Pet Travel to France: Key Changes from January 1, 2021

Following a EU policy decision, the UK government has announced details of NEW documentation required by British people travelling to France with a pet dog, cat or ferret from January 1, 2021.

From this date onwards – the end of the Transition Period – Great Britain will become a ‘third country’ with respect to the EU Pet Travel Scheme.

This means that while a pet passport issued in a EU member state remains valid, a current EU pet passport issued in Great Britain will NOT be valid for travel to France.

Instead, here are the new rules and procedures to follow:

You will need a dual language Animal Health Certificate (AHC), which you can get from your vet (an “Official Veterinarian”) no more than 10 days before travelling. UK vets have been ordered to have the AHCs ready to issue from December 22.

In order to get an AHC, you will need to take proof of your pet’s micro-chipping date and vaccination history.

It is important to note that this new ruling will affect any travellers with pets arriving in an EU Member State after 23:00 GMT on December 31, 2020.

A dog, cat or ferret must be micro-chipped, and vaccinated against rabies and you must wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.

Your pet’s AHC will be valid for:

• 10 days after the date of issue for entry into France
• Onward travel within the EU or Northern Ireland for 4 months after date of issue
• Re-entry to Great Britain for 4 months after the date of issue

Your pet will need a new AHC for each trip to France.

On arrival in France, pet owners travelling with pets will need to enter through a designated travellers’ point of entry (TPE).

If you are a UK national living in France and plan to travel with your pet using a UK-issued pet passport, you should speak to your vet. They will help ensure you are compliant with EU Pet Travel Regulations.

There is good news for anyone who has a pet passport issued by an EU member state, however – you can use it to bring your pet to Great Britain.

See our article on travelling to France with your pet after Brexit.