International relocation for dogs and cats, to and from France
Your pet's journey, expertly arranged.
We coordinate permits, veterinary requirements, flights and arrival formalities so your dog or cat can travel safely and calmly.
- Guides based on official texts
- Itemised quotes
- Online client portal
- In French and English
Two directions, two rulebooks Moving to France, or leaving it?
Entering the European Union and leaving France follow different rules. Start with the direction of your move.
Bringing a pet into France
Families settling in and French expats coming home: microchip, vaccination, a titre test if your departure country requires it, the EU health certificate and checks on arrival.
France's entry rulesTaking a pet abroad from France
Every destination sets its own requirements: deadlines, tests, permits, quarantine. We work back from your arrival date to plan everything.
Plan a departure from FranceWhy Pawgeot? A clear timeline, one coordinator, everything in one place
Every case has an online client portal: steps, deadlines, documents and messages, available any time on your phone or computer.
- Countdown and deadline for every step
- Vet tasks listed and ticked off when done
- Every document in one place, ready to download
- Messages with your coordinator alongside the case
Rules checked at the source
Our guides cite EU law and each country's authorities, with the date we last checked them. Before anything is booked, we reconfirm it all for your pet.
A quote that tells you everything
Our fees, the airline, the vet, laboratories and official charges are listed separately. Nothing is added without your agreement.
One coordinator, named partners
Your coordinator follows the case from start to finish. When a step goes through a partner (a ground carrier, an arrival agent), the quote says so.
Welfare before speed
Snub-nosed breeds, heat, age, long layovers: if a routing puts your pet at risk, we tell you and suggest another option.
How it works
Four steps, from your first message to your pet's arrival.
-
1
Ask for a quote
Route, preferred date, and your pet's species, breed, weight and age: a few details are enough to start.
-
2
Timeline and itemised quote
We check the rules at both ends, then send you a timeline and a line-by-line quote.
-
3
Preparation
Vet appointments, blood tests, certificates, the right crate, the airline booking: every deadline appears in your client portal.
-
4
Travel and arrival
Check-in with the airline, flight follow-up and arrival formalities. Depending on the country and availability, arrival is handled with a local partner.
Destinations The main routes to and from France
For each country: what France requires on entry, what the destination requires, timelines and the mistakes we see most.
Europe
North America
Asia
Middle East
Oceania
Import and export What to know before booking anything
The questions that come up in almost every case, with the official references.
Bringing a dog to France
Category 1 and 2 dogs, identification and I-CAD registration: what is specific to dogs.
Bringing a cat to France
Cabin or hold, hybrid cats and France's identification requirement.
Veterinary travel documents
EU pet passport, health certificate, export certificate: who issues what, and when.
Airline pet crates
Measuring your pet, choosing the right size and meeting airline standards.
Airports in France
Points of entry for travellers with pets, and departure airports in France.
Pricing and quotes
What goes into a quote and what makes the price of a pet move vary.
Dogs and cats travel differently
A large dog and a cat do not fly under the same conditions. We fit the itinerary to the animal, not the other way round.
Moving a dog internationally
- Large dogs: crate and cargo or hold travel depending on weight
- Snub-nosed breeds and airline restrictions
- Restricted dog types: French rules and the destination's
Moving a cat internationally
- Cabin, hold or cargo: what the airline and the country allow
- Flat-faced cats (Persian, Exotic Shorthair): precautions
- Getting an anxious cat used to the crate and the journey
Who we help
Assignments, emigration, coming home: every move has its own timeline.
-
Families moving abroad from France
We work from your moving date so that your dog or cat arrives at the right time.
-
French expats coming home
Back from Asia, the Americas or Oceania: titre test, EU certificate and point of entry, planned before you leave.
-
International families moving to France
Settling in Paris, Lyon or elsewhere: we explain every French rule, in English or French.
-
Employers and global mobility teams
A quote addressed to the employer, a timeline aligned with the start date and progress shared with HR.
Large dog or strict destination? Your pet may fly as cargo.
- Pet and crate exceed cabin or checked-baggage limits
- The destination or the airline requires cargo (Great Britain by air, Australia, Dubai…)
- Your pet is not flying on your flight
Frequently asked questions
What dog and cat owners ask us most.
How long does it take to prepare my pet's move?
It depends on the route. Between EU countries, a few weeks are often enough if the microchip and rabies vaccination are in order. To enter France from a country for which the EU requires a rabies antibody titre test, allow at least three months between the blood sample and the issue of the health certificate. Some destinations (Australia, New Zealand, Japan…) need six months or more.
The safest approach is to contact us as soon as your moving date takes shape: we work back from the arrival date.
How much does it cost to relocate a dog or cat internationally?
There is no single price: the amount depends on the route, your pet's size and therefore the crate, how it travels (cabin, hold or cargo), the tests required and the destination's official charges. Our quote lists our fees and each third-party cost (airline, vet, laboratory, official charges) separately.
Do I need an import permit to bring a dog or cat into France?
No, not for a non-commercial movement of a dog or cat that meets the European Union's conditions: microchip identification, valid rabies vaccination, a titre test if the country it comes from is not listed by the EU, and an EU animal health certificate (or an EU pet passport for a pet coming from another Member State). Exceptions: Category 1 dogs are banned from entering France, even in transit, and some hybrid cats (a Bengal or Savannah without a LOOF pedigree, for example) need prior authorisation.
Will my pet go into quarantine when it arrives in France?
No, if its paperwork is in order: France does not quarantine dogs and cats that meet the entry conditions. A pet that does not comply, however, can be sent back to where it came from or placed in isolation at the owner's expense until its situation is regularised. That is why every document is checked before departure.
Cabin, hold or cargo: how will my pet fly?
The airline sets the weight and size limits for the cabin and the hold, and some countries require cargo (for example to enter Great Britain by air). A small cat or dog can sometimes fly in the cabin; a large dog flies in the hold or as cargo. We check the real options for your pet and route before anything is booked.
What does your service include?
We check the rules of both countries, build the vet timeline, prepare and check the documents, choose the mode of travel with you, book with the airline and coordinate arrival. Some physical steps, such as road transport or an airport meet-and-greet, go through partners depending on the country and availability; the quote always says who does what.
Latest articles
Practical guides to international travel with a dog or cat.
Flying with a flat-faced dog or cat
French Bulldog, Pug, Boxer, Persian: most airlines keep snub-nosed breeds out of the hold, and some out of cargo too. Small ones can often fly in t...
Returning to France with a pet
For French expats moving back: what the passport issued in France is still worth, what to do if the rabies vaccine lapsed, unlisted countries such ...
Flying with a dog: cabin, hold or cargo?
Your dog's weight with its carrier or crate, the airline, the destination and the breed decide how it flies. Some destinations, such as Great Brita...
Let's talk about your pet's move
Tell us the route, the date you have in mind and a little about your dog or cat. The quote is free and there is no obligation.