How to bring your dog to France from the UK or US

Dog owners have to complete some paperwork and have their pets undergo certain veterinary treatments before they bring them to France from the UK or US

The process is straightforward but you do need to be mindful of exactly when you have to complete each step and allow yourself plenty of time to get ready and book the necessary appointments before travelling. 

It can be useful to have a travel date in mind and work backwards from there to make sure you can complete each stage at the right time.

Rabies vaccination

You will need to make sure your dog has a rabies vaccination valid for the date of travel. 

If their rabies booster vaccinations have not been kept up to date or if this is their first one, the vaccination must be given at least 21 days before travel (the day after the rabies vaccination is considered day one).

Dogs must be 16 weeks old before they can come into France, even if they have already been vaccinated for rabies.

What type of pet microchip you need in France

Pets are required to be microchipped in order to enter EU countries and you can get this done either at the same time as the rabies vaccination or else before. 

As long as the microchip meets ISO standards 11784 and ISO 11785, transport companies and customs will be able to read the chip.

For other types of microchip, you will need to provide your own chip reader that can be used when you travel.

If your dog was marked with an identification tattoo before July 3, 2011, it can continue to travel with this as long as it is clearly readable and the rabies vaccination was given after the tattoo.

Animal Health Certificate and pet passports

The UK no longer issues pet passports, which have been replaced by Animal Health Certificates.

Your pet must have an official Animal Health Certificate completed by an ‘official veterinarian’ (OV) in order to travel to France from the UK. 

Similarly, travellers from the US need a USDA-endorsed animal health certificate provided by a  USDA-accredited veterinarian.

These certificates show a dog’s date of birth, microchip or tattoo information, vaccination details and the vet’s signature and contact details.

The certificate must be issued by a vet within ten days of your travel date and at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination was given.

Arriving in France with a dog

When you are preparing to take your pet dog to France, it is important to check that your arrival location is a traveller's point of entry (TPE) so they can be declared and checked. 

The main Channel ferry ports are all TPEs but you can look to see if your destination is on the list if you plan to arrive by air or rail.

Once you arrive in France, head to the pet reception point where your dog’s microchip will be scanned and you will be asked to show their Animal Health Certificate as well as their rabies vaccination document.

There are exceptions but in most cases a maximum of five pets can be brought with you. Certain dog breeds are also not permitted to be brought to France.

Note that people who are planning to live in France with their dog need to register it.

Returning to the UK with a dog

Before returning to the UK or US, your dog must have had a tapeworm treatment before heading back. This must be done a minimum of 24 hours and maximum of 120 hours before arrival.