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

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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.

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FrenchEntrée's Digital Editor, Zoë is also a freelance journalist who has written for the Telegraph, HuffPost, and CNN, and a guidebook updater for the Rough Guide to France and Rough Guide to Dordogne & Lot. She lives in the French countryside just outside of Nantes.

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Comments

  •  M de Sousa
    2022-06-28 11:16:01
    M de Sousa
    I have a friend stuck in a hotel in Calais for a third day because the health certificate issued by a Paris vet (Certificat Sanitaire International pour le transit des animaux de compagnie 45 euros) for travel to the UK has not been accepted. She is now being told she needs another form which must then be stamped in Arras - a journey of two hours - before she can proceed. She doesn't speak any French and had booked a shared car to cross on the ferry but has missed this now. Was the vet wrong to issue this certificate, is it of any use and what can she best do now to travel forward? thanks

    REPLY

    • Zoë Smith
      2022-06-30 09:35:39
      Zoë Smith
      Hi M, Typically such a certificate is not required for pets registered in the EU or UK to enter the UK. I imagine there must be some other reason why entry has been refused. Is the pet registered outside of the EU/UK? Has the pet followed the correct vaccine protocol (most significantly, rabies)? What kind of pet is your friend importing (rules may be very different for exotic pets, as apposed to say, a dog or cat)? I would need to know the answers to these questions before advising on the official guidelines. Best regards, Zoe.

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