Traveling with Pets

Overview

France is one of the most dog-friendly countries in the world. Dogs ride the Métro, lie under café tables and stay in most hotels. Getting your pet there from the US is mostly a paperwork exercise, but the steps have to happen in the right order and inside tight time windows. A mistake (a rabies shot given before the microchip, a certificate signed 11 days before landing) can mean your pet is refused entry, held in quarantine or sent back at your expense.

The rules below cover dogs, cats and ferrets traveling with their owner on a non-commercial trip, which is what applies to almost every vacation or move. They come from the EU's pet travel regulation, applied in France by the agriculture ministry and checked by French customs. Puppies under about 15 weeks, animals being sold or rehomed, and other species (birds, rabbits, reptiles) follow different rules. Ask the French agriculture ministry or a pet relocation company about those.

US to France: the rules

1. ISO microchip first

Your pet needs a 15-digit microchip that meets ISO standards 11784 and 11785. That's the type most US vets now implant, but older US chips (some 9- or 10-digit chips) may not be readable by European scanners. If your pet has a non-ISO chip, either have an ISO chip implanted (the certificate then lists both) or bring your own compatible scanner, which airlines and border officers are not obliged to use.

The microchip must be implanted before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccination. If your pet was vaccinated before it was chipped, that rabies shot doesn't count for EU travel and must be repeated after the chip.

2. Rabies vaccination and the 21-day wait

The pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. After a first (primary) vaccination, you must wait 21 days before the pet can enter the EU. The day of vaccination counts as day 0. So the youngest pet that can travel from the US is about 15 weeks old.

A booster given before the previous vaccination expired does not trigger a new 21-day wait, as long as the vaccination record shows an unbroken chain and the microchip came first. If the previous vaccine lapsed, even by a day, the next shot counts as a new primary vaccination and the 21-day clock restarts.

3. The EU animal health certificate

This is the key document. It's a bilingual (English and French) EU form for non-commercial movement of dogs, cats and ferrets into the EU, which your vet downloads from the USDA APHIS pet travel site. The rules:

• It must be filled in and signed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Not every vet is accredited; ask when you book.
• It must then be endorsed by USDA APHIS. The vet submits it through APHIS's online system, VEHCS, and APHIS returns the endorsed original, ink-signed and embossed. You can arrange return by mail with a prepaid, preaddressed overnight label, or pick it up at an APHIS endorsement office. Allow for shipping time.
• APHIS must endorse the certificate within 10 days of your pet's arrival in the EU. If you're flying overnight, count from the arrival date, not the departure date. Book the vet appointment early in the window so there's time for endorsement and shipping.
• APHIS charges an endorsement fee, paid when the vet submits. Check the current amount on the APHIS site.
• The endorsed original must travel with your pet. Keep copies and photos on your phone as backup.
• A new version of the EU non-commercial certificate took effect on October 1, 2026. If your vet has an old form saved, make sure they download the current one from the APHIS France page.

Once your pet has entered the EU, APHIS says you can use the certificate for onward travel between EU countries for up to six months from the day of entry, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid. Older EU guidance gave four months from the date of issue, so if your trip runs close to either limit, check with the countries you'll visit. For longer stays, see the EU pet passport section below.

4. The owner's declaration

The last page of the certificate is a declaration that you (or a person you authorize in writing) sign, stating that the move is non-commercial. It must travel with the pet and the certificate. The owner or authorized person must travel with the pet, or no more than five days apart. If your pet flies separately as cargo more than five days apart from you, it falls under commercial import rules, which are stricter and more expensive.

5. Five pets maximum

You can bring up to five dogs, cats or ferrets in total as non-commercial pets. Six or more require the commercial certificate, unless they're over six months old and traveling with you to a competition, show or sporting event, with written proof of registration.

What France does not require

• No rabies titer (blood) test for pets coming from the US.
• No tapeworm treatment for France. Ireland, Finland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland do require one, so plan for it if you'll continue there.
• No import permit or advance notification for a non-commercial pet.

French vets do strongly recommend that dogs be vaccinated against distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis, and cats against the usual feline diseases. Most kennels and pet sitters in France will ask to see these vaccinations.

Timeline and checklist

Here is a realistic schedule for a healthy adult dog or cat with no previous EU-compliant rabies vaccination. If your pet already has an ISO chip and a current rabies vaccine given after the chip, you can skip straight to the 10-day window.

• ISO microchip number written on every document, matching exactly
• Original signed rabies vaccination certificate
• EU animal health certificate, signed by an accredited vet and endorsed by APHIS within 10 days of arrival
• Signed owner's declaration (part of the certificate)
• Airline booking confirmation for your pet
• Records of other vaccinations and any medication
• A recent photo of your pet, in case it gets lost
• Collar tag with your French phone number or address

Breed restrictions in France

France has a dangerous dogs law that sorts certain breeds and look-alike dogs into two categories. It matters for Americans because pit bull types are common in US homes and shelters.

Category 1: attack dogs (banned from entry)

These are dogs that look like the following breeds but don't have a pedigree recognized by the French agriculture ministry: Staffordshire terrier and American Staffordshire terrier types (the dogs commonly called pit bulls), Mastiff types (sometimes called Boerbulls) and Tosa types. Importing a Category 1 dog into France is prohibited. In practice, a mixed-breed or unregistered pit bull type from a US shelter will usually be classified as Category 1.

Category 2: guard and defense dogs (allowed, with rules)

This covers pedigreed Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Tosas, plus Rottweilers and Rottweiler-type dogs with or without a pedigree. These dogs may enter France, but in public they must be on a leash held by an adult and wear a muzzle at all times, including on public transportation. Residents who keep a Category 2 dog also need a French detention permit and liability insurance. If you're moving to France with a Category 2 dog, talk to the town hall (mairie) where you'll live before you arrive.

Flying with your pet

The airline's own pet rules are usually stricter than France's entry rules. Policies change often, so check the airline's pet page when you book, and call to add your pet to the reservation. Spots in the cabin are limited per flight, typically a handful of animals, so reserve early.

In the cabin

Small dogs and cats can fly in the cabin in a soft-sided carrier under the seat in front of you. The pet must stay in the carrier for the whole flight. Common limits:

Pet fees for the cabin on transatlantic routes run around $150–200 or more each way. Some airlines count the pet carrier as your carry-on bag and others don't, so read the rules carefully. European carriers such as Lufthansa, KLM and Swiss also accept pets in the cabin via their hubs, but the connection adds a second set of rules and a longer day for your pet.

In the hold or as cargo

Larger dogs fly in a pressurized, temperature-controlled section of the hold, in a hard-sided IATA-compliant crate big enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and lie down. Expect these restrictions:

• Summer heat embargoes. Airlines may refuse animals in the hold when temperatures at the origin, connection or destination are forecast above a set limit, typically during June to September. A flight that leaves Dallas at noon in July may be off-limits; a late-evening departure from Boston may be fine.
• Snub-nosed breeds. Bulldogs, pugs, boxers, Boston terriers, shih tzus, Persian and Himalayan cats and similar breeds are at higher risk of breathing problems. Many airlines, Air France among them, won't accept them in the hold at all.
• Nonstop is best. A connection adds hours on a hot tarmac and the risk of a missed transfer. Most pet relocation experts strongly prefer nonstop flights.
• No sedation. Airlines and vets advise against sedating pets for flights, since it affects breathing and balance.

Arriving in France

Flights from the US land at airports that handle pet arrivals, including Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Nice. Collect your pet (cargo animals are often brought to the oversize baggage area or a separate cargo terminal) and go to customs. Officers may check the microchip and documents. If anything is missing, the pet can be placed in quarantine at your expense, sent back or, in the worst case, euthanized. Paperwork done right avoids all of this.

Eurostar, the train between London and Paris, does not accept pets other than assistance dogs. Pets traveling from the UK to France go by car on Eurotunnel or certain ferries. For flights more generally, see Getting there.

Life with a pet in France

Restaurants, cafés and shops

Dogs are allowed in most cafés and restaurants, inside and on terraces, at the owner's discretion. It's common to see a dog under the next table at a brasserie. A well-behaved dog lying quietly is the norm; ask "Le chien est accepté ?" if you're unsure. Many places will bring water. Grocery stores, bakeries, butchers and other food shops generally don't allow dogs, nor do museums, churches and most monuments. Look for a sticker on the door showing a dog that's crossed out.

Hotels and rentals

Many French hotels accept dogs, usually for a nightly surcharge, and some charge nothing. Booking sites have a "pets allowed" filter, but always confirm directly, since some accept only small dogs. Vacation rentals vary: gîtes often accept pets for a fee, while city apartments often don't. A few high-end hotels go out of their way for pets with beds and bowls.

Trains

On SNCF trains, pets travel in the passenger cars with you; there's no baggage car. As of 2026:

• Small animals travel in a closed bag or basket no larger than about 18 x 12 x 10 inches (45 x 30 x 25 cm), on your lap or at your feet. On TGV INOUI and Intercités trains, SNCF charges a flat pet fare starting at €10 (about $11) per train, which you add when you buy your ticket on SNCF Connect. Each traveler can bring up to two animals.
• Larger dogs travel on the floor at your feet, leashed and muzzled for the whole trip, under the same flat pet fare. They don't get a seat, so on a full train you'll be sharing your legroom.
• OUIGO (the low-cost TGV) charges €10 per animal whatever its size.
• Intercités night trains charge a flat €19 (about $21) for an animal in a seat car. Pets are not allowed in shared couchette compartments, but ride free if you book a whole private compartment.
• TER regional trains: rules vary by region. Some let a small pet in a carrier ride free; elsewhere you buy an animal ticket at a station machine or on the app.
• Buying on board costs more: €20 if you find the conductor before the ticket check, €35 if you're caught without one.
• Assistance and guide dogs travel free, without a ticket.

See Trains for booking tips. Conductors often let a calm dog ride without its muzzle on, but the rule is clear and you can be fined, so carry one.

Paris Métro, RER and buses

Under RATP's long-standing rules, small pets ride free in a closed bag or basket on the Métro, RER, buses and trams. Large dogs are allowed on the Métro and RER, but generally not on buses or trams, if they're leashed and muzzled, and they need a reduced-fare ticket. Check the RATP site before you travel, since rules can change. Avoid rush hour, and carry a small dog through the turnstiles. Escalators and the metal grate floors on some platforms can hurt paws, so pick up small dogs. See Paris transportation.

Taxis and ride shares

Taxi and VTC (ride-hailing) drivers can refuse animals, except assistance dogs. Many accept small pets in a carrier. In Paris, the G7 taxi company offers a "Pet on Board" option you can choose when booking in its app, on g7.fr or by phone (3607). With other apps, use the notes field to mention your pet, and when hailing, ask before getting in. For airport transfers with a big dog, book a private van service in advance.

Parks and beaches

Paris has gradually opened more of its parks and gardens to leashed dogs, but some, including parts of the big formal gardens and many children's playgrounds, still ban them. Look for signs at the gate. Dogs are generally allowed on a leash in the Bois de Boulogne and Bois de Vincennes, and in forests around Paris such as Fontainebleau. Always pick up after your dog; fines for not doing so are high in Paris.

Most popular beaches ban dogs during the summer season (roughly June to mid-September), and some all year. Many coastal towns designate one beach as a plage pour chiens or plage canine. Ask at the tourist office. Outside summer, rules are often relaxed. National parks, including the Vanoise, Écrins and Mercantour, ban dogs from their core zones even on a leash, to protect wildlife; see Outdoors.

Vet care and health precautions

Every town has a vet (vétérinaire or clinique vétérinaire), and many speak some English. A standard consultation usually costs noticeably less than in a big US city. Emergency vets (urgences vétérinaires or vétérinaire de garde) cover nights and weekends; search for those words with the city name. Vets sell most pet medications directly. Pharmacies sell some flea and tick products.

Ticks

Ticks are common in French forests, fields and even city parks from spring to autumn. Besides Lyme disease, French ticks carry canine babesiosis (piroplasmose), which can be fatal to dogs if not treated quickly. Keep your dog on a tick preventive that's effective in Europe, check for ticks after every walk, and see a vet urgently if your dog becomes lethargic or has dark urine.

Leishmaniasis in the south

Sand flies in the south of France (Provence, the Riviera, Languedoc, Corsica and parts of the Rhône Valley) transmit leishmaniasis, a serious disease for dogs. If your dog will spend the summer there, ask your vet about a repellent collar or spot-on product, keep your dog indoors at dusk and night, and for longer stays ask about vaccination, which French vets offer.

Other hazards

• Pine processionary caterpillars: in pine forests from late winter into spring, these caterpillars march in long lines on the ground. Their hairs cause severe burns to dogs' mouths and tongues. Keep dogs away and see a vet immediately if your dog licks one.
• Grass awns (épillets): dry summer grasses work into ears, paws and noses. Check your dog after walks in fields.
• Heat: French summers now bring regular heat waves above 95°F (35°C). Walk early and late, avoid hot pavement, never leave a pet in a car and carry water. Many older French buildings have no air conditioning.
• Vipers: present in rocky, sunny areas in summer. A bite needs a vet quickly.

Pet insurance from the US usually doesn't cover care abroad. Some French pet insurers cover pets of residents; for a short trip, simply budget for possible vet bills.

EU pet passport for longer stays

The EU pet passport is a small blue booklet issued by an authorized vet in an EU country. It records the microchip, rabies vaccinations and other treatments, and it replaces the health certificate for travel between EU countries and for re-entering the EU. Its big advantage: no new USDA certificate each time you travel, as long as the rabies vaccination stays current.

French vets generally issue passports only to pets that live in France, because the pet must first be registered in France's national pet identification database (I-CAD) with a French address. If you're moving to France or staying several months, ask a French vet to register your pet's existing ISO microchip in I-CAD and issue a passport. This is a routine appointment; the vet charges for the visit and the booklet. Tourists on short visits may be turned down.

Registration in I-CAD is required anyway for dogs and cats that live in France, so if you're relocating, do it soon after arrival. It also helps you get your pet back if it's lost. For moving to France, see Staying longer.

Returning to the US

Dogs

The CDC tightened its dog import rules on August 1, 2024. The requirements depend on where your dog has been in the previous six months. France is not a high-risk country for dog rabies, so a dog that has been only in France and other low-risk or rabies-free countries in the six months before travel needs only the following:

• To be at least 6 months old when it arrives in the US
• An ISO-compatible microchip (one that a universal scanner can read)
• A completed CDC Dog Import Form receipt, filled in online for free, shown on your phone or on paper
• To look healthy on arrival

CDC suggests completing the form a few days before you travel, though you can do it on the day you fly. The receipt is valid for multiple entries for six months, but you need a new form if your dog departs from a different country. You can arrive at any US airport. The 6-month age rule is the catch for anyone who got a puppy in France: a young puppy can't fly to the US until it's 6 months old.

If your dog has been in a high-risk country during those six months (CDC's list covers much of Africa, Asia and Latin America, plus Turkey, Ukraine, Russia and Morocco, which matters if you take your dog on a side trip), much stricter rules apply, including approved airports and possibly rabies blood tests. Use CDC's online Dog Importation Navigator to check. CDC doesn't ask for a rabies certificate from low-risk countries, but your home state and your airline may, and keeping the vaccination current is wise anyway, so carry the certificate.

Cats

CDC doesn't require any form, health certificate or proof of rabies vaccination for pet cats entering the US, though it recommends rabies vaccination, and cats must look healthy on arrival and can be inspected. Airlines set their own minimums; Delta, for example, requires cats flying into the US to be at least 16 weeks old. USDA has no requirement for pet cats or dogs coming from France. Your destination state may require rabies vaccination or a health certificate, and Hawaii and Guam have their own quarantine rules, so check your state. Some airlines ask to see a rabies certificate or health certificate when you check in, so carry the vaccination record anyway.

Airlines on the way home

Airlines apply the same in-cabin and cargo rules in both directions, and they may ask for a health certificate issued by a French vet within a few days of departure. Check when you book your return. Many French vets can issue a general health certificate in English.

Practical tips

• Learn the key words. Chien (dog), chat (cat), laisse (leash), muselière (muzzle), vétérinaire (vet), croquettes (kibble), "Les chiens sont acceptés ?" (Are dogs allowed?).
• Plan the switch in food. Your pet's usual brand may not exist in France, and sudden diet changes cause stomach upsets, so find a European equivalent before you go and mix it in gradually after arrival. Royal Canin, Purina and Hill's are sold everywhere in pet stores (animaleries) and at vets. The EU bars travelers from bringing in pet food containing meat or milk, with a narrow exception for small amounts (up to about 4.4 lb, or 2 kg) of prescription diet food in sealed packaging. Buy a bag at the first pet store or vet.
• Get a French SIM or eSIM and put the number on your pet's tag. See Staying connected.
• Pick up: always carry bags. Paris fines are steep, and residents notice.
• Pet sitters and boarding: French pet-sitting apps and boarding kennels (pensions) exist all over the country. Kennels require up-to-date vaccinations, often including kennel cough.
• Driving: if you rent a car, secure your pet in a crate or with a harness, and check the rental agreement, since some companies charge a cleaning fee for pet hair. See Driving.
• Travel insurance: if your pet falls ill and you can't fly home on schedule, some travel insurance covers the extra days. Read the fine print.

Moving with a pet is easier with an expert on your side. Our trip planning service can help you plan pet-friendly lodging and transport across France.