Moving Your Pet from France to UAE: Complete Travel Guide

Moving Your Pet from France to the UAE: My Journey with Koda

The email came on a Tuesday in March. My company was opening a new office in Dubai, and they wanted me to lead it. My heart sank before it soared—this was the opportunity I'd been waiting for. Then reality hit: what about Koda?

My 25 kg Labrador mix had been my constant since I adopted him five years ago in Lyon. The thought of leaving him behind was unthinkable. But the thought of navigating international pet relocation felt equally impossible. I sat on my kitchen floor with Koda's head in my lap, his tail thumping softly, and I made a decision: we were going together. I just had to figure out how.

What followed was three months of research, vet visits, paperwork, and more stress than I care to admit. But Koda and I made it to Dubai—and now I'm here to walk you through exactly what we learned. Whether you're moving a dog, cat, rabbit, or any other pet from France to the UAE, this guide covers everything.

The Reality Check: What Your Pet Needs

First, the good news: both France and the UAE allow dogs and cats to be imported as personal pets. No ban on your breed (unless you have an American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, or Tosa—those are restricted in the UAE). No import permit required. No quarantine if you have all your documents in order.

The less-good news: there's a lot of documentation, and timing is everything.

Here's what your pet absolutely needs:

• ISO 11784/11785 microchip — implanted before any rabies vaccination
• Rabies vaccination — must be current (within 12 months) and given at least 21 days before travel
• Health certificate — issued by a licensed vet and endorsed by French government veterinary authorities, valid for only 10 days
• Arrival through an approved port — Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi International (AUH), or Sharjah International (SHJ)

I learned the microchip-first rule the hard way. When I called my vet in Lyon to schedule Koda's rabies shot, she asked if he had a microchip. He didn't. "Then we do that first," she said. "If you vaccinate before the chip is in, the vaccination doesn't count." I'd wasted a week assuming I could do them simultaneously.

Step 1: The Microchip (Weeks 1–2)

Get your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 standard chip. This is the universal standard recognized worldwide. The procedure takes five minutes, costs around €50–€100, and your vet will register it in a database.

Write down the microchip number. You'll need it for everything that follows.

Koda barely flinched when the vet implanted his. I was more nervous than he was.

Step 2: Rabies Vaccination (Weeks 3–4)

At least 21 days after microchipping, get your pet's rabies vaccination. The vaccine must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and must be current at the time of travel (within 12 months). If your pet has never been vaccinated, you need the primary dose. If it's been vaccinated before, a booster is required.

Mark your calendar: you cannot travel until 21 days have passed since this injection.

For Koda, this was straightforward—he was already up to date. But I had to confirm the date of his last booster to ensure it was within the 12-month window.

Step 3: Health Certificate (Weeks 5–6)

Once you're past the 21-day waiting period, schedule a health examination with your vet. They'll issue an official health certificate stating your pet is fit to travel. This certificate must be endorsed by French government veterinary authorities—it's not enough for your vet to sign it alone.

The health certificate is valid for only 10 days from issue. This is the tightest deadline in the entire process. I scheduled my vet appointment for exactly 10 days before my flight, which meant zero buffer for delays.

The endorsement process in France typically takes 3–5 business days. Your vet will submit the certificate to the relevant authority (usually the Direction Générale de l'Alimentation). Plan accordingly.

I won't lie: the week before my flight was stressful. I called my vet three times to confirm the endorsement had been processed. It had. Koda, meanwhile, was blissfully unaware of the bureaucratic chaos.

Step 4: Choosing Your Airline and Booking

This is where your pet's size matters. Koda, at 25 kg, was too large for any cabin. But smaller pets have options.

Here's a comparison of airlines serving the France-to-UAE route:

I booked Koda on Air France cargo, which was the most expensive option but gave me peace of mind. The airline required the same documentation I'd already gathered, plus a cargo-specific form and proof of payment.

If your pet weighs 8 kg or less, cabin travel is an option. You'll pay a fee (€75–$150 depending on the airline) but your pet travels with you. If your pet is a brachycephalic breed (flat-faced: Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, etc.), note that all airlines on this route ban them from both cabin and cargo. Check the brachycephalic breed guide for alternatives.

Step 5: Arrival and Customs

Your pet must arrive through one of three approved ports: Dubai International (DXB), Abu Dhabi International (AUH), or Sharjah International (SHJ). When you land, your pet will undergo a veterinary inspection.

Have all your original documents ready: the endorsed health certificate, microchip records, and vaccination proof. The inspection is routine if everything is in order—no quarantine is required for compliant pets.

Koda arrived in Dubai on a Thursday morning. I picked him up from cargo, and despite the 12-hour flight, he was alert and excited. We cleared customs in 20 minutes. The relief I felt was overwhelming.

The Bigger Picture: Cats, Small Dogs, and Other Pets

Everything above applies to cats as well. Cats need the same microchip, rabies vaccination, and health certificate. The only difference is that cats are more likely to qualify for cabin travel if they're under 8 kg.

If you have a small dog or cat, cabin travel is worth considering. You'll be together during the flight, and the fee is significantly lower than cargo. However, you'll need to book well in advance—cabin pet spots fill up quickly.

For other pets (rabbits, birds, reptiles), requirements vary. We're still verifying specific regulations for non-traditional pets—check with the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and your airline directly.

Timeline at a Glance

1. Week 1: Microchip implantation
2. Weeks 2–3: Wait 21 days
3. Week 3: Rabies vaccination
4. Weeks 4–5: Wait for 21 days to pass; arrange vet health exam
5. Week 5: Health exam and certificate issuance
6. Weeks 5–6: French government endorsement (3–5 business days)
7. Week 6: Book airline and arrange cargo/cabin
8. Week 6 (final 10 days): Finalize all arrangements; health certificate is valid only for 10 days
9. Travel day: Arrive through approved port; customs clearance

Start this process at least 6–8 weeks before your planned travel date. I started 12 weeks out and still felt rushed.

What I Wish I'd Known

The microchip-before-vaccine rule is non-negotiable. Don't assume your vet will remember—confirm it explicitly.

The 10-day health certificate window is tight. Schedule your vet appointment strategically, not just whenever is convenient.

Cargo travel is expensive and emotionally difficult. But it's safe. Koda arrived in perfect condition, and the airline staff treated him with care. I watched him being loaded and unloaded via video, which helped.

Finally: start your paperwork early. Bureaucracy moves slowly, and you don't want to miss your flight because the French veterinary authority is backed up.

Next Steps

Use the documents checklist to track every requirement. Bookmark your airline's pet policy page. Call your vet today to schedule the microchip appointment.

Moving internationally with a pet is stressful, but it's absolutely doable. Koda and I are now settled in Dubai, and he's thriving in his new home. You can do this too.

Get your free personalized travel plan from Pawgo to ensure you haven't missed anything specific to your pet and your travel dates.

Data verified from official sources including French veterinary regulations, UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, and airline policies. Information auto-updated as of April 2026.