How to Take Your Dog, Cat or Ferret From the UK to France (2026)

If you are moving from Britain to France with a dog, cat or ferret, the paperwork is not complicated, but the order of the steps matters. Since Brexit, Great Britain is a third country for pet travel, and the old pet passport no longer works for you.

This guide follows the gov.uk guidance on taking your pet abroad and the French customs page on pets arriving from the UK. Rules change, so check both pages again before you book your crossing. If you are planning the whole move, see moving to France from the UK.

What the rules cover

The gov.uk guide applies to dogs, cats and ferrets, and to assistance dogs. It tells you to check the destination country’s additional rules too. French customs says the movement must be non-commercial, with no sale or transfer of ownership.

Other animals, such as birds or reptiles, are not covered by these pages. For those, ask your vet or the French authorities.

Step 1: microchip your pet

Gov.uk says you must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination. If the order is the other way round, your pet will need another rabies vaccination.

Only certain people may microchip a pet for travel. According to gov.uk, these are a vet, a vet nurse or student working under a vet’s direction, someone trained before 29 December 2014 with practical experience, or someone who has passed an approved training course.

On the standard: gov.uk says EU airlines, trains and ferries can read chips that meet ISO 11784 and ISO 11785. If your pet’s chip does not meet those standards, you may need to bring your own reader, so check with your travel company before you leave. French customs says the same thing: without a compliant chip, you must provide a reader.

French customs also accepts a tattoo, but only one applied before 3 July 2011, and you need proof of that date. For most pets today, a microchip is the practical route.

Step 2: rabies vaccination

Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies before travel. Your vet needs proof that your pet is at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating, and French customs adds that animals under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated. The vaccination cannot come before the microchip.

Gov.uk says a first vaccination (or the last of a first course) must be followed by a wait of at least 21 full days. The exact wait depends on the vaccine type, so ask your vet. French customs says the vaccination must be given at least 21 days before departure.

If your pet is already vaccinated, check whether it needs a booster. Gov.uk says you do not need to wait to travel after a booster if there is no break in vaccine cover.

French customs also says dogs, cats and ferrets from the UK are exempt from the rabies antibody titre test.

Step 3: the animal health certificate

This is the document that replaces the pet passport for you. Gov.uk says that if you live in England, Scotland or Wales, you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU, and your pet may be refused entry if you try. French customs confirms that pet passports issued in Great Britain, or to a UK resident, are no longer valid for travel from Great Britain to the EU.

Who signs it and when to ask

The certificate has to be signed by an official veterinarian (OV). If your own vet cannot issue certificates, gov.uk says to ask them to help you find an OV. Tell your vet when you book the vaccination that you will need a certificate, so they can prepare.

Take proof of your pet’s microchipping date and its vaccination history to the appointment. The gov.uk page does not state a cost, so ask the practice.

How long it lasts

Gov.uk gives three periods, all counted from the date of issue:

• 10 days for entry into the EU, with the issue date as day 1.
• 6 months for onward travel within the EU after entry.
• 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain.

If the rabies vaccination expires during your trip, the certificate cannot be used for onward travel or re-entry.

You need a new certificate for each separate trip you take with your pet to the EU. Your vet will also give you a declaration to sign confirming that you will not sell or re-home the pet while abroad.

French customs describes the same 10-day window, and adds that for a sea crossing the period is extended by the length of the sea voyage. It also states that the certificate is based on the model in Annex III of Regulation (EU) 2026/705, and that the older model from Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 577/2013 stays acceptable until 31 March 2027 if it was issued before 1 October 2026.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs

Gov.uk says a vet must treat your dog for tapeworm when you travel to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland (unless you have a Northern Ireland pet travel document). France is not on that list, and French customs does not mention tapeworm treatment either. If that changes, it will show on the gov.uk page, so look at it before you go.

How many pets you can take

In a private vehicle, gov.uk says you cannot take more than 5 pets to an EU country unless you are attending or training for an event, or exporting for commercial purposes. As a foot passenger, you can take up to 5 pets. For events you need written evidence of registration, and every pet must still meet the other requirements.

French customs sets the limit at 5 animals per owner or authorised person, across all species. It says dogs, cats and ferrets entered for shows, competitions or sporting events (or training for them) and over 6 months old are exempt from that limit, with written proof of registration. If a pet does not meet the pet criteria, it must be presented for veterinary inspection at a border control post, and French customs warns that not every post can inspect pets. An animal sent to a post not authorised for its species will be sent back.

Entering France

Gov.uk says to enter the EU through a travellers’ point of entry, and to be ready to show the animal health certificate. It should prove the microchip, the rabies vaccination and, where required, the tapeworm treatment.

French customs describes two declarations:

• To the transport company, at check-in at the latest: you confirm that the animal qualifies as a pet (including the 5-animal limit), show the health certificate, and present the animal for microchip scanning.
• To customs, on disembarkation: you declare and present the animal.

Customs says that for onward movements to other EU states, including after a short stay in France, the certificate is valid for 6 months in total from the entry checks, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. It also says customs officers must endorse the certificate on arrival in France.

The official pages cited here do not describe any registration of the animal once you live in France, such as a declaration at your town hall. Ask your French vet or your mairie about that after you arrive.

Travelling with someone else

Gov.uk says another person can travel with your pet, for example a friend or relative, if the journey is within 5 days of your own trip to the same destination, before or after, and you give permission. You must sign a declaration naming the person. Only the owner named on the pet travel document can give permission. If your timing falls outside 5 days, gov.uk says to contact the APHA Pet Travel helpline.

Dangerous dog categories

France bans some dogs outright. French customs says category 1 dogs (attack dogs, including non-pedigree dogs resembling American Staffordshire Terriers, mastiffs or Tosas) cannot be imported. Category 2 dogs (guard and defence dogs) can be imported under specific conditions, and customs lists registered American Staffordshire Terriers, Tosas and Rottweilers, plus non-pedigree dogs resembling Rottweilers.

If your dog might fall into either category, read our guide to restricted dog breeds in France before you plan anything else.

Northern Ireland

Rules differ if Northern Ireland is involved. Gov.uk says that for a pet going from Great Britain to Northern Ireland, you need a Northern Ireland pet travel document, which is free to apply for and lasts for as long as you own the pet. The pet must be microchipped, and with the document rabies vaccinations and tapeworm treatment are not required.

On the EU side, gov.uk says that if you live in Northern Ireland, you can still enter the EU using an EU pet passport. Gov.uk refers you to the DAERA website for those details.

Sending your belongings

Your pet travels with you, but your furniture does not. For the household goods, see shipping your belongings from the UK to France.

FAQ

Can I use my old EU pet passport to take my dog to France?

Not if you live in England, Scotland or Wales. Gov.uk says you cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued in the EU, and your pet may be refused entry. You need an animal health certificate.

How long is the animal health certificate valid?

Gov.uk says 10 days for entry into the EU, 6 months for onward travel within the EU after entry, and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain, all from the date of issue. You need a new one for each separate trip to the EU.

Does my dog need tapeworm treatment for France?

The gov.uk tapeworm page lists Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland. France is not on it. Check the page again close to your travel date.

Can I take more than five pets?

Gov.uk says not, unless you are attending or training for an event with written proof of registration, or exporting commercially. French customs sets the same limit of 5 animals per owner or authorised person.

Can a friend bring my pet over for me?

Yes, if they travel within 5 days of you to the same destination and you sign a declaration naming them, according to gov.uk. The pet must still meet all the other requirements.