Taking Your Dog to France
Use this 2026 checklist for France’s dog entry rules, expected costs, paperwork, and return-to-US steps.
Requirements for Bringing Your Dog to France
ISO Microchip
Your dog must be identified with a readable microchip before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination. USDA APHIS advises using an ISO-compliant microchip; if the chip is not ISO compliant, you must travel with a scanner that can read it or have a second ISO chip implanted, and both chip numbers should appear on the health certificate.
Must be implanted before or at the time of rabies vaccination.Rabies Vaccination
Rabies vaccination is required for entry to France. The dog must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, and at least 21 days must have passed after a primary rabies vaccination before travel. Booster vaccinations remain valid without a new 21-day wait only if they were given within the previous vaccine’s validity period.
Primary vaccine: at least 21 days before travel; boosters must be kept current with no lapse.Rabies Titer Test
For dogs traveling from the United States to France, a rabies antibody titration test is not required because the U.S. is treated as a listed country for EU pet travel. A titer is generally only needed when entering from certain unlisted third countries or after travel through them.
Not required for direct travel from the United States to France.Health Certificate
For non-commercial travel from the United States, use the EU non-commercial health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS. The endorsed certificate must be issued within 10 days of arrival in the EU. France also states that the health certificate must follow the Annex IV model for third-country entry. If you are traveling with 6 or more pets, or your dog is not traveling within 5 days of you or your designated person, the commercial certificate rules apply instead.
Non-commercial certificate must be endorsed within 10 days of arrival in the EU; commercial certificate must be endorsed within 48 hours of departure.Import Permit
France does not require a separate import permit for a standard non-commercial pet dog entry when the dog meets EU pet movement rules and is presented to customs on arrival.
No separate permit for routine non-commercial entry.Parasite Treatment
France does not require routine tapeworm or other parasite treatment for dogs entering from the United States. However, if you continue onward from France to countries such as Ireland, Malta, Finland, or Norway, tapeworm treatment by a veterinarian is required 1 to 5 days before entry into those countries.
Not required for entry into France itself.Quarantine Period
There is no routine quarantine for dogs that meet France and EU entry requirements. Dogs that do not comply can be refused entry or subject to official action.
No quarantine if all entry rules are met.Banned Breeds
Category 1 attack dogs are prohibited from import into France. This includes dogs resembling Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers, mastiffs (Boerboels), and Tosas when they are not registered in a recognized studbook. Category 2 dogs may be imported only if they meet the normal entry rules and the owner presents proof of pedigree or studbook registration recognized by the International Canine Federation. All Rottweilers or Rottweiler-type dogs fall under Category 2 rules.
Breed restrictions apply at the time of import and on arrival.Estimated Costs
| Item | Cost(USD) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Veterinary exam | $75-150 | Typical private-practice exam cost in the U.S.; your vet may charge more for travel paperwork appointments. |
| Rabies vaccination | $25-60 | Only needed if your dog is not currently vaccinated or needs a compliant booster before travel. |
| Rabies titer test | $0 | Not required for dogs traveling from the United States to France under current EU rules. |
| USDA health certificate endorsement | $101 | USDA APHIS fee per certificate when no laboratory tests are required. |
| Microchip | $25-75 | If your dog does not already have a readable ISO-compliant microchip. |
| Import permit fee | $0 | No separate import permit fee for standard non-commercial entry to France. |
| Airline pet fee | $216-432 | Air France lists United States-Europe pet fees as 200 in cabin and 400 in hold; converted here at about 1 EUR = 1.08 USD for estimate only. Final charge depends on airline, route, and whether your dog travels in cabin, hold, or cargo. |
| Total | $442-893 |
Returning to the US with Your Dog
As of 2026, every dog entering or returning to the United States must have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. For dogs that have been only in dog rabies-free or low-risk countries during the 6 months before U.S. entry, that receipt is generally the main CDC document required. Your dog must also appear healthy on arrival, be at least 6 months old, and have a microchip. If your dog has been in any CDC-listed high-risk rabies country within the previous 6 months, additional rules apply, including rabies documentation and, for some foreign-vaccinated dogs, a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility and arrival through an approved airport. France is generally treated as a low-risk country, so a dog traveling only between the U.S. and France will usually return under the simpler low-risk-country process. Complete the CDC form before travel and keep the receipt available digitally or in print for airline and border checks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my dog need a microchip to enter France?
Yes. France follows EU pet entry rules, which require identification by microchip before or at the time of rabies vaccination. If the chip is not ISO compliant, you may need your own scanner or a second ISO chip.
How long before travel should my dog get the rabies vaccine for France?
For a primary rabies vaccination, your dog must be at least 12 weeks old and you must wait at least 21 days after vaccination before entering France. Valid boosters given on time do not restart the 21-day wait.
Do dogs from the United States need a rabies titer test for France?
No. Dogs traveling from the United States to France do not need a rabies antibody titration test under current EU listed-country rules.
Do I need an import permit for France?
Not for a normal non-commercial pet entry that follows EU rules. You do need the correct endorsed health certificate and must present the dog to customs on arrival.
Is there a quarantine for dogs entering France?
Not if your dog meets all entry requirements. France does not impose routine quarantine on compliant pet dogs arriving from the United States.
Can I bring a pit bull or other restricted breed into France?
France prohibits import of Category 1 attack dogs. Some Category 2 dogs may enter only with recognized pedigree documentation and must still comply with French dangerous-dog rules.
What health certificate do I need for France?
Most U.S. pet owners use the EU non-commercial health certificate completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA APHIS. It must be valid for arrival within 10 days of issuance/endorsement timing required by USDA and EU rules.
What do I need to return to the United States from France with my dog?
You will need a CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog must be microchipped, healthy on arrival, and at least 6 months old. Extra requirements apply only if the dog has been in a CDC high-risk rabies country during the previous 6 months.