Travelling to France with your pet

If you arrive from another EU country (or from Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar or Greenland) your pet needs an EU pet passport.

• In Italy it is issued by the veterinary service of your local ASL (in some regions also by authorised private vets), after registration in the pet registry.
• It must show the microchip number and a valid rabies vaccination.
• It is valid for the pet's whole life as long as vaccinations are up to date. Passports issued before 22 April 2026 remain valid.
• It is only issued to EU residents.

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785. A clearly readable tattoo is also accepted, but only if it was applied before 3 July 2011.

• The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination (at the latest on the same day): if the vaccination date is earlier than the implant, the vaccination is not valid and must be repeated.
• Check that the number in the passport or certificate matches the one read by the scanner.

Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination, given by an authorised vet and recorded in the passport or health certificate.

• Minimum age at vaccination: 12 weeks.
• The first vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary vaccination is completed: until then the pet cannot travel.
• A booster given before the previous one expires needs no new waiting period. If it is given after expiry, it counts as a new primary vaccination and the 21 days apply again.
• How long it lasts depends on the vaccine: the vet records it in the passport.

Entry into France is not allowed for puppies and kittens that are not vaccinated against rabies or whose vaccination is not yet valid: no derogation for young animals applies.

Since the vaccine can be given from 12 weeks and becomes valid after 21 days, in practice your pet must be at least 15 weeks old.

If it comes from a third country that requires a titre test, the effective minimum age rises to about 7 months (vaccine at 12 weeks, blood sample at least 30 days later, then 3 months' wait).

The non-commercial rules cover up to 5 dogs, cats or ferrets per vehicle, travelling with the owner or with a person authorised in writing (the owner must travel within 5 days before or after the pet).

• More than 5 pets are allowed only for competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, with written proof of registration and animals over 6 months old; otherwise trade rules apply.
• The pet must not be sold or change owner.
• For birds, rodents, rabbits, reptiles and other species national rules apply: check them with the veterinary authority.

France bans bringing in category 1 dogs ("attack dogs"), even in transit: dogs of American Staffordshire Terrier (pit bull), Mastiff (boerbull) and Tosa type without a recognised pedigree. Penalties reach 6 months in prison and a €15,000 fine.

If your dog has no pedigree and looks like one of these breeds, get a signed vet attestation before you leave, translated into French if needed, stating that it does not belong to a dangerous dog category. If a new assessment contradicts it, you face penalties up to confiscation of the dog.

Category 2 ("guard and defence dogs") covers American Staffordshire Terriers and Tosas with a pedigree and Rottweilers, with or without a pedigree. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is not classified.

These dogs may enter France, but in public places, on public transport and in shared areas of buildings they must be muzzled and kept on a lead by an adult.

• By air they are accepted only on Air France and cargo flights.
• Anyone keeping a category 1 or 2 dog in France must hold a keeping permit issued by the town hall.