US to France looks straightforward on paper until you hit the EU Annex IV health certificate. It is not the same form your US vet uses for domestic travel — it is an EU-specific template that has to be filled in English AND French, with the rabies date AFTER the microchip date. Mochi and I once watched another traveler turned away at CDG because the dates were on the wrong rows. The single decision that matters here is which vet fills your cert.
Flying with a pet from United States to United States → France 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 United States to United States → France
United States → France import requirements
What you need to bring a pet to United States → France
Timing chain
Day -90 microchip implant · Day -21 rabies vaccine deadline · Day 0 arrive at customs
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.
Pet arriving from an unlisted (non-Annex II) third country — If your pet has been in one of 111 higher-risk countries in the last 6 months:
- Rabies titer (blood) test: Rabies antibody titer test (FAVN or ELISA) ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 3-month wait from date of satisfactory result before entry.
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 US to FR: confirm microchip ISO first, rabies vaccine at least 21 days before arrival, EU Annex IV cert filled by a USDA-accredited vet within 10 days of departure, then APHIS endorsement (1-3 business days). If you have a CDG layover and want to continue within the EU, the same cert covers you. Build your plan against your departure date in Pawgo — it will tell you the exact vet appointment window.
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.