FR to CA is one of the easier intercontinental routes because Canada accepts EU vaccination records and your EU Pet Passport carries everything CFIA needs to see. No FAVN titer, no quarantine, no 180-day wait. Nala once flew this route with me in the cabin on Air France, and the only paperwork the YYZ agent looked at was the rabies entry in her passport. The single decision that affects timing is your vet appointment — the cert must be issued before you fly.
Flying with a pet from France to France → Canada bundles two sets of rules: the destination's import requirements, and each airline's pet-travel policy on the route. This page combines them so you can plan one consistent timeline.
Flying with your pet from France to France → Canada
France → Canada import requirements
What you need to bring a pet to France → Canada
| Requirement | Detail | Source & confidence |
|---|
Conditional requirements
These rules apply only to pets with a specific travel history. Most travelers can ignore them — but if one applies to you, skipping it can mean denied entry.
Dog from a country at high risk for dog rabies — If your pet has been in one of 108 higher-risk countries in the last 6 months:
- Rabies titer (blood) test: Rabies antibody titer required for dogs from high-risk countries. FAVN ≥ 0.5 IU/ml.
- Permit: Written permission from CFIA required prior to import.
Frequently asked
- 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.
For FR to CA: microchip ISO, current rabies vaccine, EU Pet Passport with rabies entry, plus a French vet-issued international health certificate (Canada allows up to 30 days but most airlines insist on a 10-day window for boarding). No quarantine, no titer, no permit. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo — it shows you the cert window and any breed restrictions at your arrival airport.
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.