How much does an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) cost in the UK?
AHC prices are set by individual vets, not fixed — published UK vet pricing runs from around £89 to £350, depending on the vet and how last-minute the booking is. There's no official price list because the certificate is issued by an Official Vet under a private appointment, not a government fee schedule. The calculator below won't quote you a price, but it will show you the exact date you can first book it, so you have time to call around before you're stuck taking whatever a last-minute slot costs.
Published UK AHC pricing
Published prices from UK vet practices and pet-travel services show a wide spread for what is, on paper, the same certificate: from £89 at the lower end up to £350 at the higher end, according to Indigo Veterinary Services (£99 for the first pet) and the London Pet Travel Certificates 2026 pricing guide (£89-£350 typical range). Your own quote will depend on your vet, your location, and how much notice you give — always confirm current pricing directly with the practice before booking.
Why the price swings so much
- The AHC has no fixed fee. Each practice, and each Official Vet within it, sets its own charge.
- The certificate can only be issued within 10 days before you travel, and it's valid for a single trip only — there's no reusing one AHC for a return journey or a later holiday, so a booking window that opens late usually means fewer vets to compare.
- Many UK vets are booked out for months for AHC appointments, especially around school holidays, so a late booking often leaves you with only one or two practices still taking slots — and less room to compare prices.
- The appointment itself isn't quick for the vet either: budget for meaningful prep work checking vaccination and microchip records, plus the time to actually issue the certificate. That time is part of what you're paying for.
Work out your AHC dates first
Free timeline calculator. Enter your travel date to see exactly when your booking window opens, so you have time to call around before you book.
AHC cost — frequently asked questions
Why do AHC prices vary so much?
There is no fixed government price for an Animal Health Certificate. Each vet practice sets its own fee based on the Official Vet's time, the practice's own pricing, and how much notice you give them. Published pricing from UK vet practices and pet-travel services runs from around £89 to £350, depending on the provider — see Indigo Veterinary Services and the London Pet Travel Certificates 2026 pricing guide.
Does booking early make an AHC cheaper?
Booking early doesn't change the certificate itself, but it gives you time to call around and compare prices between practices instead of accepting whatever a fully-booked vet quotes for a last-minute slot. Because the AHC can only be issued within 10 days of travel, the window to shop around closes fast, so start calling as soon as you have a travel date.
How long does the AHC vet appointment take?
Budget for under an hour for the appointment itself, plus preparation work the vet does beforehand or after booking (checking your pet's rabies vaccination and microchip records, and completing the certificate paperwork). Book a slot rather than expecting a walk-in — ask your practice for their own estimate when you book.
What's the difference between AHC Ready and a paid AHC-issuing service like AHC Direct?
AHC Ready's calculator is free and only works out your dates: when your pet needs vaccinations, treatments and the vet appointment based on your travel date. It does not issue the certificate. An Animal Health Certificate can only be issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV), whether that's your own vet or a dedicated pet-travel service such as AHC Direct.