How to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in Brighton
Planning to travel abroad with your pet from Brighton? This guide explains everything you need to know about obtaining an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in Brighton – including how to book, home delivery and collection point options, pricing, transport links, and a clear step-by-step guide. This article is designed to help pet owners in Brighton prepare in advance, so you can have your AHC ready before travelling, rather than collecting it at the port.
Home Visit & Collection Point Options in Brighton
Vet Home Certs offers a flexible service to suit your needs. During your appointment, whether at home or at a collection point, the Brighton vet will:
- Verify and scan your pet’s microchip
- Witness the owner (or authorised person) signing the declaration section of the AHC
- Review the completed document and answer any final questions
Meet the Local Vet: Alice Hasell
Alice graduated from the University of Liverpool in 2011 and has since worked in various small animal and emergency practices across the UK and Australia before settling in Brighton. With a postgraduate certificate in feline practice and years of experience as an Official Veterinarian (OV) for pet travel, Alice provides expert guidance for those needing Animal Health Certificates in Brighton.
Both home delivery and collection point appointments are available in Brighton.
Most of the AHC preparation happens in advance, ensuring that your appointment is smooth and straightforward.
Eligibility for a home visit appointment can be checked using the map on the Areas Covered page. There is a £24 supplemental delivery fee for addresses in the extended delivery area (as shown on the map).
Brighton Collection Point
Meeting Location:
Exact What3Words meeting point: https://w3w.co/quite.buzz.post
Near Costa Coffee, Pavilion Retail Park, Brighton, BN2 3QA
Tips for visiting the Brighton collection point:
- Free and easy parking is available in the Pavilion Retail Park car park.
- Arriving a few minutes early helps ensure the process runs smoothly and without delay.
- Use the W3W link (above) to find the precise meeting point. Directions to this point can be found using the navigation tab.
Pricing Information for an Animal Health Certificate in Brighton
Vet Home Certs offers clear, competitive pricing with options tailored to how soon you need an AHC.
Repeat AHC: £89
For returning clients using the same vet within the Vet Home Certs network, with unchanged details and rabies vaccination. Must be arranged more than 10 days before your appointment. Additional pets are £25 each.
Standard AHC: £99
Available if arranged and payment is received more than 7 days before your appointment date. Additional pets are £30 each
Urgent AHC: £199
Fast tracked service for short notice requests. Applicable when all details and payment are received within 7 days of an appointment date. Additional pets are £30 each (up to 5 pets per certificate).
Up to 5 pets per certificate.For full details, visit the Prices page. Supplemental home delivery fee of £24 for the extended home delivery area.
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get an AHC Appointment in Brighton
- Check eligibility for a home visit or find your nearest collection point using the map on the Areas Covered page.
- Complete the Stage 1 form using the Request Appointment page, selecting the correct vet and location.
- Complete the Stage 2 form: emailed immediately after submitting Stage 1.
If you don’t receive the email within a few minutes, check your spam folder or try resubmitting. - Vet review and scheduling: Your vet will confirm your details and arrange your appointment.
- Appointment: The vet meets you and your pet at the chosen location to perform the required checks. The AHC is handed over and valid for travel straight away.
Transport Links & Travel Hubs Near Brighton
With your Animal Health Certificate prepared in advance, you can head directly to your chosen travel hub. Below are approximate drive times from Brighton and may vary with traffic:
Nearest Ferry Ports
- Newhaven Ferry Port: Routes to Dieppe, France. Around 25 minutes from Brighton.
- Portsmouth Ferry Port: Routes to France and Spain.Around 1 hour 15 minutes from Brighton.
- Dover Ferry Port: Routes to Calais, France. Around 2 hours from Brighton.
- Plymouth Ferry Port: Routes to Roscoff, France, and Santander, Spain. Around 4 hours 30 minutes from Brighton.
Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (Folkestone)
Direct drive-on train to France. Approximately 1 hour 45 minutes travel time from Brighton.
Nearest Airports Supporting Pet Travel
- London Gatwick Airport: approximately 45 minutes from Brighton.
- London Heathrow Airport: approximately 1 hour 30 minutes from Brighton.
Both airports offer pet-friendly travel options under the UK Pet Travel Scheme.
Important Considerations for Pet Travel
- If your pet is travelling only to Northern Ireland, you’ll need a specific Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document:. If you are travelling onward to the Republic of Ireland or mainland Europe, you’ll need a valid Animal Health Certificate.
- Dogs and worming treatment: Dogs travelling to Ireland, Norway, Finland, Malta or Northern Ireland need worming treatment between 24-120 hours before arrival, recorded on the AHC. This must be witnessed and recorded in the AHC by a vet.
- Returning to the UK? Follow the official APHA Travel Checklist. Dogs must also receive worming treatment 24-120 hours before re-entry into the UK, witnessed and recorded in the AHC by a vet. The medication must be licensed in the country where it is administered and effective against tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis).
- Appointment Requirements: Your pet’s microchip will be scanned and verified during the appointment. The owner and pets listed on the AHC must attend the appointment.
- Authorised travel: Pets can travel with a courier or authorised person if arranged in advance. The owner and pets must reunite within 5 days of arrival in the EU, and the transporter may need to show proof. Either the owner or authorised person may sign the AHC, but this must be confirmed before the appointment.
Ready to Travel? Request Your Animal Health Certificate in Brighton Today
Travelling with your pet from Brighton can be simple and stress-free with the right preparation. It’s best to request your Animal Health Certificate 3-6 weeks before your planned travel date.
Request your Animal Health Certificate appointment in Brighton HERE!
