FR to US is one of the cleaner EU outbound routes because France is not on CDC's high-risk-rabies list. Your EU Pet Passport carries the microchip and rabies record, the French vet adds the export entries, and the CDC accepts it as evidence. Mochi flies this route maybe twice a year and I have stopped being nervous about it. The single thing that catches people is forgetting the CDC Dog Import Form, which has to be filed online before you fly.

Flying with a pet from France to France → United States 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 → United States

France → United States import requirements

What you need to bring a pet to France → United States

Requirement Detail Source & confidence
✓ Microchip Required 97%
✓ Rabies vaccine Required 95%
✓ Health certificate 10-day validity from issue 95%
✓ Titer test Required 95%
✓ Quarantine Required 95%
✓ Import permit Required 95%

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day -10 health certificate issued · Day 0 arrive at customs

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 US: keep your EU Pet Passport current (especially the rabies entry), file the CDC Dog Import Form online at least a few days before departure (it generates a receipt your airline checks at boarding), and make sure your dog is at least 6 months old at travel. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo — it shows the exact CDC form deadline and any state-specific rules at your arrival airport.
Get YOUR personalized plan for France → United States →

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.