United States to France With a Dog: 2026 Requirements

First, confirm this is non-commercial travel

This guide covers the common case in which a dog travels for a personal trip or relocation and is not being sold or transferred to a new owner.

The non-commercial path generally applies when:

• The owner or an authorized person travels with the dog.
• The owner’s travel is within five days of the dog’s travel.
• No more than five pets are moving, unless a qualifying competition exception applies.

If ownership will change, the owner will not travel within that window, or more than five pets are moving, ask USDA APHIS which commercial certificate and timing rules apply.

Follow the sequence in the correct order

1. Identify the microchip

Your dog needs a readable microchip. The identification number must match the number recorded on the vaccination and health certificate documents.

For this route, the microchip must be implanted or read before the rabies vaccination used to qualify for entry. A rabies vaccination given before the microchip may not count for EU entry.

2. Check the rabies vaccination

The rabies vaccination must be valid on the date of entry. If this is the dog’s first qualifying rabies vaccination, or coverage lapsed before a booster, the EU primary-vaccination waiting period applies.

For a primary vaccination, wait at least 21 days before entry. A booster given before the previous vaccination expires can preserve continuity and may avoid a new 21-day wait.

3. Use a USDA-accredited veterinarian

The EU animal health certificate must be completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian. Confirm accreditation when making the appointment and bring the microchip and rabies records.

The veterinarian should use the certificate linked from the current USDA APHIS France page. This matters because certificate versions and implementation dates can change.

4. Obtain USDA APHIS endorsement

After the accredited veterinarian completes the certificate, USDA APHIS must endorse it. The clinic may submit through the Veterinary Export Health Certification System or follow the submission method specified by the endorsement office.

Do not choose the appointment date based only on clinic availability. Work backward from the arrival date and allow time for document correction and endorsement.

5. Protect the EU arrival window

For the non-commercial certificate path described by USDA APHIS, the pet must arrive in the EU within 10 days after USDA endorsement. The certificate can then support onward movement within the EU for a limited period stated by the authority.

This narrow arrival window is one of the most important dates in the plan. A flight change can affect document validity.

2026 certificate change to watch

USDA APHIS states that new non-commercial EU certificates take effect on October 1, 2026. It also states that the prior certificates may be endorsed through September 30, 2026. Travelers near that changeover should use the certificate version currently linked by USDA APHIS and confirm the transition with the accredited veterinarian.

What to carry

Keep the original endorsed certificate and supporting vaccination record available during travel. Also carry copies, the microchip number, airline booking confirmations, and contact details for the veterinarian.

The airline may have separate document, crate, breed, temperature, and booking requirements. Meeting France’s entry rules does not guarantee airline acceptance.

Final checks before departure

1. Reopen the USDA APHIS France page and check for alerts or a new certificate.
2. Confirm the microchip scans and matches every document.
3. Confirm the rabies vaccination remains valid through entry.
4. Confirm arrival is inside the certificate window.
5. Ask the operating airline to reconfirm acceptance and check-in instructions.

PetRoutes provides planning information. The current USDA APHIS and European Commission instructions control this route.