Why French veterinary fees remain significantly lower than UK costs
Pet owners travelling between the UK and France face mounting frustration over veterinary costs, particularly since stricter post-Brexit regulations introduced Animal Health Certificates for each journey to the EU. The certificates, required for every trip, cost British pet owners between £100 and £250 per journey—a sharp contrast to veterinary fees in France.
Peter Culpin, a British veterinary surgeon with over 45 years of clinical experience who now lives in Normandy, recently experienced this price gap firsthand. When he took his three cats for rabies booster vaccinations at a local French practice in August 2022, he expected a bill of around €200. Instead, the total came to just €55.42—including clinical examinations, dental checks, microchip verification, and vaccinations for all three animals.
The first cat's vaccination cost €20.44, while the second and third were charged €9.09 each, plus €7.56 for three syringes. Culpin initially questioned whether he had been undercharged, marking a rare moment when a customer queries a veterinary bill for being too low rather than too high.
Regulatory changes tighten travel requirements
The cost disparity has become more acute following regulatory changes on 22 April 2026, when new EU rules closed a loophole that had allowed UK residents with French second homes to use EU pet passports obtained in France. All British residents must now obtain an Animal Health Certificate for each journey to the EU, regardless of property ownership abroad.
These certificates must be issued within 10 days of travel by an Official Veterinarian registered with DEFRA and are valid for a single trip only—unlike the previous EU pet passport system, which was reusable throughout a pet's lifetime. UK Animal Health Certificates typically range from £89 to £350 per trip, with most providers charging between £100 and £250.
Adding to the challenge, not all UK veterinarians can sign these documents. Official Veterinarians must complete specific DEFRA training and pass qualification tests, with capacity pressures increasing following Brexit. In France, by contrast, all veterinarians are permitted to sign official veterinary documents, eliminating the bottleneck that affects UK pet owners.
Unregulated markets, different outcomes
Culpin investigated whether French regulations might cap veterinary fees, similar to controls on medical costs within the French healthcare system. He discovered that French veterinarians, like their British counterparts, are free to set their own prices without government regulation.
Despite this shared regulatory framework, price differences remain substantial. Average veterinary consultation fees in France range from €30 to €40, with vaccinations costing €50 to €80. In the UK, consultations average £58.29 (approximately €68), with prices highest in London and lower in northern England.
Veterinary costs have risen across Europe, increasing by approximately 37% since 2015 and outpacing general inflation of 30%. As of 2026, veterinary fees continue rising at around 6% annually compared to general inflation of 2%.
Market structure influences pricing
A Competition and Markets Authority investigation found that UK pet owners pay almost 17% more on average with larger veterinary groups and chains compared to independent practices. The consolidation of local independent veterinary practices into corporate groups backed by private equity has introduced a profit-focused approach that drives up costs.
France is experiencing similar market pressures. The country's Competition Authority issued an opinion in October 2025 noting the development of corporate veterinary clinic networks and increasing care costs, with high concentration levels in some departments. This suggests French prices may rise in future, though they currently remain significantly lower than UK equivalents.
Culpin noted that veterinary salaries and take-home pay in France are not dramatically different from those in the UK, raising questions about why veterinary care appears so much less expensive. He plans to explore potential explanations in a future column, examining factors beyond regulatory frameworks that may account for the pricing gap.
The stark contrast in costs has left many British pet owners questioning the value they receive. For those who regularly travel to France with pets, the combination of expensive Animal Health Certificates and higher routine veterinary fees in the UK creates a financial burden that has prompted calls for system reform.
