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Relocating to France with your furry best friend
| Published: | 29 Dec at 6 PM |
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Planning ahead for a move to France with your dog isn’t as complicated as many would-be expats think, but certain rules must be obeyed.
The heartbreak of leaving a beloved pet behind when you relocate overseas is one of the major negatives of emigrating, but the regulations for bringing dogs into France can be easily negotiated. The country welcomes pet animals as long as they have the required vaccinations ensuring there’s no threat to public health. Whilst the UK is still part of the EU, the ‘pet passport’ issued by licensed vets will still be in operation for Brit expats, but post March 2019 the following regulations are certain to be applied.
All dogs, no matter where they’ve been living prior to arriving in France, must have an anti-rabies inoculation 21 days before the travel date, along with a registered veterinarian’s certificate showing the date of the jab. Other inoculations may be needed, with local vets in your country of residence able to advise which should be given, and should also provide the required certificate of good health dated between one and five days before you leave.
A maximum of five dogs per owner is allowed, and they must be over three months old unless they are travelling with the mother dog. As well as the required inoculations, all dogs must be microchipped.
The logistics of travelling by air with your dog sound complicated, but pet transportation is big business with many reliable firms offering their services. The only drawback is the cost, far more to transport your dog to your new country of residence than the cost of your own flight. Requirements are set by IATA and include exact specifications for travelling cages, starting with size.
Cages must be made of sturdy material such as plywood or strong plastic, and must be large enough to allow your pet to turn around, stand up and lie down in a comfortable position. They must have secure locks, food and water bowls attached, be properly ventilated and have a ‘Live Animal’ sticker on all sides. You should attach your pet’s name and your contact details as well as a copy of the health certificate to the outside of the cage. Tranquillising is NOT recommended as it can be harmful.
If your dog is small enough to use a cage which fits in the space under the seat in front, airlines will allow one pet per passenger to travel in the cabin provided the flight takes 10 hours or less. Your pet transportation company will take care of customs clearance, and will need a copy of your passport and your flight ticket showing your time and date of arrival.
The heartbreak of leaving a beloved pet behind when you relocate overseas is one of the major negatives of emigrating, but the regulations for bringing dogs into France can be easily negotiated. The country welcomes pet animals as long as they have the required vaccinations ensuring there’s no threat to public health. Whilst the UK is still part of the EU, the ‘pet passport’ issued by licensed vets will still be in operation for Brit expats, but post March 2019 the following regulations are certain to be applied.
All dogs, no matter where they’ve been living prior to arriving in France, must have an anti-rabies inoculation 21 days before the travel date, along with a registered veterinarian’s certificate showing the date of the jab. Other inoculations may be needed, with local vets in your country of residence able to advise which should be given, and should also provide the required certificate of good health dated between one and five days before you leave.
A maximum of five dogs per owner is allowed, and they must be over three months old unless they are travelling with the mother dog. As well as the required inoculations, all dogs must be microchipped.
The logistics of travelling by air with your dog sound complicated, but pet transportation is big business with many reliable firms offering their services. The only drawback is the cost, far more to transport your dog to your new country of residence than the cost of your own flight. Requirements are set by IATA and include exact specifications for travelling cages, starting with size.
Cages must be made of sturdy material such as plywood or strong plastic, and must be large enough to allow your pet to turn around, stand up and lie down in a comfortable position. They must have secure locks, food and water bowls attached, be properly ventilated and have a ‘Live Animal’ sticker on all sides. You should attach your pet’s name and your contact details as well as a copy of the health certificate to the outside of the cage. Tranquillising is NOT recommended as it can be harmful.
If your dog is small enough to use a cage which fits in the space under the seat in front, airlines will allow one pet per passenger to travel in the cabin provided the flight takes 10 hours or less. Your pet transportation company will take care of customs clearance, and will need a copy of your passport and your flight ticket showing your time and date of arrival.
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