Taking Your Dog to France from the UK - Complete Guide 2026

Taking your dog to France after Brexit requires an Animal Health Certificate, a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment for the return. The pet passport no longer works for UK pets. Here is exactly what you need, when to arrange it, and what happens at the border.

What you need

1. Microchip

Your dog must be microchipped. This is already a legal requirement in the UK, so most dogs are already done. The microchip number must match all documentation.

2. Rabies vaccination

Your dog must have a valid rabies vaccination administered at least 21 days before travel. If your dog’s rabies vaccination has lapsed, you need to restart the 21-day wait period after the new vaccination.

3. Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

This is the post-Brexit replacement for the pet passport. Key details:

• Must be issued by an Official Veterinarian (OV) — not all vets are OVs, so check in advance
• Must be issued within 10 days of your outbound travel date
• Costs £100–200 depending on the vet
• Valid for entry to France and return to the UK within 4 months (for re-entry)
• You need a new AHC for each trip

4. Tapeworm treatment (for return to UK only)

Your dog must receive tapeworm treatment (Echinococcus) from a vet 1–5 days before re-entering the UK. This means you need to find a French vet during your trip. The treatment must be recorded in your dog’s documentation.

This requirement applies for the return journey only — France does not require tapeworm treatment for entry.

Timeline — what to do when

6+ weeks before travel

• Check your dog’s rabies vaccination is current. If not, book the vaccination — you need 21 clear days before travel
• Find an Official Veterinarian (OV) near you for the AHC appointment
• Book the AHC appointment for 7–10 days before your departure date

10 days before travel

• Attend the AHC appointment with your dog, vaccination records, and microchip details
• The vet will examine your dog, verify the microchip, check vaccination records, and issue the AHC
• Keep the original AHC document — you will need it at the border

1–5 days before returning to the UK

• Find a French vet (vétérinaire) near your accommodation
• Get the tapeworm treatment administered and recorded
• Keep the documentation — it will be checked when you re-enter the UK

At the border

Eurotunnel (Le Shuttle)

• Check in with your dog’s AHC, vaccination records, and microchip number
• Pet reception at the terminal will verify documents before you board
• Dogs stay in the car during the crossing
• Allow extra time for the document check — arrive early

Ferry (P&O, DFDS, Brittany Ferries)

• Each ferry company has its own pet policy — check before booking
• Most require you to leave your dog in the car on the vehicle deck (not allowed in passenger areas)
• Some offer pet-friendly cabins on longer crossings (Brittany Ferries)
• Document checks happen at check-in

Returning to the UK

• Your AHC and tapeworm treatment record will be checked
• If documents are not in order, your dog may be quarantined or refused entry
• This is not a risk worth taking — get the paperwork right

Tips for travelling with your dog in France

• Water and shade — French summers are hot. Never leave your dog in a parked car
• Dog-friendly accommodation — many French hotels and gites welcome dogs. Check before booking
• Restaurants — dogs are more widely accepted in French restaurants than in the UK, especially on terraces
• Beaches — many French beaches ban dogs during summer months (typically June–September). Look for “chiens interdits” signs
• Lead laws — dogs must be on a lead in public areas in most French towns

What about your Crit’Air sticker?

Your dog does not affect your Crit’Air sticker or category. But if you are driving to France with your dog, you are almost certainly driving through or near French cities — which means you need a sticker for your vehicle.

Many dog owners drive to rural France and assume they will not need a sticker. But the route from Calais passes near Paris, Lyon, or Marseille depending on your destination. Check your vehicle’s category and apply before you travel.