Vet Home Certs

Travel advice

How to Get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in South Devon

This guide explains how to arrange an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in South Devon, including how the process works, collection-point options, pricing, travel connections, and a step-by-step guide. It is designed for local pet owners who want a simple and cost-effective way to secure their AHC before travelling, rather than collecting paperwork at busy ports.

South Devon AHC

Meet the Local Vet: Julie Gray

Julie has spent her veterinary career working in general practice and owns two dogs herself. She is experienced and confident with pets of all sizes and temperaments, and she holds the qualifications needed to issue pet-travel documents, including Animal Health Certificates. Julie aims to make the AHC process clear and stress-free for pet owners in the South Devon area.

Julie provides AHC appointments at two convenient collection points in Dartmouth and Dartington.

Collection Point Options in South Devon

In South Devon, Vet Home Certs provides AHC appointments through local collection points. Meeting the vet at one of the collection points ensures a smooth and efficient handover.

During your appointment, the vet will:

  • Scan and verify the microchip of each pet listed on the AHC.
  • Witness the owner (or an authorised person, if agreed beforehand) signing the declaration section.
  • Go through the certificate with you, confirm details, and answer any last-minute questions.

All paperwork is prepared in advance so the appointment itself is quick and straightforward.

South Devon Collection Points

Dartmouth Collection Point
Meet at exactly: https://w3w.co/december.branching.cuddling
Sainsbury’s Car Park, Nelson Road, Dartmouth, TQ6 9AH

Dartington Collection Point
Meet at exactly: https://w3w.co/crowned.evaporate.swept
The Cider Press Car Park, Shinners Bridge, Dartington, TQ9 6TQ

NOTE: there is a £30 surcharge for the Dartington collection point.

 

Practical Tips for Using the Collection Points

  • Both sites have car parking available; arriving a few minutes early helps ensure a smooth handover.
  • In Dartmouth, follow signs for Sainsbury’s on Nelson Road; in Dartington, the Cider Press Centre is well-signposted from the main road.
  • Use the What3Words links provided to navigate directly to the correct area of the car parks.

     

Pricing Information

Vet Home Certs offers clear and competitive pricing for Animal Health Certificates in South Devon:

Repeat AHC: £89

  • For returning clients with unchanged details whose pets have had an AHC issued previously by the same Vet Home Certs vet. Must be arranged more than 10 days before the appointment. Additional pets are £25 each.

Standard AHC: £99

  • Suitable for planned travel when all information and payment are received more than 7 days before the appointment. Additional pets are £30 each.

Urgent AHC: £199

  • For clients needing an appointment at short notice when information and payment are received within 7 days of an appointment date. Additional pets are £30 each (up to five pets per AHC).

Collection-point surcharge: £30 for appointments at the Dartington collection point. 

Maximum of 5 pets per AHC. For full pricing information, visit: https://vethomecerts.co.uk/prices/


Step-by-Step Guide: How to Get an AHC Appointment in South Devon

To make a request:

  1. Check your area: Use the map on the Areas Covered page to view the South Devon collection points in Dartington and Dartmouth.

     

  2. Complete the Stage 1 form: Visit https://vethomecerts.co.uk/book-ahc/. Ensure to select South Devon and your preferred collection point.

     

  3. Complete the Stage 2 form: This will be emailed immediately after Stage 1 is submitted. If you do not receive it within minutes, check your spam folder or verify your email address.

     

  4. Vet checks details and arranges appointment: The vet reviews your information and confirms an appointment once payment is received.

     

  5. Attend your appointment: Meet at your chosen collection point. The vet completes final checks, witnesses signatures, and provides your Animal Health Certificate ready for travel.

     

Transport Links & Travel Hubs Near South Devon

Having your Animal Health Certificate ready before you depart allows for a stress-free start to your trip. Journey times from Dartmouth are prided below; these times are approximate and may vary with traffic.

Nearest Ferry Ports

  • Plymouth Ferry Port: Routes to Roscoff and Santander. Approximately 1 hour 10 minutes from Dartmouth.
  • Poole Ferry Port: Routes to Cherbourg. Around 2 hours 50 minutes from South Devon.
  • Portsmouth International Port: Routes to Caen, Le Havre, St Malo and Bilbao. Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes by car.
  • Dover Ferry Port: Crossings to Calais and Dunkirk. Approximately 5 hours 10 minutes from Dartmouth.

Eurotunnel

  • Folkestone Eurotunnel Le Shuttle: Direct drive-on service to Calais. Approximately 5 hours from Dartmouth.

Airports

  • Bristol Airport (BRS): Around 2 hours 10 minutes, offers routes that accept pet travel.
  • London Heathrow (LHR): Around 3 hours 45 minutes journey time from Bristol. Many international connections, including EU routes that allow pet travel.

     

Important Considerations for Pet Travel

  • Travelling only to Northern Ireland?
    You need to apply for a Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document: https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-northern-ireland-pet-travel-document.  If travelling onwards to the Republic of Ireland or mainland Europe, an Animal Health Certificate is still required.

     

  • Dogs & Worming Treatment:
    For travel to Ireland, Norway, Finland, Malta, or Northern Ireland, dogs must receive worming treatment administered and recorded in the AHC by a vet between 24-120 hours before arrival.

     

  • Returning to the UK:
    Follow the APHA Travel Checklist when returning to the UK with pets.
    • Dogs must be wormed 24-120 hours before re-entry, using a product licensed in the country where it is administered and effective against Echinococcus multilocularis. Use the Canine Worming Planner: https://canine-worming-planner.vercel.app

       

  • Appointment requirements:
    Your pet’s microchip must be scanned at the appointment. Ensure correct owner and pet details are provided in Stage 2. The owner and pets named on the AHC must attend the appointment.

     

  • If pets are travelling without the owner:
    Pets may travel with a carrier or authorised person if arranged in advance. The owner and pets must reunite within five days of arrival in the EU. Either the owner or the authorised person may sign the AHC, this must be confirmed with the vet before the appointment.

     

Ready to Travel? Request Your Animal Health Certificate in South Devon Today

Travelling with your pet from South Devon can be stress-free with the right documents. We recommend submitting your AHC request 3-6 weeks before your travel date.

Request your Animal Health Certificate appointment HERE!

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