Bringing Your Dog to France From the U.S. (2026)

To take a pet dog from the U.S. to France, it needs an ISO microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older and at least 21 days before travel, and an EU health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA within 10 days of your arrival. France also requires your dog to be at least 15 weeks old, and it bans first-category attack dogs (pit bull, boerbull and Tosa-type crosses without a pedigree) completely, even just passing through. Once in France, the EU certificate covers travel to other EU countries for up to 6 months.

Last verified September 27, 2026 against official sources

Step by step

ISO microchip. Your dog needs a working microchip, ideally ISO-compliant (usually 15 digits), implanted before its rabies vaccination. The vet must scan it before vaccinating.
Rabies vaccination, at 12 weeks old or older. After a first (primary) vaccination, wait at least 21 days, or the vaccine maker's immunity period, before you travel. For dogs vaccinated in the U.S., a primary vaccination counts for only 1 year for EU travel, even if it's a 3-year vaccine.
EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited vet issues the EU non-commercial health certificate and submits it to USDA. It's valid for 30 days after your vet issues it, and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of your dog's arrival.
Sign the declaration on the certificate's last page. It travels with your dog and the certificate.

The EU introduced new health certificates on October 1, 2026. Certificates on the old form still count for entry only if they were issued before that date.

How USDA endorsement works, and what it costs, is in our USDA health certificate guide.

Sources: Pet Travel From the United States to France (USDA APHIS), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission)

France's own rules

Your dog must be at least 15 weeks old and have at least one adult tooth.
You can bring at most 5 dogs or cats (for a non-commercial trip).
Your dog must be registered with I-CAD, France's national pet register, within 7 days of arriving, through a French vet (a provisional identification certificate, €11). Service-Public doesn't say whether short visits are exempt, so confirm before you go.
Check your airline's or train company's own rules for carrying animals.

Source: Bringing a dog or cat to France: what are the rules? (Service-Public, French government)

Attack and guard dogs (categories 1 and 2)

France bans first-category attack dogs from entering, even just to cross the country. These are dogs without a pedigree that look like American Staffordshire Terriers (pit bulls), Mastiffs (boerbulls) or Tosas.

Second-category guard and defense dogs can enter if you follow France's rules for that category. These are purebred American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers and Tosas with a pedigree, plus Rottweiler-type dogs without one.

Source: Bringing a dog or cat to France: what are the rules? (Service-Public, French government)

A rabies titer test? The sources differ

APHIS's requirements for dogs going from the U.S. to France don't include a rabies titer (blood) test. France's Service-Public page, though, lists one for any pet from outside the EU: "at least 30 days after vaccination against rabies and at least 3 months before the date of arrival in France". The EU's own rules exempt pets from countries on its approved list. Ask your vet or APHIS which applies before you plan your dates.

Sources: Bringing a dog or cat to France: what are the rules? (Service-Public, French government), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission)

Traveling on to other EU countries

The EU health certificate covers travel into other EU countries for up to 6 months from the day your dog enters the EU, as long as its rabies vaccination stays valid. Dogs going on to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before entering. See our pet passport guide for how EU pet passports fit in.

Source: Pet Travel From the United States to France (USDA APHIS)

Coming back to the U.S.

Your dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt to come home, like every dog entering the U.S. See our CDC Dog Import Form guide.

Source: CDC Dog Import Form and Instructions (CDC)

Before you go

Entry rules change, sometimes with little notice. This page summarizes the official pages below as of September 27, 2026. Confirm the current requirements with your vet, USDA APHIS and your airline before you travel.

Flying there? Compare airline pet policies. For how USDA endorsement works, see ourUSDA health certificate guide.