Bringing a dog or cat from Australia to France

Good news first: France lets Australian pets in without a blood test or quarantine. The bad news is the return trip, which takes at least six months to plan.

The short version

Australia is on France's list of countries exempt from the rabies antibody (titre) test, so the pathway is short [1][2].
Your pet needs an ISO microchip, then a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, then an EU health certificate endorsed by an Australian government vet [1][2].
That certificate is valid for 10 days until the checks on arrival in France, and you must declare the animal to French customs before leaving the airport [2].
Lodge a Notice of Intention with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry at least 10 working days before departure [3].
A French landlord can't ban a normal pet through a lease clause, but restricted dog breeds are a different story [2][4].

What France requires

French customs and the agriculture ministry's DGAL apply the EU rules for pets entering from outside the EU. For a dog, cat or ferret travelling non-commercially from Australia, you need [1][2]:

Requirement	Detail	Timing
Microchip	ISO 11784/11785 standard, or bring your own reader	Before the rabies jab
Rabies vaccination	Valid vaccine, given after the microchip; animal at least 12 weeks old	At least 21 days before departure
Rabies titre test	Not required from Australia	Not applicable
EU animal health certificate	Original, issued or endorsed by an official vet in Australia, with vaccination records attached	Valid 10 days to the EU entry checks
Number of animals	Up to five per owner	Above five, it's a commercial movement
Dog dentition	At least one adult tooth	At entry

The order matters. A rabies jab given before the microchip doesn't count, and there's no exemption for animals under 12 weeks [2]. In practice, very young puppies and kittens can't come.

Transit stops

There are few nonstop options from Australia to Paris, so most pets stop on the way. If your pet transits through a country that isn't on the titre-exempt list, you'll need a declaration that the animal stayed confined and had no contact with animals that could carry rabies [1]. Ask your airline and agent which hubs are simplest.

After you arrive

The certificate stays valid for up to six months for onward travel to other EU countries, or until the rabies vaccine expires if that comes first [2]. A model issued before 1 October 2026 is still accepted until 31 March 2027 [2].

Once you're living in Paris, see a French vet to:

register the microchip in France's national pet identification database, I-CAD
get an EU pet passport, which makes future travel in Europe much easier
keep rabies boosters up to date, especially if you'll ever take the animal home to Australia

Restricted dogs

France splits certain dogs into two categories [1][2]:

Category 1 (attack dogs): non-pedigree Staffordshire terrier, American Staffordshire terrier, Mastiff-type and Tosa-type dogs. These are banned from import into France.
Category 2 (guard and defence dogs): pedigree Staffordshire terriers, American Staffordshire terriers and Tosas, and all Rottweilers and Rottweiler-type dogs. Allowed, but with strict rules on registration, insurance, muzzles and a licence.

Hybrids like wolf-dogs or Bengal and Savannah cats count as pets only if registered in a recognised pedigree book [1]. Otherwise, they need a separate import permit.

What happens if it goes wrong

If paperwork is wrong or missing, French officials can order the animal sent back to where it came from, placed in quarantine, or, as a last resort, put down. You pay the costs [2]. This is why owners use experienced vets and many use a pet transport company.

The Australian side: exporting your pet

Leaving Australia is controlled by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Its process for companion animals goes like this [3]:

Confirm France's requirements in writing. DAFF says importing-country rules "can be complex and can change without notice" [3].
See a registered vet early. They arrange the microchip check, rabies vaccination and supporting paperwork.
Submit a Notice of Intention (NOI) to your state's DAFF regional office at least 10 working days before departure, and book your pre-export appointment [3].
Book transport. The crate must meet IATA standards and be checked by your vet [3]. Most pets leave Australia as air cargo, not in the cabin.
Final vet check within 72 hours of departure [3].
Pre-export inspection with a DAFF government vet, who endorses the EU health certificate and issues the export permit. Fees apply [3].
Fly within 72 hours of the export permit being issued [3].

Count backwards from your flight date:

When	What
2–3 months before	Check microchip, book vet, research airlines and agents
At least 21 days before	Rabies vaccination done (after microchip)
10+ working days before	NOI submitted to DAFF
Within 72 hours before	Final vet exam and DAFF endorsement
On arrival in Paris	Show certificate to French customs before leaving the airport [2]

Arriving at Charles de Gaulle

French customs checks happen at the point where you enter the EU. In France, you present your pet to customs before leaving the international zone, with no appointment needed [2]. If you land elsewhere in the EU first, checks happen there.

If your pet travels as cargo, it's collected from the cargo terminal at CDG, not the baggage hall. Budget time, and a vehicle that fits the crate.

Pets and Paris rentals

Australian renters will be pleasantly surprised. Under article 10 of a 1970 French law, a lease clause banning a household pet is treated as if it doesn't exist, as long as the animal doesn't damage the property or disturb the neighbours [4]. The exception is category 1 dogs, which a landlord can lawfully ban [4].

In practice:

Agents may still prefer pet-free tenants. The law protects you once you're in, not during a competitive application.
You're liable for damage and noise. A barking dog in a Haussmann building with thin floors can lead to complaints from the syndic (building management).
Insurance matters. Your assurance habitation (home insurance) usually includes civil liability, which covers damage your pet causes to others. Confirm it does.
Space is tight. Many Paris flats have no outdoor space. Parks like the Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne help, but many city parks restrict dogs.

Small pets in a bag or basket travel easily on public transport. Bigger dogs face extra rules, so check RATP's current conditions.

Bringing your pet home to Australia

Plan this before you leave Australia. France is a Group 3 country for Australian imports, which means a long process [5]:

A rabies vaccination, then a rabies antibody blood test (RNATT) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml [5].
Your pet must then stay in an approved country for 180 days after the sample reaches the lab, with no exceptions [5].
An import permit through BICON, which can take 20–40 business days or longer [5].
At least 10 days in post-entry quarantine at Mickleham in Melbourne if an official government vet verified the animal's ID before the blood test. Otherwise, 30 days [5].
Pets must fly directly into Melbourne [5].

The ID check before the blood test can cut quarantine from 30 days to 10, so book it with a French official vet at the right time. Our guide to bringing your pet home to Australia covers the costs.

Ask people who've done it

Owners who've just done the Australia–Paris trip are the best source of airline and agent tips. Ask in Cooee France, our Facebook group for Australians in France.

Bringing a dog or cat from Australia to France: the easy way in, the hard way home