If you're moving a pet from the UK to Australia, you'll encounter OV66 everywhere in the process. Here's what it means and why it matters.
What OV66 means
OV66 is a specific additional authorisation granted by APHA (Animal and Plant Health Agency) to Official Veterinarians in the UK. It qualifies them to complete identity checks and health documentation for pets being exported to Australia. Not all vets in the UK are Official Veterinarians, and not all Official Veterinarians hold OV66 authorisation.
Your regular vet, even if they are technically an Official Veterinarian, almost certainly does not hold OV66 authorisation. OV66 is a specialist qualification that requires additional training and application to APHA. The vets who hold it tend to be specialists who have sought it out specifically to work with pet exporters.
Why you need OV66 vets specifically
DAFF in Australia will only accept identity declarations and RNATT declarations from vets holding current OV66 authorisation. A declaration from an Official Veterinarian without OV66 is not valid. If you use the wrong type of vet, your identity verification will be rejected and you'll need to start again, which means restarting the 180-day wait if blood has already been drawn.
How many OV66 vets you need
The UK process requires a minimum of three separate OV66 contacts:
- OV66 Vet 1: first identity check, submits declaration directly to DAFF
- OV66 Vet 2: second identity check from a different practice, also submits to DAFF, plus the RNATT blood draw
- OV66 Vet 3: RNATT declaration (ET260 form). Cannot be the same vet who drew blood
A fourth OV66 vet is often used in practice for the Export Health Certificate signing, particularly if the EHC needs to be completed at or near the departure airport. However, the EHC can be signed by any of the first three OV66 vets if logistics allow. There is no rule requiring a separate vet for the EHC.
Where to find OV66 vets
APHA maintains a list of OV66-authorised vets. Specialist OV66 services in the UK include PassPets (with locations in Havant, London, and Bristol), Travel Vet, AHC Specialists London, Pet Travel Pass, and The Export Vet. These services have structured their offerings specifically around the Australia export requirements.
The most important timing rule
Both OV66 identity declarations must be submitted to DAFF and confirmed as received before the RNATT blood is drawn. Even if the second identity check and the blood draw happen on the same day, the declaration must be submitted first. Blood drawn before both declarations reach DAFF produces an invalid RNATT.
Confirm this sequencing explicitly with whatever OV66 service you use. Any experienced OV66 service will know this rule, but confirm it anyway.
For the full UK-to-Australia process, read the complete UK guide.