Since Brexit (1 January 2021), exporting a horse from GB to the EU has gone from “drive over and show the passport” to a multi-document, vet-supervised process. By 2026 the rules have stabilised but added layers. Here’s what UK yards exporting (or just travelling for competition) need to handle.
What you need for every EU trip
1. Equine Identification Document (EID / Passport)
Required for all horses since 2009. Must be the current UK-issued passport (not the old EU one). Lost or damaged: replacement takes 6-8 weeks.
2. Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) in the 10 days before travel. Costs £200-400 depending on vet. Includes:
- Identity check against passport
- Recent influenza vaccination (within 6 months)
- Clinical examination
- Tests (depending on destination)
3. Customs declaration
For temporary movement (competition, returning within 90 days): Temporary Admission procedure, no duty.
For permanent export (sale, breeding): Customs Declaration + commercial documentation.
4. Carrier documentation
- Transporter authorisation (if commercial transport)
- Journey log (for journeys over 8 hours)
- Driver Certificate of Competence (Type 2, for animal transport)
The Border Control Post (BCP) check
All animals entering the EU now go through a Border Control Post. UK exit: typically Dover or Eurotunnel. EU entry: BCP at Calais (Coquelles), Dunkerque, Rotterdam.
At the BCP:
- Vet checks documents and animal physically
- Animal must be ready for inspection (not loose loaded)
- Slots must be booked in advance for some BCPs
Time on the day: 1-3 hours typically, longer at peak times.
Cost layer-up
For a one-off competition trip to France:
- AHC: £250
- Customs documents: £100-150
- BCP charges: €125-200
- Time delays: usually 1 extra day vs pre-Brexit
Total Brexit-era extra cost: £500-700 per trip.
What to track in your software
- Per horse: passport number + current owner, vaccination history, last AHC, export history
- Per trip: documents required, OV booked, BCP slot, cost log
- Alerts: passport expiry, vaccination 14 days before AHC needed
Common errors
”We forgot to renew the OV credentials”
Your usual vet may not be an OV. If they aren’t certified for export, you need to find one — and they’re not always local.
Influenza date overlap
AHC needs vaccination “within 6 months” but for some EU countries it’s “within 6 months but not in the last 7 days”. Margin is everything.
Transport over 8 hours
Triggers Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 — full journey log, water stops, rest periods. Many one-off trips trip this requirement without realising.
Alternatives to one-off export
- EU-based partner yards for season-long stays (one big trip vs many)
- UK competitions only — increasingly viable as the UK domestic circuit recovers
- Use a specialist transporter (Peden Bloodstock, World Horse Welfare members) — they handle the paperwork
How Hovera supports international travel
UK module:
- Per-horse passport + vaccination tracking
- Trip planner with document checklist
- Cost projection (export trip vs domestic event)
- OV directory (registered Official Veterinarians by region)
- BCP slot tracker (calendar visibility on bookings)
Talk to us about international competition — we partner with specialist transporters.