France (FR)

France is a unitary semi-presidential republic and the EU's most visited country, renowned for its world-class cuisine and wine, the iconic City of Light that is Paris, the French Riviera, iconic Alpine ski resorts, and a generous social state offering universal healthcare, extensive family benefits, and strong worker protections.

Capital: Paris

Region: Europe

Language: French

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 74)

Emergency: 112

Bringing Pets to France

Requirements, costs and process for relocating with your pets.

Microchip

Required

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Not required

Quarantine

Not required

Vaccinations

Rabies (obligatoire, minimum 21 days before travel after primary vaccination) DHPP (distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza — strongly recommended) Leptospirosis (recommended in rural areas)

Restricted Breeds

Category 1 (chiens d'attaque, banned from import): Staffordshire Terrier without pedigree, American Staffordshire Terrier without pedigree ("Pitbulls"), Mastiff (Boerbull)Category 2 (chiens de garde et de défense, regulated): Rottweiler, Staffordshire Terrier with pedigree, American Staffordshire Terrier with pedigree, Tosa InuCategory 2 owners require a permis de détention, civil-liability insurance, a muzzle and lead in public, and must be 18+ and criminally clean. Category 1 dogs cannot be imported at all.

💰 Costs

From within EU: passeport européen pour animal de compagnie €20–50 from your vet. From non-EU: AVMA/APHIS-endorsed certificat sanitaire €60–250 plus USDA or equivalent endorsement. Airline fees: €75–250 in cabin, €300–600 in hold. Identification registration at I-CAD (French pet registry) is automatic on vet visit.

🐕 Dog Tax / Registration

France has no annual dog tax (the old "taxe sur les chiens" was abolished in 1979). However, mandatory civil-liability insurance (responsabilité civile) covering pet damage is strongly recommended — often included in your home multi-risque habitation insurance. Category 1 and 2 dogs require compulsory dog-attack liability insurance on top.

Find a local vétérinaire via veto-compare.fr or the Ordre National des Vétérinaires directory (veterinaire.fr). Doctolib increasingly lists vets. Annual visit + vaccins de rappel: €60–120. Tarifs are unregulated — compare before booking.

📋 Relocation Process

1. Microchip (ISO 11784/11785) — puces transpondeurs conformes. 2. Rabies vaccination (after microchip; wait 21 days before travel). 3. EU pet passport from a registered vet (intra-EU) OR non-commercial health certificate in French/English, endorsed by the competent authority (USDA for US, CFIA for Canada, APHA for UK). 4. Titer test (rabies antibody test) required from "unlisted" countries, 3 months before travel. 5. Declare arrival at customs if entering from outside EU — usually a formality at CDG/Orly/Lyon. 6. Register with a local vétérinaire and update your I-CAD (i-cad.fr) record with your French address within 8 days.

France is pet-friendly by European standards — dogs welcome on SNCF trains (€7 ticket for small dogs in a carrier, half-price for larger ones on lead + muzzle) and often in cafés/terraces (less often in restaurants). Dog waste must be picked up (many communes fine €35–135 for fouling). Public parks often have dedicated "canisites" (dog zones). Île-de-France Mobilités allows small dogs in carriers free, and larger dogs with muzzle + half-price ticket.