Essential requirements for bringing pets from France to Great Britain
Dogs entering Great Britain from France must be microchipped before or at the same time as receiving their rabies vaccination. If the vaccination is administered before microchipping, it becomes invalid for EU entry and must be repeated. This sequencing error is the most common documentation mistake in France pet imports.
The animal must be at least 12 weeks old to receive its first rabies vaccination, followed by a mandatory 21-day waiting period before travel, meaning the earliest possible age for a puppy to enter France is 15 weeks. If a pet's rabies vaccination expires and lapses even by a single day before a booster is given, the next vaccination is considered a primary vaccination requiring a new 21-day waiting period before travel to the EU.
Additional requirements include tapeworm treatment administered between 24 and 120 hours before entering Great Britain, a non-commercial declaration form stating the animal will not be sold, and customs declaration if the pet is being transported as part of a home move.
Health certificates versus pet passports
Owners need either an EU pet passport or a pet health certificate obtained from French vets. Since April 2026, UK main residents cannot obtain EU pet passports for their animals, even with a second home in the EU. These regulation changes closed a legal loophole that previously allowed UK residents with second homes in France to obtain EU pet passports from French vets, enabling significant savings compared to obtaining Animal Health Certificates for each trip.
In France, all veterinarians are authorized to sign official veterinary health certificates, unlike in the UK where only DEFRA-registered Official Veterinarians can issue Animal Health Certificates. A French vet with official vet status can complete and sign the certificate during the same appointment as the dog's vaccination. Pet owners have 10 days from obtaining the certificate to enter the UK.
Animal Health Certificates for UK pets traveling to France typically cost between £89 and £384, with most vets charging £100-£300 per pet. This represents a significant expense compared to the previous EU pet passport system. However, a single certificate can cover up to five pets traveling together, which helps reduce per-pet costs for owners with multiple animals.
Requirements for return trips to France
Once a pet enters the UK, it is treated like any other UK-based animal for journeys back to France. While Animal Health Certificates issued in the UK remain valid for six months for return journeys to the UK, owners have only 10 days from issuance to enter the EU. Once in the EU, the certificate remains valid for four months for travel within EU countries, but returning to the UK and re-entering France requires a new certificate.
This means UK residents need a new certificate for each visit to France, regardless of how frequently they travel. Animals based in the UK and returning with their owners from trips of up to six months are covered by the UK animal health certificate issued when they travel out.
Regional exceptions and future changes
Northern Ireland remains part of the EU pet passport scheme due to special post-Brexit rules, meaning pets from Northern Ireland can still use EU pet passports for travel to France and the EU.
The UK government is currently negotiating with the EU to establish a Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement that would allow UK-issued pet passports to be recognized by the EU. Negotiations aim to conclude before the next UK-EU Summit in summer 2027. Closer EU-UK integration aims eventually to align pet passports, though this is unlikely to change until late 2027.
More information on obtaining animal health certificates and EU pet passports is available through the UK government and French authorities.
