Travelling with Your Pet: A Guide to Paperwork and Comfort

Travelling with your pet takes careful planning. According to French customs, nearly 10,000 animals a year are held or turned back at the border because their documents are not in order. Between EU formalities, non-EU requirements, choosing how to travel and logistics, nothing can be left to chance. Here is the complete guide, updated in line with EU Regulation 576/2013.

Travelling within the European Union

For any journey between Member States, your pet must have:

• An ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip (tattoos have not been accepted since 2011, unless done before that date AND still legible).
• A European pet passport issued by an authorised veterinarian.
• A valid rabies vaccination. There is a mandatory wait of 21 days after the primary vaccination before travelling.
• The microchip must have been implanted BEFORE the rabies vaccination (customs check this order).

See our dedicated article: Rabies vaccine: a complete guide.

Travelling outside the EU: requirements vary

Outside the EU, each country has its own rules. A few examples:

• United Kingdom (since Brexit): an Animal Health Certificate, to be obtained within 10 days before departure, and tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment 24-120 hours before arrival.
• Switzerland, Norway, Andorra: EU rules apply.
• USA: simplified import, but new CDC rules since 2024 (forms, mandatory vaccination).
• Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore: very strict. Rabies antibody titre test + a 90-180 day wait after the blood sample + possible quarantine.
• Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria: relaxed rules on the way out, stricter on return to France (titre test sometimes required).

Always check the website of the destination country's embassy AND of the French Ministry of Agriculture BEFORE booking. The paperwork often needs to start 4-6 months in advance.

Travelling by car: safety first

The French Highway Code requires the animal to be restrained so that it does not interfere with driving (Article R412-6). Solutions by size:

• Small dog / cat: a sturdy carrier secured with the seat belt, or a booster seat.
• Medium dog: an approved safety harness attached to the rear seat belt.
• Large dog: a dog guard between the boot and the passenger area, or a travel crate in the boot.
• Always keep windows closed or only slightly open (a dog leaning out can fall or be hit by debris).

Practical tips:

• No meal in the 2-3 hours before departure (to prevent vomiting).
• Breaks every 2 hours for water and toilet stops.
• NEVER leave an animal alone in a parked car, not even for 5 minutes in summer (see Heatstroke).
• Moderate air conditioning (20-22 °C).
• For travel sickness: see Travel sickness.

Travelling by train (SNCF, France)

• Dog < 6 kg / cat: allowed in a carrier bag (max 45×30×25 cm), pet ticket €7.
• Dog > 6 kg: muzzle and lead required, ticket at 50% of the 2nd-class fare.
• Assistance dogs: free, no muzzle.
• So-called "dangerous" dogs (French categories 1 and 2): muzzle always required.
• Booking a place for your pet is recommended on TGV high-speed trains.

Travelling by plane

Rules vary between airlines, but broadly:

In the cabin:

• Animals under 6-8 kg (including the bag), depending on the airline.
• An approved soft carrier, under the seat in front of you.
• No access to the toilets or to meals.
• Cost: €50-150 per flight.

In the hold (for larger animals):

• An IATA-approved crate: rigid, ventilated and secure.
• Pressurised, temperature-controlled hold.
• Cost: €150-400 per flight depending on weight.
• Risks: significant stress, possible incidents (rare but documented).
• Brachycephalic breeds (Bulldog, Pug, Persian) are often REFUSED in the hold for health reasons (breathing difficulties).

Get your pet used to the crate 2-3 weeks beforehand. No food before the flight (4-6 hours). Frozen water inside the crate.

The essential travel kit

• Documents: European pet passport, recent health certificate, vaccination record, your usual vet's contact details.
• Identification: an ID tag with your phone number in international format (+33...).
• First aid kit: sterile compresses, disinfectant (chlorhexidine), bandages, tick remover, veterinary anti-diarrhoeal, saline solution for the eyes.
• Usual food in sufficient quantity (a sudden change causes diarrhoea).
• Tap water from home in bottles for the first 2-3 days (to ease the transition for the gut flora).
• Current medication + prescriptions.
• Flea and tick treatment up to date (spot-ons, tablets, collar).
• A familiar blanket / bed (reassuring smells).
• Favourite toys.
• Poo bags.

At your destination: precautions

• Find a vet within 24 hours of arrival (in case of emergency).
• Keep an eye on water intake and appetite (signs of stress).
• No intense exercise on the first day (acclimatisation).
• Watch out for unfamiliar local plants (see Toxic plants).
• In Mediterranean areas: leishmaniasis (Scalibor® collar), heartworm, processionary caterpillars.
• In tropical areas: risk of flea infestation and heartworm (dirofilariasis).

Conclusion

Travelling with your pet is a wonderful adventure, but it takes preparation. Plan the paperwork early (passport, vaccinations, titre test if needed), choose the right way to travel for your pet and pack a complete kit. For exotic destinations, start the process 6 months in advance. Careful planning turns a stressful trip into an unforgettable shared experience.