Get an Emotional Support Animal Letter (ESA Letter) for UK & EU
Apply online anytime, no appointment needed.
Get a valid, confidential emotional support animal letter from a UK-registered GP, ideal for landlords, airlines, or easing public access concerns.
Fill in a short online assessment and receive your signed letter directly by email. Trusted, stress-free support for you and your companion animal. From just £49.
✓ Most emotional support animal letters are sent same day, with subject to clinical assessment delivery by 9AM the next-morning
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Get your medical certificate delivered straight to your inbox from £37
Emotional Support Animal (ESA) Certificate
An Emotional Support Animal Letter is a document that verifies the need for an emotional support animal as part of a person’s treatment for a disability or mental health impairment.
Our medical practitioners can issue a hassle-free ESA certificate on the same day or overnight, straight to your inbox.
This certificate will confirm the details of your animal as well as your disability and how it affects you.
Apply online now.
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What will you receive?
You will obtain a verifiable digital PDF Emotional Animal Support certificate and optional digital card bearing the signature of a registered medical doctor, sent directly to your mobile device. This document will include the following information:
✓ Confirmation of your emotional support animal and type.
✓ Your name and DOB
✓ Details of your mental health concern or disability and how it affects you.
✓ Signed and authorised by one of our GMC-registered UK doctors.
✓ Your certificates unique reference number and QR code for verification.
✓ Optional digital photo-card to carry on your phone (+£10).
How it Works
01
Complete a short online form
Simply fill out a consultation form with details about your animal and your condition. Upload a 30-second video explaining how your animal supports you, along with any relevant medical documentation of your condition.
02
Doctor Reviews Application
An FCDO and GMC-registered GP will carefully review and validate your submitted information. Once approved, they will issue and sign an official ESA certificate and ESA card for you.
03
Receive your certificate
Get your ESA certificate delivered directly to your inbox as soon as the same day or by the next working day. If, for any reason, we’re unable to provide you with a certificate, you’ll receive a full refund automatically.
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PRICING
Who Qualifies For An Emotional Support Animal?
Any adult or child with a disability may qualify for an emotional support animal. Disability, in this instance, refers to anything that makes your life harder on a day-to-day basis. This could include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)
- Personality Disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Phobias
And any number of other emotional challenges you might encounter on a daily basis. Animals have a proven beneficial impact on mental health and wellbeing. As a result, there are all sorts of situations where one can benefit from having an emotional support animal.
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Questions
How do I get an urgent emotional support animal (ESA) letter or certificate?
It’s quick and easy! Simply complete the brief online questionnaire and complete the payment. After purchasing your medical letter online, a doctor will review the medical evidence the same day and we will provide you with your unique medical certificate for you to present to your work place or institution. There is no need to have a telemedicine or online consultation to receive a medical letter. Our Doctors may call or email you directly if they have any additional questions.
Can I get an emotional support animal (ESA) letter or certificate without seeing a doctor?
All medical letters including emotional support animal (ESA) certificates are signed and certified by a doctor, but you do not always need to see a doctor in person to get one. Our revolutionary service allows you to be assessed by one of our doctors without needing an appointment, simply by uploading information about your emotional support animal (ESA) and disability through our forms. One of our doctors will then consider your application before issuing your medical certificate. You will then receive the letter directly to your inbox.
Can I name multiple pets on the same ESA letter?
Yes, you can register multiple pets on the same ESA letter. At Medical Cert we can accommodate up to two pets per letter for no additional charge. The request for multiple pets must be reasonable, and approval for multiple ESAs is determined by the medical provider and each one of the ESAs must assist in different ways. If you have 3 or more ESA's this will require an additional letter, which can be purchased as an add-on. If you have any questions about this process, please contact help@medicalcert.co.uk.
What medical evidence will you require?
We will require you to upload:
✓ A photo of your ID to confirm your identity
✓ A photo of your animal
✓ Confirmation of your mental health condition or disability (this can simply be a copy of your GP's summary care record which is available on request or any medical documentation of your illness)
✓ A completed online consultation form
Do you provide refunds?
We always provide full refunds if we are unable to provide a Medical Letter in your situation, so you can submit your requests with peace of mind. Once a medical certificate has been issued we are unable to offer refunds.
How soon will I receive my ESA letter or certificate?
Our team of GPs will review your medical evidence and questionnaire on the same day and provide you with your medical letter or certificate within 1 working day. We also offer a subject to clinical assessment by 9 a.m. service for medical letters for evidence that has been uploaded by 11 p.m. (UTC/GMT) Sunday - Thursday. With our express overnight service you will receive your medical letter or certificate in your inbox overnight by 9 a.m. the next day. For example, an application submitted at 11 p.m. on a Thursday night will be assessed and delivered by 9 a.m. on Friday morning.
Who will sign my emotional support animal (ESA) certificate?
All of the doctors at Medical Cert are fully licensed GMC-registered GPs, unlike many other services who use very junior non-specialist doctors, which may sometimes cause their letters to be rejected. You can submit any letters you receive from Medical Cert with full confidence, knowing that an experienced GP has signed your document. We are a UK based healthcare service but the certificates can be used internationally. All of our Doctors are registered GPs with the UK General Medical Council.
Can your emotional support animal (ESA) letters be verified?
Absolutely. Each letter or certificate issued will have a unique reference number and QR code that can be scanned for verification. Alternatively, letters and can be verified free of charge by emailing us at verify@medicalcert.co.uk.
Do I have to register my emotional support animal on an official database?
Contrary to popular belief, there is no official or government registry for emotional support animals or assistance animals in the UK or EU. You are not obligated to register your assistance dog or emotional support dog to establish its legitimacy. Any companies or websites selling ESA registration for a fee are likely a scam or illegitimate.
Are landlords and businesses subject to clinical assessment to accept my ESA letter?
In the UK, EU, and USA businesses and landlords are not legally obligated to accept ESA letters, although most will take an ESA letter into consideration.
Emotional Support Animal Letter: UK Guidance (2025)
Living with anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health challenges can be difficult. Some people find that caring for an animal provides comfort, routine, and emotional stability. In some circumstances, a clinician may support this with written medical documentation.
This guide explains what an Emotional Support Animal (ESA) letter is, what it should include, who may be eligible, and what ESA letters can and cannot be used for in the UK and EU. It also highlights common red flags so you can avoid misleading “registry” products.
Key takeaways
Clinician-issued documentation
An ESA letter should be written by a licensed clinician following an assessment and only where clinically appropriate.
No official ESA registry
There is no government “ESA registration” database in the UK or EU. Registries do not create legal rights.
UK rights are limited
Unlike some other jurisdictions, the UK does not provide automatic public-access rights for ESAs.
Housing decisions vary
Some landlords and institutions may consider an ESA letter, but acceptance is discretionary and context-specific.
What is an emotional support animal letter?
An emotional support animal letter is a medical letter that states a clinician has assessed you and considers an animal to be beneficial as part of your wellbeing plan. ESAs are not the same as assistance dogs: assistance dogs are trained to perform specific tasks and may have different legal treatment under UK law.
What a legitimate letter typically includes:
- Clinician name, credentials, and contact details (and registration/licence details where applicable)
- Your identifying details (often name and date of birth)
- A statement that you have a health condition that may meet disability criteria (without unnecessary clinical detail)
- Clinical rationale describing how an animal may support you
- Date of issue and clinician signature
- A reference number or verification method (where offered)
Important: An ESA letter is not a “licence” and does not automatically grant access to public places. It is medical documentation that may be considered by third parties.
Who may qualify in the UK?
Eligibility depends on an individual clinical assessment. In general, an ESA letter may be considered where a person has a diagnosed mental health condition that substantially affects day-to-day functioning, and where an animal provides a meaningful therapeutic benefit.
Examples of conditions that may be considered (non-exhaustive):
- Anxiety disorders (including panic symptoms)
- Depressive disorders
- Trauma-related conditions (including PTSD)
- Neurodevelopmental conditions affecting regulation and functioning (e.g., autism)
- Other conditions where a clinician determines an ESA is clinically appropriate
A clinician will also consider practical factors such as your ability to care for an animal responsibly and whether an ESA is appropriate alongside other support or treatment.
How an ESA letter is obtained
Discuss symptoms, history, and how an animal supports your wellbeing.
Where relevant, a clinician may request medical history and identity verification.
If clinically appropriate, a signed letter may be issued with clinician details and date.
Some people obtain letters through their usual GP or mental health clinician. Others use online services that provide structured remote assessment. Regardless of the route, legitimacy comes from the clinician assessment and professional credentials—not from “registries” or downloadable templates.
Legitimacy and avoiding scams
Common red flags:
- “Register your ESA” products or databases presented as official
- Letters issued without any clinical assessment
- Promises of public-access rights equivalent to assistance dogs
- Generic letters that do not reflect your circumstances
- No clinician details, no way to verify, or unverifiable credentials
What to look for instead:
- Clear clinician identity, credentials, and contact details
- A genuine assessment process
- Transparent limitations about acceptance and legal status in the UK
- Verification method (where available)
- Privacy and secure handling of information
UK rights and limitations (housing, public access, travel)
In the UK, emotional support animals are not automatically granted public-access rights. Many public venues and businesses may treat ESAs as pets unless the animal is a trained assistance dog.
Housing: some landlords or accommodation providers may consider an ESA letter as part of a request for reasonable adjustment, but decisions are context-dependent and may consider property suitability and safety.
Travel: airline policies vary and can change. Many carriers restrict cabin access to trained assistance dogs and may not accept ESA letters. Always check the specific airline’s current policy before booking.
Responsibilities as an ESA owner
Animal welfare
Provide appropriate care, veterinary support, and a suitable environment.
Behaviour and safety
Ensure your animal does not pose a risk or cause disturbance to others.
Respect boundaries
Understand that many spaces may not allow ESAs, and policies vary.
If you’re considering requesting an ESA letter: start with an assessment from a licensed clinician. Ensure any documentation includes verifiable clinician details and reflects your circumstances.
Clinically Reviewed By
Dr Maria Knobel
Medical Director, Knobel Health Limited
GMC Registration
► 7495073 – View on GMC register