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In This Guide
France follows European Union pet import regulations, which changed significantly in January 2022. If you're moving to France from the United States with a dog or cat, you'll need an ISO-compliant microchip, a current rabies vaccination, a USDA-endorsed bilingual EU health certificate, and you must meet specific timing windows. Here's what you need to know.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 compliant (15-digit); must be implanted and scanned before rabies vaccination |
| Rabies Vaccination | Primary vaccine valid for 1 year only (even if labeled 3-year); wait 21-30 days before travel depending on manufacturer |
| Health Certificate | Bilingual English/French EU health certificate (Annex IV) issued by USDA-accredited veterinarian; USDA endorsement required |
| USDA Endorsement Timing | Non-commercial: pet must arrive within 10 days of USDA endorsement, and both endorsement and arrival must fall within 30 days of vet issuance. Commercial: pet must depart within 48 hours of vet issuance. |
| Owner Travel Rule | Non-commercial moves: owner or designated person must travel within 5 days before or after pet |
| Titer Test | Not required for USA-origin pets (USA is a "listed" country) |
| Quarantine | None if all requirements met |
| Breed Restrictions | Category 1 dogs (pit bulls, mastiffs, Tosa without pedigree) banned; Category 2 dogs (Rottweilers, pedigreed American Staffordshire Terriers, pedigreed Tosas) allowed with restrictions |
Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip (ISO standard 11784/11785) before any rabies vaccination. The microchip number is typically 15 digits.
Critical timing rule: The veterinarian must scan the microchip immediately before administering the rabies vaccine. If the rabies vaccine is given before the microchip is implanted, or if the vet doesn't scan the chip before vaccinating, the rabies vaccination does not count according to EU rules.
If your pet already has a non-ISO microchip (such as some older U.S. microchips with 9 or 10 digits), you have two options: bring your own microchip scanner that can read the chip, or have a second ISO-compliant microchip implanted alongside the existing one (both chip numbers must appear on the health certificate).
Rabies Vaccination
Primary vs. Booster Vaccines
EU regulations distinguish between "primary" and "booster" rabies vaccinations:
Primary rabies vaccination: The first rabies vaccine your pet receives after microchip implantation, or after any lapse in rabies vaccine coverage. For pets vaccinated in the United States, a primary rabies vaccination is valid for 1 year only, even if the vaccine manufacturer labels it as a 3-year vaccine.
Booster rabies vaccination: If your pet receives its next rabies vaccine within 12 months of a primary vaccination, that booster can be valid for 1-3 years according to the vaccine manufacturer's instructions.
Waiting Period After Vaccination
After a primary rabies vaccination, your pet must wait at least 21 days, or the vaccine manufacturer's recommended immunity period (which may be 30 days for some vaccines) before traveling to France. Your veterinarian must confirm the manufacturer's recommended timeframe and record it on the rabies certificate.
Booster vaccines do not require a waiting period if there was no lapse in coverage between the primary vaccine and the booster.
Common Mistake to Avoid
If your pet's rabies vaccination expires by even one day before receiving the next vaccine, the coverage has lapsed. The next vaccination becomes a "primary" vaccination again and is only valid for 1 year.
Your pet must travel with all relevant rabies vaccination certificates. We strongly recommend that the microchip number is recorded on every rabies certificate.
While not required for entry, we recommend these vaccinations for your pet's health: Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus (DHLPP) and Bordetella. Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia (FVRCP). These should be current at the time of travel and administered at least two weeks before departure for maximum effectiveness.
EU Health Certificate and USDA Endorsement
Bilingual Certificate Required
France requires a bilingual English/French EU health certificate (Annex IV format) for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering from the United States. Because France is on the APHIS bilingual certificate list, the standard English-only form is not accepted. Request the bilingual template directly through the APHIS pet travel website before your vet appointment. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for this request. The certificate must be issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed (counter-signed and embossed) by USDA APHIS.
For Non-Commercial Moves
Your move qualifies as non-commercial if: you (the owner) or a designated person (family member, friend, or authorized representative) travels within 5 days before or after your pet, AND you are moving 5 or fewer pets, AND the pets are not being sold, adopted, or transferred to a new owner.
The non-commercial health certificate is valid for 30 days from the date your USDA-accredited veterinarian signs it. USDA APHIS must endorse the certificate within that 30-day window. Your pet must arrive in France within 10 days from the date USDA endorses the certificate. Both the endorsement and your pet's arrival must fall within the 30-day vet issuance window.
Declaration form: The final page of the EU health certificate contains a Declaration that you (the owner) or your designated person must complete and sign before your pet travels. This Declaration must accompany the pet and health certificate to France.
USDA Endorsement Process
After your USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the EU health certificate, you must submit it to a USDA APHIS Veterinary Services endorsement office. USDA will counter-sign and emboss the certificate.
Non-commercial: USDA endorsement and your pet's arrival in France must both happen within 30 days of vet issuance. Your pet must arrive within 10 days of the endorsement date.
Commercial: Your pet must depart within 48 hours of vet issuance; USDA endorsement must happen within that window.
Cost and logistics: Contact your nearest USDA endorsement office for current fees and processing times. We recommend using overnight express service (FedEx or UPS) with tracking when mailing certificates to USDA.
The endorsed health certificate (with original ink signature and embossed stamp) must accompany your pet during travel. Electronic versions are not accepted.
For Commercial Moves
Your move is considered commercial if: you or a designated person cannot travel within 5 days of your pet, OR you are moving 6 or more pets.
Your USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the commercial health certificate. Vets must use the current 2025 version from the EU IRegs page, as the 2024 commercial certificate expired January 11, 2026 and is no longer accepted. USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. Your pet must depart the United States within 48 hours from the date the accredited veterinarian issues the certificate (not 48 hours from endorsement).
Commercial moves have stricter timing requirements and typically cost more due to expedited processing needs.
Titer Test
Not required for USA-origin pets. The USA is on the EU's "listed" country roster.
If you are coming from a country not on the EU's listed roster, your pet will need a rabies antibody titer test. The process: Microchip and rabies vaccination (at least 30 days old before blood draw). Rabies antibody titer test performed by an accredited veterinarian and sent to an EU-approved laboratory. Wait 90 days (3 calendar months) after the blood draw date before completing export paperwork (assuming a passing result).
Check whether your country of origin is listed on the EU's official roster.
No Quarantine
France does not require quarantine for dogs and cats arriving from the USA if all documentation is complete and correctly sequenced. Pets that do not meet France's import requirements may be refused entry, quarantined at your expense, returned to the country of origin, or in extreme cases, euthanized. All costs are your responsibility.
The Five-Day Rule: Non-Commercial vs. Commercial
The EU defines two categories of pet moves, and each has different certificate timing requirements.
Non-commercial: You (the owner) or a designated person travels within 5 days before or after your pet. Maximum 5 pets. Non-commercial health certificate valid for 30 days from vet issuance, with pet arriving within 10 days of USDA endorsement.
Commercial: You or a designated person cannot travel within 5 days of your pet, OR you are moving 6 or more pets. Commercial certificate required (2025 version). Certificate must be issued and pet must depart within 48 hours.
Breed Restrictions
Category 1 Dogs (Banned from Entry)
Pit Bull Terrier (or dogs resembling pit bulls without pedigree). Mastiff-type dogs without pedigree. Tosa dogs without pedigree.
These breeds cannot enter France under any circumstances.
Category 2 Dogs (Allowed with Restrictions)
Rottweilers. American Staffordshire Terrier with pedigree. Tosa with pedigree.
If you have a Category 2 dog: You must present a pedigree certificate issued by the central canine society of your dog's country of origin showing the dog's pedigree is recognized by the International Canine Federation. In France, Category 2 dogs must be muzzled and on a leash in public places, on public transport, and on public thoroughfares. You may need a special ownership permit.
Our recommendation: If you have a dog that could fall into Category 1 or 2, contact us early. We can help you determine whether your dog qualifies for entry and what documentation you'll need.
Timeline: USA to France
4-6 months before travel (if coming from an unlisted country): Microchip and rabies vaccination. Wait 30 days. Rabies titer test (blood draw). Wait 90 days after blood draw before completing export paperwork.
30-45 days before travel (USA-origin moves): Confirm your pet's microchip is ISO-compliant and scanned before rabies vaccine (if not yet done). Ensure rabies vaccine is current and will not expire before return. Schedule health exam with USDA-accredited veterinarian. Request bilingual English/French health certificate template from APHIS before vet appointment. Allow 6-8 weeks for this request, so initiate early.
10 days before travel (non-commercial): USDA-accredited veterinarian issues bilingual EU health certificate. Submit certificate to USDA for endorsement. Complete owner Declaration form. Confirm pet will arrive in France within 10 days of endorsement and within 30 days of vet issuance.
48 hours before travel (commercial): USDA-accredited veterinarian issues commercial certificate (2025 version from EU IRegs page). USDA endorses certificate. Pet must depart within 48 hours of vet issuance.
Common mistakes that cause problems:
- Microchip scanned after rabies vaccine was given (vaccine doesn't count).
- Primary rabies vaccine timing miscalculated (owner thought 3-year vaccine was valid for 3 years under EU rules; it's only valid for 1 year).
- Non-commercial certificate timing missed (vet issued the certificate too early; pet arrived more than 10 days after USDA endorsement, or more than 30 days after vet issuance).
- Declaration form not completed (owner didn't know about it; pet delayed at customs).
How PetRelocation Can Help
We've handled thousands of moves to France and know exactly where things can go wrong.
Complete Support: We coordinate the entire move including health certificate preparation, USDA endorsement submission, airline booking, crate provision, ground transportation, and day-of-travel logistics. You don't touch the paperwork.
Vet Paperwork Support: We provide your veterinarian with detailed EU health certificate templates and step-by-step guidance to ensure all forms are completed correctly. We review the completed paperwork before USDA submission and flag any errors or missing information.
Consultation: We assess your specific situation (breed, origin, timeline, owner travel plans) and provide a detailed roadmap showing exactly what you need to do and when. You handle the execution; we give you the playbook.
Ready to start? Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through every step.
For official requirements, see the USDA APHIS France pet travel page.
