Moving a dog to Guadeloupe feels like a mountain of paperwork, but the good news is there's no quarantine waiting on the other side. Cooper and I have done overseas moves before, so I know how much that one fact eases the pressure. Here's what I wish someone had told me: the import permit is where people trip up, and starting it early changes everything about how the rest of the timeline unfolds.

Bringing a pet to Guadeloupe requires three documents in the right order: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the destination's wait window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. The table below lays out exactly what's required, what's not, and where each rule comes from.

How Guadeloupe handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Hover the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Cabin policy

Minimum age16 weeks“protective immunity, the introduction into France of dogs, cats and ferrets of less than 16 weeks of age, even vaccinated against rabies, is not authorized.”

Hold & cargo policy

Cargo: Heat embargo6°C“ts written proof that these animals are registered to participate in one of the above events or to an association organizing these events, and the animals must be older than 6 months.”

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yes“- The animals must be accompagnied by a health certificate .”

Other rules

Pets accepted Accepted“Pour entrer en France en provenance d’un pays hors de l’Union européenne avec son animal de compagnie, il importe de respecter certaines règles, qui peuvent varier suivant l’animal et le pays d’origine.”

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs

The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. Any rabies shot given before the chip does not count, and the vaccination has to be redone afterward. Schedule the chip appointment first, confirm it registers, then book the rabies vaccination on a separate, later date. Keep both dated records together so the sequence is provable at inspection.
Category 1 attack dogs are banned from import into France, and that ban includes Guadeloupe. It applies even to animals only transiting toward another country. Confirm the dog's breed and category before booking any travel. A dog classified in category 1 cannot be brought in under any arrangement, so verify classification far ahead of any deposit or flight purchase.

Frequently asked

Does my pet need a microchip for Guadeloupe?
Yes. Guadeloupe requires an ISO-standard microchip, and it must be fitted before the rabies vaccination to be valid.
How long before travel must the rabies vaccine be given for Guadeloupe?
The rabies vaccine must take effect at least 21 days before entry, and can be given from 12 weeks of age. Travelling before that window makes the vaccination invalid at the border.
Is there quarantine for pets entering Guadeloupe?
No. Pets that meet Guadeloupe's entry rules — microchip, valid rabies vaccination, and paperwork — enter without quarantine.
What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
What happens if I forget a document?
At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
The rabies titer test must be carried out at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. Book the blood draw only once that 30-day gap has fully passed. Mark the vaccination date on a calendar, count forward 30 days, and schedule the sampling for after that point. Testing early invalidates the result and forces a repeat draw.
Take a breath: with no quarantine at the end, Guadeloupe is one of the calmer moves once your dates line up. The trick is stacking the microchip, vaccination, and permit in the right order, on the right days. Build your own personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder and let it map every deadline to your actual flight, so nothing slips through and your dog arrives ready.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Guadeloupe →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.