Moving your dog to France isn't as hard as the Internet makes it out to be. So far, just Puff has moved to France almost full-time, while the other pugs get to visit. With Lenore at an advanced age, she can only travel abroad once, so if and when she makes it to France means, we are permanent residents. Until then, we are part-timers, splitting our littl epug family up and making things work.
So needless to say, we've done the ins and outs of international travel and moving to France with a dog and are very willing to share our tips for free. There are plenty of people wanting to charge you for information or to guide you through the process, which really isn't that difficult to handle yourself.
Getting Your Paws on the Paperwork
Moving your beloved pug to France is an exciting adventure! It requires careful planning and attention to detail, especially when it comes to the necessary documentation. The French government has specific requirements to ensure your pet’s health and safety. Gathering all the correct paperwork in advance will make the transition smoother for both you and your furry companion. This process ensures your pug meets all entry requirements for France.
Microchips, Rabies, and USDA Endorsements The European Union and France enforce strict entry protocols for pets coming from non-EU countries. Missing one sequence requirement can derail your entire travel day, so follow this precise order:
- ISO 11784/11785 Microchip First: Your pet must have a 15-digit, ISO-compliant microchip implanted before or at the same time as their primary rabies vaccination. If your pug’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you may need to have a new one implanted or bring a universal scanner at the point of entry. The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is administered and then scanned with each rabies vaccination. This is a non-negotiable step for international pet travel.
- Rabies Vaccine & 21-Day Wait: The rabies shot must be administered after the microchip. If it's a primary vaccine, you must wait at least 21 days before entering the EU. There can be no breaks or gaps between rabies vaccines or the rabies vaccination, or the latest rabies vaccine is considered a primary and is only good for one year and not three! You must be able to show an unbroken line from the primary.
- EU Non-Commercial Health Certificate: Within 10 days of arrival in the EU, an accredited USDA veterinarian must complete the official EU health certificate, which then requires electronic endorsement by the USDA APHIS office. Keep all physical originals in your personal carry-on—never check these in luggage.
Your Vet, Pet Travel Agencies, and the Health Certificate
Check with your vet to see if they handle international travel certificates. With the laws constantly changing, many have partnered with third-party pet travel agencies. Call me cynical, but I'm sure there is a kick-back involved. These pet travel agencies can handle everything from paperwork to booking flights--for a premium! My advice is to shop around and find a vet in your area that does the certificates in-house. We used a mobile vet who only does travel certificates. It cost $411 for one dog with the exam, fees, postage, and travel time. If we do multiple dogs in the same visit, there is a small discount as she only charges for one visit. In comparison, the pet travel agencies wanted almost $1,000 before the actual fees and postage. This is in Seattle.
Our new vet handles international certificates in-house, but we have not priced the service yet. I will report back on pricing structure and anything unusual if we go that route.
The exam and paperwork must be submitted within 10 days of your arrival in France. We have had no issues getting paperwork back on time, even during the busy summer months and over Labor Day weekend. Find a vet you trust, and you will be fine.
The Journey
The Flight: Booking and Cabin Comfort
Because pugs are brachycephalic (flat-faced), airlines strictly prohibit them from flying in cargo due to respiratory risks. That means in-cabin travel is non-negotiable.
- Book Early: International flights allow only a limited number of pets per cabin. Call the airline directly to reserve your pup’s spot before finalizing your ticket.
- Choose the Right Airline-Approved Carrier: Invest in an expandable, soft-sided carrier well in advance. Models like the Mr. Peanut’s Gold Series Expandable Carrier provide sturdy structural framing that easily tucks under the forward seat during takeoff and landing while allowing zipper expansion during cruise altitude so your dog can stretch out. This is what we use for all of our flights!
- Carrier Acclimation at Home: Place the open carrier in your living room weeks before your departure. Line it with a cozy, familiar pet blanket and toss treats inside so it transforms into a reassuring safe zone rather than a travel-day stress trigger. We feed our dogs in the carrier for a few weeks before their first flight. Make it their safe spot.
- Carry-On Essentials: Pack collapsible pet bowls, pee pads, and daily food rations. Keep hydration steady and bring a lightweight harness rather than a neck collar to avoid airflow restriction.
Travel Stress
Moving can be stressful for both humans and pets. Your veterinarian can offer valuable advice on how to minimize travel-related stress for your pug, like calming supplements or any medication. Avoid sedating your dog unless specifically advised by your vet, as this can sometimes cause more problems at altitude. Focus on making their crate a positive, familiar space before the trip. A calm journey is the goal.
I don't use any sedatives as this can cause more problems with a pug with altitude. The Brachy breeds need special care and sedatives are not in that list!
Our pugs receive a Cerenia the morning of or night before the flight. Cerenia helps with nausea and motion sickness, but key to pugs is that, off-label, it treats breathing issues, coughing, reflux, and collapsed trachea symptoms. Then we provide our own AC! We carry small rechargeable fans that can be placed on top of the carrier to provide airflow and cool the underseat area down. Make sure the fans can be used while charging.
Landing in France
Arriving in France with your pug is a major milestone! The process at the airport involves customs and immigration, and you’ll need to be prepared. Once you’re through, the immediate next steps involve ensuring your pug is settled and healthy. Finding local resources like English-speaking vets will be incredibly helpful as you begin your new life.
Navigating the Airport Customs Process
Upon arrival in France, you may need to present your pug’s documentation to the relevant authorities. This typically includes the microchip identification, rabies vaccination records, and the health certificate. Officials will verify that all paperwork is in order and meets EU import regulations. Having all documents readily accessible will expedite this process. We've never had our pugs even glanced at when arriving in France or Germany, but are always prepared just in case. Have everything ready to show, because otherwise your dog can end up in quarantine or refused entry all together.
Finding an English Speaking Vet
Once you've cleared customs, one of your top priorities should be finding a local veterinarian. Especially in the initial stages, having a vet who speaks English can be a huge relief. It makes communicating your pug's health history and any immediate needs much easier. Rest assured that almost everyone working a professional job in France speaks decent English even if they pretend they don't.
First Vet Visit and Registering with I-CAD
Upon your first vet visit, discuss needed vaccinations, get your EU pet passport, and get registered with I-CAD.
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I-CAD: This is a crucial step to moving to France. Your dog must be registered within 7 days of arrival. Visit a vet who will handle the actual registration and submission of the forms. To register you will need your passport and French address, and the dog's EU Health Certificate and rabies vaccination record.
Once your vet registers your dog, you will receive an email with information on how to pay (if the vet didn't handle that for you) and register your account online. Lucky for you, as of Summer 2026, I-CAD is all done online now including being able to pay with a credit card. You'll hear and read horror stories about needing a check and mailing the application even after it was submitted electronically by the vet, but that is all behind us! Use your credit card online. Be sure to keep your online account up to date.
- EU Pet Passport: The Pet Passport acts as a vaccine record for your pet, but once it contains a rabies vaccine, it is good for travel, which means you can forgo various health certificates. That is key: the Rabies vaccine must be in the pet passport to make it valid for travel. With Puff, her most recent rabies vaccine was less than a year before she arrived in France, so we elected to hold off getting another one. So while she got her pet passport immediately, it wasn't valid for travel until she received a rabies vaccine in France. To keep the passport valid, all subsequent rabies vaccines must be in France as well.
- Vaccines and Pest Control: Depending on where you move and what your vaccine protocol was in the US, you will need to get local vaccinations. For the South of France, the pugs needed a Leishmaniasis vaccine and a leptospirosis vaccine. The lepto can be done in the states and is now considered core, but the Leishmaniasis wasn't available in the US so that was our first priority in Nice. We also started all of our dogs on months flea and tick pills and use topical to further protect from mosquitos and sandflies.
Congratulations on your Move
Congratulations, you've made it to France with your pug! It wasn't as hard as all the forums made it out to be! I'm sure I forgot something, so ask me anything and I'll be happy to answer if I can.
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