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Taking a pet out of France
There is no single rulebook for leaving France — the destination country sets the requirements, so the papers, tests and waiting periods depend on where you are going. Below are the 6 routes from France we have verified so far, covering Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Every route page is checked against two official sources — the destination government's import rules and the export guidance for leaving France — and carries its own "last verified" date. How early you need to start depends on the route; see how far in advance to prepare, and how we check every rule.
Dogs leaving France
Dog: France → the United States
Yes — a dog from France takes the CDC's simple low-risk route into the United States: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border. The catches are age and history, not paperwork: your dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and healthy on arrival, and must not have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past 6 months.
Simple rulesDog: France → the United Kingdom
Yes — the France to Great Britain crossing is one of the most travelled pet routes in Europe, and the rules are straightforward. France counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), and the French foreign ministry confirms the conditions for EU to Great Britain movement did not change with Brexit: a dog on an EU pet passport issued in France, microchipped and rabies-vaccinated, needs no blood test and no quarantine. Dogs must also have tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before arrival.
Strict rulesDog: France → Australia
Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. France is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a dog needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.
Cats leaving France
Cat: France → the United States
Yes — and for cats this is the simplest US route on this site: there is no CDC cat import form, no federal rabies certificate and no USDA APHIS animal-health requirement at all for a pet cat from France. Federally, your cat only has to appear healthy on arrival. The real paperwork is European: an EU pet passport with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, which your airline will expect and which your cat needs to be able to return to the EU.
Simple rulesCat: France → the United Kingdom
Yes — cats have the easiest version of the Channel crossing. France counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), and the French foreign ministry confirms the conditions for EU to Great Britain movement did not change with Brexit: a cat on an EU pet passport issued in France, microchipped and rabies-vaccinated, needs no blood test, no tapeworm treatment and no quarantine. The one deadline that matters is the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination.
Strict rulesCat: France → Australia
Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. France is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.