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Bringing a dog from Canada to France
Sources disagree: France's official FAQ still cites the pre-2026 framework (Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 and its Annex IV certificate), while CFIA — applying the EU's 2026 regulations (2026/131 on health conditions, 2026/705 on certificate models, 2026/636 on the exemption list) — requires the new certificate format and says to use it immediately. Old-format certificates signed on or before 30 September 2026 are still accepted during the transition. Use CFIA's current form; the underlying health requirements (chip, rabies vaccination, no titer test from Canada) are the same in both.
Until officials align, follow the stricter reading and confirm with the destination authority.
Step-by-step checklist
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784 microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination — a vaccination given before chipping does not count and must be repeated. A tattoo is accepted only if applied before 3 July 2011 and still clearly legible. | Before vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | At 12 weeks of age or older. Wait at least 21 days after the primary vaccination before entering France; a booster given within the previous vaccine's validity works immediately, but any lapse — even one day — makes the next dose a new primary vaccination with a fresh 21-day wait. Note that in Canada a primary rabies vaccine is usually valid for only 1 year. | ≥21 days before travel |
| No titer test | Canada is exempt from the rabies antibody titration test for direct travel to the EU (CFIA confirms it is not required from Canada). The test, with its 30-day and 3-month waits, applies only to non-listed countries. | — |
| EU animal health certificate + CFIA endorsement | Your licensed veterinarian completes the non-commercial EU animal health certificate — for France, the English/French version — and a CFIA veterinarian must endorse it afterwards; endorsement is impossible once the dog has left Canada. The certificate is valid 10 days from your vet's signature for entering the EU, and then remains valid for up to 4 months of travel within the EU (or until the rabies vaccination expires). Attach the mandatory owner declaration that the movement is non-commercial; if someone else travels with your dog, they need your written authorisation and must travel within 5 days of you. | Final 10 days |
| France-specific checks (dogs) | Category 1 dogs — pit-bull types and non-pedigree American Staffordshire Terrier, Mastiff/Boerboel and Tosa types — are prohibited from entering France at all, including in transit; classification is by body morphology, not by the breed name on your Canadian papers. Category 2 dogs (pedigree American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers and their types) may be imported only with the French dangerous-dog documentation set. Separately, French law requires every dog imported from a third country to have at least one adult tooth. | Before booking |
| Arrival in France | Enter through a designated travellers' point of entry and present yourself, with the original documents, to the customs officers. France issues no import permit and offers no advance appointment — the checks happen on arrival. | Arrival |
Your preparation timeline
- 1≥3–4 weeks out — Microchip check, rabies vaccination (21-day wait starts); check your dog is not a French category 1 type
- 2Final 10 days — Vet completes the EN/FR animal health certificate; CFIA endorsement appointment; attach the non-commercial declaration
- 3Arrival — Customs document and identity checks at the entry point — no quarantine if compliant
Costs you can plan for
France issues no import permit and charges no government entry fee for pets. Your costs are your Canadian veterinarian, the CFIA endorsement fee (set under the CFIA Fees Notice and confirmed when you book the appointment), and transport. Non-compliance is the expensive scenario: French officers can order the dog returned to Canada, quarantined, or euthanised — at the owner's expense.
Questions people ask about this route
Does my dog need a rabies blood (titer) test for France?
No. Canada is on the EU's exemption list, and CFIA states the titration test is not required for pets travelling directly from Canada. The test applies to non-listed countries, where it adds a wait of at least 3 months after the blood sample.
Can I use a pet passport?
No — EU pet passports belong to animals resident in the EU. From Canada the travel document is the EU animal health certificate endorsed by CFIA; after entry it stays valid for up to 4 months of onward travel inside the EU, provided the rabies vaccination remains valid.
My dog is an American Staffordshire Terrier — can it enter France?
Only if it is a pedigree (LOF-registered type) category 2 dog travelling with the full French dangerous-dog documentation. A non-pedigree Am Staff type falls into category 1, whose import — and even transit through France — is prohibited.
Does my dog need a tapeworm treatment for France?
No. The Echinococcus treatment is required only for dogs entering Finland, Malta, Ireland or Northern Ireland — not France.
Related guides
- Bringing a cat from Canada to France
- Rabies titer tests (FAVN / RNATT): validity and waiting periods by country
- How many days before travel do you need a pet health certificate?
- Pet quarantine by country: how long, where, and how to avoid it
- Microchip before or after rabies vaccination?
- How far in advance should you start preparing?
Official sources for this page
- CFIA — Export of dogs, cats and ferrets to the EU: non-commercial movements
- France (agriculture.gouv.fr) — FAQ: importing pets from third countries
- France DGAL — Information note: non-commercial imports of pets from third countries (updated June 2026)
We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.
Want a professional to run this route for you?
Licensed pet relocation companies handle permits, vet paperwork and flights daily. We are adding vetted partners for this route — check back soon.