously been suggested.]
A reader has informed how she was knowledgeable that the journey documentation she had for her cat to board a ferry from the UK to France couldn’t be accepted regardless that it was appropriate.
Rachel*, a retiree who lives in Devon, was travelling from Plymouth to Roscoff on July 2 to spend the summer time in her second dwelling in Dordogne along with her companion, two teenage granddaughters and pet cat, Polly.
“Earlier than I left, I contacted Brittany Ferries and requested them to examine the EU pet passport. I obtained a number of emails again from them however they didn’t not reply the query, beginning in June,” she informed The Connexion.
“I despatched them a replica of the passport and so they didn’t reply, so – fortuitously – I went and obtained an Animal Well being Certificates (AHC) too.”
Individuals travelling between the UK and the EU with a pet similar to a cat or canine will need to have both an EU pet passport or an AHC. It isn’t usually essential to have each.
A British vet had additionally informed Rachel that her EU pet passport was all so as, however she needed to make sure that the cat could be accepted on board the ship, which is why she paid £130 for the AHC as properly.
“The cat may be very particular to my autistic granddaughter, and if we had misplaced the cat as a result of we weren’t capable of journey with it, she would have been devastated,” she mentioned.
Rachel’s cat Polly was practically refused boarding on a ferry from the UK to France, regardless of having the proper documentation
Points with the date of microchip studying
“Brittany Ferries had nonetheless not obtained again to me to substantiate that the passport was OK, so we headed off to the ferry.
“The person on the gate mentioned: ‘Sorry, you may’t come by means of as a result of the microchip date is just not entered appropriately.”
Below EU guidelines, a pet should be microchipped earlier than or similtaneously it receives its rabies vaccination as a result of this ensures that the animal is recognized earlier than it receives the vaccine.
On web page three of the EU pet passport is the part: Date of software or studying of the transponder (referring to the identification chip, with ‘software’ referring to the date it was implanted).
Rachel’s cat had been microchipped earlier than it had its rabies vaccination, however its data contained the ‘date of studying’ (‘date de lecture’ in French) of the chip versus the ‘date of implantation/software’. This studying date was the identical as that because the rabies vaccination.
Some vets in France will rating out the ‘date of software’ of the microchip in the event that they have no idea it, and as a substitute solely insert the ‘studying date’, which implies the date they themselves scanned the microchip.
They’ll then be more likely to mark the studying date as regardless of the day’s date is. This isn’t an issue in the event that they then go on to present the animal a rabies booster shot.
Subsequently, in Rachel’s case, the cat’s documentation did fulfil the factors for journey into the EU.
Nonetheless, the Brittany Ferries workers member mentioned that the microchip part was introduced wrongly and so couldn’t be accepted.
Learn extra: Why was my canine’s EU pet passport not accepted on UK to France ferry?
“He was adamant that he wouldn’t let me by means of.”
Rachel mentioned that solely when she confirmed the check-in official her AHC was she allowed to board the ferry with the cat.
In case you encounter issues when attempting to board a ferry as a result of your pet’s passport solely exhibits the microchip ‘studying date’, you may present the check-in official these EU guidelines.
They state: “The date of administration of the [rabies] vaccine [must] not precede the date of marking or studying of the transponder,” thus displaying that each dates ought to be accepted.
‘Very distressing’
“After I obtained to France, I phoned the vet close to our home and he or she mentioned that the EU pet passport was positive,” Rachel mentioned. “She supplied me one other one free of charge and I obtained the cat vaccinated towards rabies once more so she was all updated.
“All of the vets have been great.
“So then I attempted to contact Brittany Ferries to examine all of it once more and guarantee that it was all OK.” This time, she did obtain a response confirming that her documentation was so as.
Rachel additionally mentioned that the Brittany Ferries workers at Cherbourg have been “excellent” when the household have been returning to the UK this month, however that the expertise in Plymouth has put her off travelling along with her cat once more.
“It added plenty of stress and I would not do it once more and I’m fearful that different folks might be caught out. If somebody has pushed up from Spain [to the port] after which is informed: ‘Sorry, your cat or canine can’t come on the boat’, what are they going to do?” she mentioned.
“It’s a very distressing state of affairs. I’d hate for a pet to be put down as a result of they have been refused boarding.
“What I would really like for everyone who takes a pet is for Brittany Ferries to have a course of the place they examine the passport earlier than” the passengers arrive on the boat.
Rachel steered that prospects might be requested to add a picture of their pet’s documentation once they add it to the reserving, and that this might be authorised upfront of journey to keep away from uncertainty.
The Connexion has contacted Brittany Ferries for remark however has not obtained a response.
Guidelines on travelling between the UK and EU with a pet
Since Brexit, British pet-owners have two choices in the event that they want to journey to the EU with their animals.
Learn additionally: France journey: what are the principles for flying with a pet?
They will go to a vet within the UK for an animal well being certificates (AHC), legitimate for as much as 4 months for a single journey, onward journey within the EU and re-entry. These can sometimes value round £100 every, plus any therapies and vaccinations the pet may have.
Or, they will use an EU pet passport if they’ve one.
An EU pet passport issued in France will value between €15 to €20, and can be utilized for as much as 28 journeys, together with to the UK, the place it’s legitimate.
It ought to be famous, nonetheless, that since Brexit took impact, it is just attainable to acquire one among these passports if you’re in France for a minimum of three months, which might rule out most guests, who’re solely entitled to spend as much as 90 consecutive days within the nation earlier than having to use for a visa.
So, those that are resident in France or who’ve a visa permitting them to remain for greater than three months might get hold of one among these passports, however the pet should be registered by the proprietor on the French I-CAD register. Moreover British vets mustn’t have ‘enter’ into it, ie. if the pet wants a vaccine booster, it ought to be carried out by a French vet, for instance, The Connexion was beforehand informed.
Nonetheless, individuals who can solely spend as much as 90 days at a time in France usually are not eligible.
The Connexion has, although, heard of French vets issuing non-French residents with EU pet passports.
Rachel already had an EU pet passport acquired earlier than these post-Brexit guidelines got here into impact.
It’s not attainable to make use of a UK-issued EU pet passport, and if you’re acquiring your documentation within the nation it should be an AHC.
Learn extra: Pet passports: Second-home house owners in France left ‘upset’ by stalemate
With a purpose to have a sound EU pet passport or AHC, your pet:
- Should be microchipped, and the date of implantation or studying appropriately entered within the doc. The date of implantation should be previous to the animal’s rabies vaccination
- Will need to have had its rabies vaccination, and the date of the inoculation should be entered appropriately within the documentation.
Pets should be 12 weeks outdated to have the rabies vaccination and should obtain the injection a minimum of 21 days earlier than journey.
- Will need to have a tapeworm remedy earlier than reentering the UK (canines solely). This remedy should be administered greater than 24 however lower than 120 hours earlier than the scheduled arrival time within the UK and should be appropriately entered within the pet passport
If you’re taking a canine on board a ferry, it ought to put on a muzzle when outdoors of your automobile or the kennel.
People who find themselves taking their pet on board a Brittany Ferries ship and who’ve a question ought to contact [email protected].
*Identify modified on the request of the interviewee.
Have you ever skilled points when attempting to journey between France and the UK together with your pet? Share them with us by way of [email protected]
Associated articles
Can I get rabies vaccine in UK for EU pet passport issued in France?
Do I would like deworming stamp on my pet passport for UK to France journey?
