Traveling abroad with your pet
Verified 29 avril 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)
The formalities differ depending on whether you are traveling with a dog or a cat or a ferret or another pet.
What are the rules when traveling in an EU country with a dog?
The rules differ depending on whether you are traveling to Finland, Ireland or Malta or another EU country (general case).
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General case
You can travel with your dog within the EU if it meets the following conditions:
- Your dog is at least 15 weeks of age
- Your dog is identified by electronic chip (or by tattoo if it was made before 3 July 2011 and remains legible)
- You have sound European identification passport drawn up by a veterinarian
- Your dog is vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine is available only from 12 weeks (3 months) and takes effect at least 21 days (3 weeks) later. It must be subject to an annual reminder. Vaccination must be carried out after identification to be considered valid.
Who shall I contact
Check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country to see if other health measures to prevent diseases or infections other than rabies are in place.
Who shall I contact
The maximum number of dogs that can accompany you is 5.
When your pets travel to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, you can travel with more than 5 animals. In this case, ask your doctor or pharmacist first. DDPP: titleContent. You can enter the RFP by using an online form or by phone, email or by going on site.
Online
Enter online the Departmental Direction of Protection of Populations
By phone, email or on-site
Who shall I contact
EU Member States may allow entry into their territory:
- Dogs less than 12 weeks (3 months) of age that have not yet been vaccinated against rabies
- Or dogs aged between 12 and 16 weeks, vaccinated against rabies for less than 21 days (3 weeks), i.e. dogs whose rabies vaccine is not yet valid
This authorization may be granted only if one of these two conditions is met:
- You can justify by a signed declaration that your dog has not been in contact with wild animals of rabies-susceptible species from birth until movement
- Or your dog is accompanied by its mother, on whom it still depends, and the mother's passport establishes that she was vaccinated against rabies before the birth of her puppy.
If you find yourself in this situation, ask the embassy or consulate of the country of destination to find out if entry into this country is possible.
Who shall I contact
Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline or railway company with which you plan to travel.
Warning
If your dog is a 1st or 2nd category dog, inform yourself in advance about the possibility of having it travel with you and to bring it into the territory of the destination country.
On your return to France, you do not have any special formalities to complete.
Finland, Ireland, Malta
You can travel with your dog to Finland, Ireland or Malta if it meets all the following conditions:
- Your dog is at least 15 weeks of age
- Your dog is identified by electronic chip (or by tattoo if it was made before 3 July 2011 and remains legible)
- You have sound European identification passport drawn up by a veterinarian
- Your dog is vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine is available only from 12 weeks (3 months) and takes effect at least 21 days (3 weeks) later. It must be subject to an annual reminder. Vaccination must be carried out after identification to be considered valid
Who shall I contact
Your dog must also be dewormed against echinococcus worms (intestinal parasite).
Treatment should be done not earlier than 120 hours and not later than 24 hours before the date of expected entry into the territory of the country concerned.
The treatment must be certified by the veterinarian administering it.
Check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country to find out if other health measures to prevent diseases or infections other than rabies and echinococcus worms are required.
Who shall I contact
The maximum number of dogs that can accompany you is 5.
When your pets travel to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, you can travel with more than 5 animals. In this case, ask your doctor or pharmacist first. DDPP: titleContent. You can enter the RFP by using an online form or by phone, email or by going on site.
Online
Enter online the Departmental Direction of Protection of Populations
By phone, email or on-site
Who shall I contact
EU Member States may allow entry into their territory:
- Dogs less than 12 weeks (3 months) of age that have not yet been vaccinated against rabies
- Or dogs aged between 12 and 16 weeks, vaccinated against rabies for less than 21 days (3 weeks), i.e. dogs whose rabies vaccine is not yet valid
This authorization may be granted only if one of these two conditions is met:
- You can justify by a signed declaration that your dog has not been in contact with wild animals of rabies-susceptible species from birth until movement
- Or your dog is accompanied by its mother, on whom it still depends, and the mother's passport establishes that she was vaccinated against rabies before the birth of her puppy.
If you find yourself in this situation, ask the Embassy or Consulate of Finland, Ireland or Malta whether entry into the territory of the country concerned is possible.
Who shall I contact
Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline or railway company with which you plan to travel.
Warning
If your dog is a 1st or 2nd category dog, inform yourself in advance about the possibility of having it travel with you and to bring it into the territory of the destination country.
On your return to France, you do not have any special formalities to complete.
What are the rules when traveling with a cat or ferret?
You can travel with your cat or ferret within the European Union it meets all of the following conditions:
- Your pet is at least 15 weeks of age
- Your pet is identified by electronic chip (or by tattoo if it was made before 3 July 2011 and remains legible)
- You have sound European identification passport drawn up by a veterinarian
- Your pet is vaccinated against rabies. The rabies vaccine is available only from 12 weeks (3 months) and takes effect at least 21 days (3 weeks) later. It must be subject to an annual reminder. Vaccination must be carried out after identification to be considered valid.
Who shall I contact
Check with the embassy or consulate of the destination country to see if other health measures to prevent diseases or infections other than rabies are in place.
Who shall I contact
The maximum number of cats or ferrets that can accompany you is 5.
When your pets travel to participate in competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, you can travel with more than 5 animals. In this case, ask your doctor or pharmacist first. DDPP: titleContent.
You can enter the RFP using an online form or by phone, email or by visiting the site.
Online
Enter online the Departmental Direction of Protection of Populations
By phone, email or on-site
Who shall I contact
EU Member States may allow entry into their territory:
- Cats or ferrets less than 12 weeks (3 months) of age which have not yet been vaccinated against rabies
- Or cats or ferrets aged 12 to 16 weeks, vaccinated against rabies for less than 21 days (3 weeks), i.e. cats or ferrets for which the rabies vaccine is not yet valid
This authorization may be granted only if one of these two conditions is met:
- You can justify by a signed declaration that your cat or ferret has not been in contact with wild animals of rabies-susceptible species from birth until movement
- Or your cat or ferret comes with its mother, on whom it still depends, and the mother's passport shows that she was vaccinated against rabies before her baby was born
If you find yourself in this situation, ask the embassy or consulate of the country of destination to find out if entry into this country is possible.
Who shall I contact
Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline or railway company with which you plan to travel.
On your return to France, you do not have any special formalities to complete.
What are the rules when traveling with another pet?
If you plan to travel with a pet other than a dog, cat or ferret, find out in advance about the regulations for entering the country of destination at the embassy or consulate.
Who shall I contact
Also ask about the conditions for return to France with your DDPP: titleContent. You can enter the RFP by using an online form or by phone, email or by going on site.
Online
Enter online the Departmental Direction of Protection of Populations
By phone, email or on-site
Who shall I contact
Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline or railway company with which you plan to travel.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Service-Public.fr
Ministry of Agriculture
Directorate General of Customs and Indirect Taxes
Ministry of Agriculture