Pet travel to France is subject to the rules of the European Union Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), making travelling with a pet dog or cat to France from another European Union (EU) country is very simple. No need to panic if you reside in a non-EU country as the requirements for entering France with a pet cat or dog are clearly stipulated for countries outside the EU too. So if you’re taking your dog to France for a holiday soon, read on! To take a cat, dog or ferret to France, you can use either an EU Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
Table of contents
- Pet travel to France from another EU country
- Pet travel to France from a non-EU country
- Travelling to France with more than 5 pets
- Pet-Friendly travel options to France by plane, train & ferry
- Travelling from the United Kingdom to France with a pet
- Taking a pet to France from Scotland, England or Wales
- Taking a pet to France from Northern Ireland (NI)
- Pets travelling without their owner
- Related Pages
Pet travel to France from another EU country
In order to travel from another EU member state to France, your cat, dog or ferret must have:
- A working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- a valid EU issued Pet Passport
Pet travel to France from a non-EU country
With a few exceptions, your pet dog or cat can travel with you to France from a non-EU country if they have:
- A working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- Animal Health Certificate, or a Pet Passport that was issued by an EU member state
You can also use a Pet Passport issued in one of the following countries to travel to France:
- Andorra
- Switzerland
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Vatican City State
Travelling to France with more than 5 pets
Under the rules of the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), you can enter France with up to 5 pets as long as each pet meets the stated requirements for travel. If you are travelling to France with more than five pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) you must provide proof that:
- they are participating in a competition, exhibition or sporting event (by providing for example a registration document) and
- they are more than 6 months old
Pet-Friendly travel options to France by plane, train & ferry
Available options for travel to France with a cat, dog or ferret depend on your country of origin. However, you’ll be pleased to know that pet transport methods to France are widely available, including airlines, ferry companies and train services.
Travelling from the United Kingdom to France with a pet
As the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer part of the European Union (EU) following Brexit, the regulations for taking a cat, dog or ferret from the UK (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland) to France changed. This resulted in separate rules for the countries that form Great Britain (Scotland, England & Wales) and Northern Ireland (NI). Pet travel regulations were differentiated between Scotland, England & Wales and the EU and Northern Ireland in order to avoid a ‘hard’ border post-Brexit between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Some of the airlines, ferry companies and trains offering pet friendly routes directly to France from the United Kingdom include:
Taking a pet to France from Scotland, England or Wales
- You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.
- Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated.
- Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
- Visit your vet to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
- Remember that if you’re taking your dog to France, on your return to the UK your pooch will need a Tapeworm Treatment 1 to 5 days before arriving on UK soil. Your vet must enter full details on the AHC following treatment.
If you already have an EU issued Pet Passport, you can take your cat, dog or ferret to France using this instead of an Animal Health Certificate.
Taking a pet to France from Northern Ireland (NI)
For the reasons previously mentioned, NI is subject to the same Pet Travel Scheme rules as other EU countries due to its shared border with the Republic of Ireland, an EU member state.
Pets travelling without their owner
As a rule, pets must travel with their owners to France; however, you may give written permission to another person to accompany your cat, dog or ferret for you. In this case, you must be reunited your pet within 5 days of their relocation.
Remember to leave a review if you’ve travelled to France with your pet cat or dog!
