Relocating your cat to France: rules, flights and arrival

What to check for a cat

• The country of departure decides the documents (EU pet passport or health certificate) and whether a rabies titre test is needed. See bringing a pet into France.
• The breed: a Bengal, Savannah or other cat bred from a wild feline needs a pedigree recognised by the LOOF; otherwise it is treated as a hybrid.
• Weight with the bag: up to 8 kg, most cats can fly in the cabin with Air France; above that, in the hold.
• Face shape: Persians, Exotic Shorthairs, Himalayans and Birmans do not fly in the hold on Air France.
• After arrival: I-CAD registration within 7 days for a stay of three months or more.

The entry rules, applied to a cat

To enter France, a cat must be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies (at 12 weeks or older, chip first), and travel on an EU pet passport or an EU animal health certificate depending on where it comes from. From an unlisted country such as China or South Korea, it also needs a rabies titre test taken at least 90 days before the certificate is issued. The details by country of departure are on bringing a pet into France.

One point often surprises owners: rabies vaccination is not compulsory for a cat living in France, which is rabies-free, but it is compulsory to enter the country. An indoor cat that has never left home must therefore be vaccinated, and a primary vaccination must be at least 21 days old on the day of travel.

As with dogs, France does not accept unvaccinated kittens: allow about 15 weeks at the very least from the EU or a listed country, and close to seven months from an unlisted one.

Bengals, Savannahs and hybrid cats

French customs and the DGAL are clear: cats bred from a non-domestic species (Bengal, Savannah…) count as pet cats only if they are registered with the Livre officiel des origines félines (LOOF), the pedigree book recognised by the French Ministry of Agriculture.

• With a LOOF pedigree (or a birth certificate serving as proof): the cat travels like any other cat. Carry the document: you may be asked for it on arrival.
• Without that proof: the cat is treated as a hybrid animal, and bringing it in requires an import permit obtained in advance from the DREAL (the regional environment directorate).

The four-generation rule. The order of 8 October 2018 on keeping non-domestic species treats as non-domestic any hybrid with at least one wild-species ancestor (a serval in a Savannah's line, for example) in its previous four generations. Such an animal follows the keeping rules of its wild ancestor: depending on the species, keeping it may be unrestricted, subject to a declaration to the prefecture, or require a certificate of competence and an establishment licence. The burden of proving the animal's origin lies with its keeper. Breaches carry heavy criminal penalties, up to three years' imprisonment and a €150,000 fine according to service-public.fr.

The exact regime depends on the wild ancestor's species: we look at it case by case, with the breeder's papers, before you spend anything.

Identification and I-CAD

In France, identification is compulsory for cats over 7 months old (Article L212-10 of the Rural Code), and for any cat before it is sold or given away. For travel, the microchip is required at any age anyway, before the rabies vaccination.

After arrival, unless the stay is under three months, the cat must be registered in the national I-CAD database within 7 days: a vet in France copies the details from the passport or health certificate and issues a provisional identification certificate valid for one month. A microchip implanted abroad is kept if an ISO reader can read it. Registration fees are set by I-CAD. The other settling-in steps are in moving to France with pets: the checklist.

Cabin or hold

Every airline sets its own rules. As an example, here are Air France's (page read on 19 October 2026):

Air France does not accept pets under 15 weeks old. A large cat that weighs more than 8 kg with its bag flies in the hold, in a crate where it can stand, turn around and lie down normally. See choosing an airline crate.

On a long-haul flight, the cabin keeps your cat close to you; the hold offers a roomier crate. We help you choose based on your cat's weight, temperament and route. See also flying with a cat.

Flat-faced cats

Air France does not carry "snub-nosed" animals in the hold on the flights it operates. For cats, its list covers the Persian, the Exotic Shorthair, the Himalayan and the Birman.

• In the cabin: possible if the cat weighs 8 kg or less with its bag; Air France advises seeing a vet before the trip.
• As cargo: Air France states that Persian and Birman cats can travel this way.
• The crate: IATA requires a crate 10% larger for snub-nosed breeds.

Other airlines keep their own lists. For these breeds we favour the shortest routes and the ones least exposed to heat.

Helping your cat cope with the journey

The rules say nothing about a cat's comfort; this is our advice.

• Get your cat used to the bag or crate several weeks ahead: leave it open at home, with a cloth that smells of the cat.
• No sedatives without a vet's advice. IATA and its member airlines have long discouraged tranquillising animals for flights; your vet can suggest other options.
• A simple route: a direct flight, or as few connections as possible, at times that avoid the worst of the heat.
• Reconfirm the pet's booking at least 48 hours before departure, as IATA recommends.
• On arrival: a quiet room, its litter tray and familiar things, before it explores the rest of the home.

For a long journey, see preparing your pet for a long-haul flight; if your cat cannot travel on your flight, pet air cargo.

Frequently asked questions

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