Planning a dog-friendly trip to France? Don’t let the paperwork put you off – here’s everything you need to know, straight from the snout of someone who’s done it twice.
Bonjour furiends! So, you’re thinking about bringing your four-legged one to France – magnifique! Before you start packing the treats and debating whose turn it is to have the window seat, there are five things your hoomans need to sort. Don’t panic – it sounds more complicated than it is, and trust me, the croissant-scented air at the other end is absolutely worth every pawperwork hurdle.
Here’s your ultimate guide to taking your dog to France. You’re welcome. 🐾
1. Get Microchipped
First things first furiends – you need to be microchipped and registered in your hooman’s name at the vet. No chip, no trip. Simple as that.
Your microchip number is needed for two things: your Animal Health Certificate (more on that in a moment) and booking your spot on Le Shuttle. So, make sure your details are up to date before anything else, it’s the foundation everything else is built on.
*Microchipping to take your pet abroad — UK Government guidance
2. The Animal Health Certificate & How to Save a Small Fortune
Now. This one caused the pawrents a considerable amount of stress and nearly put them off the whole adventure entirely. Local vets were quoting £300 for both me and Dexter to get our Animal Health Certificates. Three. Hundred. Pounds. The audacity.
But fur-tunately, divine intervention arrived in the form of a discovery that not all vets charge the same. Some offer considerably more competitive fees – and one in particular came up trumps: Andrew at Animal Health Certificate North. He charges less than half what the pawrents were originally quoted, with repeat client discounts available too. Five-star Google reviews, super dog furiendly, and we’ve been to him twice. Pawsitively wonderful.
Important timing rules – don’t get caught out:
- Your AHC appointment must be at least 21 days after your rabies vaccination (the day of vaccination counts as Day 0).
- Your appointment must be within 10 days of your travel date (the day of issue counts as Day 1).
- Your AHC is valid for 6 months for onward EU travel, or until your rabies vaccination expires – whichever comes first.
- If you return to the UK and want to travel again, you’ll need a new AHC.
* Taking your pet abroad — UK Government guidance
3. Rabies Vaccination
Here’s something that catches a lot of hoomans out — the rabies vaccination is separate to your regular boosters and usually can’t be given at the same time. So don’t leave this one to the last minute furiends!
The good news? UK rabies vaccinations are typically valid for three years – which is frankly just an excellent excuse to plan more French adventures.
The golden rule: You must wait at least 21 full days after your first rabies vaccination before you can travel. The day of vaccination counts as Day 0, so Day 21 is the very earliest you can set paw on French soil. Plan ahead!
4. Booking Le Shuttle
When booking Le Shuttle, your hoomans need to add us four-legged ones to the booking, and for that they’ll need your microchip number handy. Another reason to get that chip sorted first!
The Eurotunnel recommend checking your doggo in at least one hour before boarding and making use of the dedicated pet exercise area so they can stretch their legs and have a comfort stop before the journey. Word to my furiends though – don’t be expecting a lovely grassy meadow. It’s astroturf. But still does the job and after a long car journey us four legged ones will be grateful for it!
The crossing itself is an absolute dream furiends. Around 35 minutes, you stay in the car the whole time, and between the gentle motion of the train and the warm breeze through the window, me and my little bro Dexter were fast asleep before we’d even reached the tunnel. Far less stressful than flying or the ferry – and it makes the whole adventure genuinely accessible for nervous dogs and anxious hoomans alike.
Don’t forget: You must wait at least 21 full days after your first rabies vaccination before travelling – this applies to Le Shuttle bookings too.
* Le Shuttle Pet Travel Requirements
5. Tapeworm Treatment – Don’t Forget on the Way Home!
This one is easy to forget in the post-holiday glow but it’s non-negotiable furiends – all dogs entering the UK from the EU need tapeworm treatment administered by a vet before coming home.
The timing window is strict:
- No less than 24 hours (1 day) before your scheduled UK arrival time
- No more than 120 hours (5 days) before your scheduled UK arrival time
Paw-note – if you’re only in France for a short trip of up to 5 days, the tapeworm treatment can actually be given by your UK vet before you travel. One less thing to sort on the other side.
A vet must treat your dog and record it in either your Animal Health Certificate or a valid pet passport. Make sure your vet records the following in the ‘Echinococcus treatment’ section:
- The name and manufacturer of the product used
- The date and time of treatment
- Their stamp and signature
Miss any of these details and you could face problems at the border – and furiends, we’ve heard this can result in quarantine in an approved facility for up to 4 months at YOUR expense. We’re talking potentially thousands of pounds. Not the French adventure any of us had in mind! So double check every detail before you leave the vet’s surgery.
If you’re travelling through Normandy, we can personally recommend Cabinet Vétérinaire du Pont de Normandie – conveniently located next to the Leclerc supermarket just outside Honfleur. They were wonderful with us, the whole process was smooth and stress free. Call ahead to book: +33 2 31 65 60 25 and make sure the timing works with your travel date
* Bringing your pet to the UK – UK Government guidance
The Checklist:
| What | When | Notes |
| ✅ Microchip | Before anything else | Must be registered in owner’s name |
| ✅ Rabies vaccination | At least 21 days before travel | Valid for 3 years in the UK |
| ✅ Animal Health Certificate | Within 10 days of travel, 21+ days after rabies jab | Shop around on price – big differences! |
| ✅ Le Shuttle booking | When booking | Have microchip number ready |
| ✅ Tapeworm treatment | 24-120 hours before UK arrival | Must be recorded by vet with stamp |
That’s it furiends – five steps between you and the most woof-tastic French adventure of your lives. Yes it’s a little bit of admin, but once it’s done it’s done, and the croissants, the cheese, the rivers, the cobbled streets and the very chic French doggos are waiting for you on the other side.
Don’t forget to check out our Normandy adventure for some furiendly inspiration – and drop a comment below or find me on Instagram @thetailsofdylan to tell me about your French tails! 🐾
À bientôt furiends,
Dylan 🐾
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