The truth behind high AHC prices

If you’re planning pet travel from the UK to the EU and have started looking into the required documentation, you’ve probably noticed the significant cost of the Animal Health Certificate (AHC). It might feel excessive, but several key factors contribute to why this essential document can be so expensive at regular veterinary practices:

1. The Official Veterinarian (OV) requirement

Not every vet is authorised to issue an AHC – this requires an Official Veterinarian (OV) who has undergone additional training and authorisation. Many traditional veterinary practices either lack OVs entirely or only have one or two available across several branches. This limited availability of qualified staff can drive up the cost, as practices adjust their pricing based on this specialised demand.

2. The time and complexity of the certificate

The AHC is far from a simple form; it is a detailed document typically spanning 8 to 12 A4 pages. Completing the AHC is a time intensive process involving the OV striking out and stamping specific sections based on the circumstances of the pet’s travel.

In general practice, OVs also have clinical duties, meaning they must set aside dedicated time within their regular schedule specifically to complete the AHC. Practices factor this time away from clinical work into their pricing. Since Vet Home Certs specialises solely in AHCs, our processes are optimised to streamline this paperwork, allowing us to be more efficient and offer cheaper rates.

3. Administrative requirements 

Several administrative factors and risks are built into the final price you pay:

• Risk and insurance:  Preparing and issuing AHCs is complex, and if details are incorrect, the pet may be refused entry into the EU. To cover this risk, all vets must hold professional indemnity insurance, a cost that’s often reflected in the AHC price.
• Essential pre checks: Before your appointment, vets must confirm key details such as your pet’s microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and travel plans. We handle all the paperwork in advance to ensure your appointment runs smoothly and quickly.
• If you’re not travelling with your pet: When a pet travels with someone other than the owner (e.g. a named person or courier), extra checks and admin are required. This often involves a small additional fee. Please let us know in advance if this applies to you.

4. The Cost of Last Minute requests

Planning early saves you money! Veterinary practices generally require several weeks’ notice to gather and prepare AHC documentation. Short notice AHC requests place significant strain on resources and scheduling, resulting in vet practices applying a surcharge for short notice appointments.

At Vet Home Certs, we offer an Urgent AHC option for £199 (plus £30 per additional pet) if all required information and payment are received within 7 days of your appointment slot. However, if you plan ahead, our Standard AHC is just £99, provided we receive all details more than 7 days beforehand.

How to Reduce the Cost of Your Animal Health Certificate

While AHCs involve necessary expertise and complex documentation, there are definite ways to make the process more affordable.

Shop around and choose a specialist AHC provider

Before committing to your current vet practice, it is always worth checking with multiple vet practices and specialist AHC providers. Providers like Vet Home Certs often have extensive experience issuing AHCs and are dedicated to making the process more accessible and affordable. Our Standard AHC starts at £99, providing exceptional value.

Combine your pets on one AHC

If you are travelling with a few pets, you can save substantially by combining them onto a single AHC. A single AHC can cover up to five pets owned by the same person.

Many vet practices might not offer discounts for additional pets. Vet Home Certs ensures significant savings:

• Standard AHC: Additional pets are only £30 each.
• Repeat AHC: Additional pets are just £25 each.

This policy makes choosing a specialist provider like us beneficial if you are travelling with more than one pet.

Utilise collection points and repeat discounts

We offer various ways to keep your costs down:

1. Collection Point Discounts: Choosing to meet our vet at a collection point rather than during a home visit often results in a discount between £5-10. Our collection points are available in locations across the UK, check out the collection locations here! 
2. Repeat Customer Savings: If you require another AHC in the future, booking with the same Vet Home Certs provider can secure you a discount. Our Repeat AHC price is £89. To qualify, the owner, pet details, first EU country, and the valid rabies vaccination must remain the same as the previous AHC issued by the same vet in our network.

Plan ahead to save costs

Booking your appointment well in advance ensures you qualify for the cheaper Standard price (£99). We recommend requesting your AHC at least 3 weeks before you travel to allow ample time to gather documentation and prepare your certificate.

Why can’t the AHC be posted?

While posting the AHC might seem like an easy way to save time and cost, it is legally impossible. By law, the official veterinarian is required to scan your pet’s microchip in person and witness the owner signing the declaration of non-commercial movement before an AHC can be issued. Therefore, the certificate must be issued during a physical visit, either a home visit or at a designated collection point.

​​Ready for Hassle-Free, Affordable Pet Travel?

At Vet Home Certs, we make getting your Animal Health Certificate simple, cost effective, and convenient. By specialising exclusively in AHCs, we remove the confusion and high fees often found at general vet practices.

Want to check if we cover your area? Take the first step today and visit our Areas Covered page!

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