Frequently Asked Questions
Who are EquiPassports for?
We provide passports for equines bred or kept in the UK, including donkey’s, mules, asses, ponies, horses and zebra.
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When does my equine need a passport?
A foal is required to be passported by 6 months of age or the 30th November of the foaling year, whichever is sooner. But if you are selling a foal at foot it will require a passport prior to being sold. All equines must be passported by a recognised passport issuing office.
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Are there any consequences of not having a passport?
It is illegal to own an equine which does not have a valid passport within 6 months of age or by the 30th November of the year of foaling whichever is sooner. Failure to have a valid passport can result in a substantial fine of up to £5,000.
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Can I apply for a passport at any time?
If you purchase an animal and it doesn’t have a passport you can purchase a passport at any time to legally comply with legislation.
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How do I get a passport?
Download a passport application form and ask a vet to microchip your animal and complete their section of the form. The form will need to be fully completed and returned to our Office along with the relevant fee. The office will then process the application and issue you with a passport.
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How much does it cost to get a passport?
The current cost is £20.
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How long does a passport take to be processed?
Correctly completed applications have a turnaround of a maximum of 15 working days to be completed. We do offer a fast-track service should you need a passport urgently (at an additional £20).
Do I need to have my equine microchipped?
Yes, it is now a legal requirement for all equines to be microchipped and this should be marked on the silhouette on the passport application form with a M An animal must be microchipped before it can be passported.
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How do I find out if my equine is microchipped?
Ask your vet to scan the equine and if a number is detected you can then visit https://www.equineregister.co.uk/chipchecker to see if your equine is registered with another passport issuing office. If it is not, you can complete a passport application form with EquiPassports.
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Does a freeze mark override the need to be microchipped?
No, all equines must be microchipped. A freeze mark is an additional method of identification to deter theft.
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I have lost my equine’s passport. How can I get a new one?
So long as the equine is passported with us already, you can download a duplicate passport application form and complete as much information as possible on the front of the form. A vet will need to complete the back of the form. The form will need to be returned to Office along with the relevant fee. The office will then process the duplicate passport for you.
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My passport has been stolen. How can I get a new one?
So long as the equine is passported with us already, you can download a duplicate passport application form and complete as much information as possible on the front of the form. A vet will need to complete the back of the form. The form will need to be returned to Office along with the relevant fee. The office will then process the duplicate passport for you. duplicate passport for you.
My passport has been damaged. How can I get a new one?
Download a passport amendment application form and complete all information on the front of the form. A vet will need to complete the back of the form. The form will need to be returned to office along with the damaged passport and relevant fee. The office will then process the replacement passport for you including any previous vaccination pages, if they are salvagable.
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What do I need to do to transfer my equine into my ownership?
A transfer of ownership should be completed with 30 days of purchase of the animal. Failure to do this this can lead to a fine of up to £5,000.
Download the transfer of ownership form from our website and complete this fully. Send this into the office along with the passport and relevant fee. The transfer will be completed and the ownership details updated and the passport returned to you.
Passports should come with a transfer of ownership from inside the back cover, and this should be signed by the seller. If the seller has not signed the transfer of ownership form, we will accept a copy of a receipt confirming the sale. If neither of these are available, then the buyer can complete a statutory declaration letter. Guidance can be downloaded from the website or requested from the office. The statutory declaration letter states that the buyer is now the legal owner of the horse, and we ask that you please fill in the details to the best of your knowledge. Please do not just download and sign the Statutory Declaration Guidance notes, the applicant must copy the example and write/type it out to the best of their knowledge, and then sign, date and print name at the bottom. The statutory declaration letter states that you are the legal owner of the horse, please fill in the details to the best of your knowledge. Please copy the example letter for the wording required and change the words in italics to your details as advised in the notes.
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How much does a transfer of ownership cost?
Transfers are £18 each.
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How long does a transfer take to be completed?
Correctly filled in transfers have a turnaround of a maximum of 10 working days to be completed. We do offer a fast-track service should you need a passport urgently (at an additional £20).
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If any information changes that is included within the passport can I change this?
No, any changes made to the document must come via EquiPassports as the passport issuing office for the original passport. Tampering of altering details in the passport will make it invalid and you will then be required to purchase an amended passport.
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How do I update my address?
Contact us in writing, include the passport(s) and we will then update everything for you and return the passport back to you once completed. We recommend sending these by recorded delivery and paying for them to be returned by recorded delivery. There is a one off £5 fee for change of address (this does not included return of passports by recorded delivery).
