Traveling abroad with your pet

Verified 29 avril 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

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  • You're going to Britain
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The formalities differ depending on whether you are traveling with a dog, or, a cat or ferret, or, another pet.

What are the rules when traveling with a dog?

You can travel with your dog to Great Britain if it meets all the following conditions:

  • Your dog is older than 15 weeks
  • Your dog is identified by electronic chip
  • 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

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.

Entry into the UK shall be carried out exclusively by approved points of entry. Check with the airline you are planning to use in advance to see if it has been approved for domestic carnivores in Britain.

Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline.

FYI  

Pets are not allowed on Eurostar trains to or from London.

Warning  

Some 1st or 2nd category dogs shall not be admitted to British territory.

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.

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

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 to Great Britain if it meets all the following conditions:

  • Your pet is older than 15 weeks
  • Your pet is identified by electronic chip
  • 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.

Entry into the UK shall be carried out exclusively by approved points of entry. Check with the airline you are planning to use in advance to see if it has been approved for domestic carnivores in Britain.

Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline.

FYI  

Pets are not allowed on Eurostar trains to or from London.

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.

The maximum number of animals 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 through 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

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 to be observed when entering the UK at the embassy or consulate.

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

Also ask in advance about the conditions of carriage of animals by the airline with which you plan to travel.