Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to France with your dog
France welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on France itself. As an EU member, France applies the EU pet-movement rules: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required. A dog coming from another EU country simply needs an EU pet passport. A dog from a listed non-EU country (such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom) needs an EU animal health certificate but no blood test. A dog from a non-listed country faces the longest path, including a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for France |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to France
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — France★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; agriculture.gouv.fr |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The microchip must already be in place; otherwise re-vaccination is needed. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; agriculture.gouv.fr |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013 |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not France. | European Commission — pet travel |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required | France issues no import permit and requires no prior customs appointment. | agriculture.gouv.fr (FAQ) |
| Border check (documents & identity) | Non-EU arrivals | No systematic check for intra-EU (Schengen) arrivals. | EU Reg. 576/2013; agriculture.gouv.fr |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | Puppies under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated, so cannot enter from outside the EU; an imported dog must also have at least one adult tooth. | Code rural L236-1; EU Reg. 576/2013 |
| Quarantine | Not required | Only if rules are breached — customs may then order re-export, quarantine or euthanasia. | Code rural L236-9/10 |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- ISO microchipMust be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies antibody testNon-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
- EU pet passportIssued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination.
- EU animal health certificateIssued/endorsed by an official vet before departure; valid 10 days to entry, then up to 4 months for onward EU travel.
- Border check (documents & identity)At a designated travellers' point of entry; present yourself spontaneously to customs.
- Puppies / minimum age12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country.
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplified — EU pet passport
A dog coming from another EU country needs an EU pet passport showing a valid ISO microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination. No antibody test, no health certificate and normally no border check.
⏱ A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed.
Health certificate, no blood test
From a listed non-EU country (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and others), your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate endorsed by an official vet before departure. No antibody test is required; present yourself to customs at a travellers' point of entry.
⏱ ~3–4 weeks: 21-day wait after the rabies shot, plus a health certificate valid 10 days.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-designated laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required.
⏱ ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches France depends on where you flew from.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: enter via a designated travellers' point of entry and present yourself spontaneously to French customs for documentary and identity checks.
- No import permit is issued and no prior appointment with customs is needed.
- Carry original documents (not copies), in French, bilingual or officially translated.
- If documents are missing or invalid, customs may order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia — at the owner's expense.
- Category 1 dogs are refused entry, including in transit.
🚫 Restricted dogs
France regulates dangerous dogs under the 1999 law (loi n° 99-5), splitting them into two categories by morphology. Only a vet's assessment can categorise a dog.
Attack dogs (chiens d'attaque): pit-bull / American Staffordshire type without pedigree, Mastiff (boerbull) type and Tosa without pedigree. Import into France is prohibited — including simple transit — under Article L211-15 of the Rural Code, punishable by up to 6 months in prison and a €15,000 fine.
Guard and defence dogs (chiens de garde et de défense): pedigree American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler (with or without pedigree) and pedigree Tosa. Import is allowed, but the owner must meet France's dangerous-dog rules: ownership permit, third-party insurance, muzzle and lead in public, and a behavioural assessment.
A dog that merely resembles a listed breed is not automatically categorised — only a veterinary morphology assessment decides. For Category 2 formalities, contact the French Ministry of the Interior.
✈️ Airlines flying to France with a dog
Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.
+77 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 5 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in France
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
+4 more airports documented.
France with a dog: common questions
France: What does my dog need to enter?
France requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination.
France: Is a rabies antibody test required?
France — Rabies antibody test: Conditional. Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
France: Are any dog breeds banned?
France regulates dangerous dogs under the 1999 law (loi n° 99-5), splitting them into two categories by morphology. Only a vet's assessment can categorise a dog.
France: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed. ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
France: Do domestic flights have the same requirements?
Domestic flight within France: no border is crossed, so no import formality applies — no EU pet passport, no rabies titer, no entry certificate. Identification (ISO microchip or tattoo, registered with I-CAD) is mandatory before the age of 4 months — a legal obligation independent of any travel.…
France: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
France — Easy to difficult (depends on origin). MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 8 August 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of France and your vet before booking.
📚 Official sources
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Travelling with a pet within the EU
- European Commission — Listing of non-EU countries (antibody-test exemption)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture — Importing pets from third countries (FAQ)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture — Dangerous dogs, categories 1 and 2
- Service-Public.fr — Having a category dog: the rules
- French Customs (Douane) — Importing domestic animals