Contact The Ministry for Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
Please note that TravelPaws encountered some difficulty reaching the French Animal Quarantine Authority. We have been advised that the email provided above is the correct contact, but if you face challenges, it is also possible to contact them through this online contact form. Additionally, we found that translating our inquiry into French improved our chances of getting a response.
If you are still having trouble, consider contacting your home Animal Quarantine Authority who may be able to help connect you with the French authority, for assistance or to help connect you with the French authority.
Be prepared
- Confirm any specific requirements with all Animal Quarantine Authorities before booking your trip. This includes both entering/leaving any country and all airline/cruise line requirements.
- The Travel Process can take several months so leave plenty of planning time for your trip.
Travel Rules for Standard (pet) Dogs
These links detail the process for Standard (pet) Dogs, which Assistance Dogs must also follow. Visiting these links will open another website.
Bringing all dogs into France
The process for bringing all dogs into France. Please be aware that the requirements differ depending on whether you are traveling from an EU or non-EU country. We have also provided a link to the Ministry's rabies information page.
The resources linked are in French. You can translate them into your preferred language using the Google translate browser extension, though please keep in mind that the translations are not always perfect.
Taking all dogs out of France
The requirements for travelling from France to another country with a dog.
Means of Travel
Information relevant to travel via different modes of transport in France
Airlines
Individual airlines have their own eligibility criteria and requirements for carriage of an Assistance Dog. We have linked the policies of three airlines that are popular in France; Air France, EasyJet, and Air Corsica.
Miscellaneous Information
Extra information that is specific to the region or country.
French Public Access Laws
We have provided a link to a summary of France's public access laws for Assistance Dogs, compiled by CANIDEA (or The National Confederation of Organisations of Aid Dogs for People). CANIDEA is an umbrella organization consisting of various member associations within the Assistance Dog industry, including Handi'Chiens (an Assistance Dogs International member).
The summary provided by CANIDEA is in French, but you can translate it into your preferred language using the Google Translate browser extension. Please keep in mind that the translations are not always perfect.
Please note that it seems that French public access laws do not extend to protect foreign working teams. Still, anecdotally, it appears that foreign Handlers are often granted access to public spaces so this is a bit of a grey area. If you are planning to travel to France and are seeking guidance on your rights and protections, we would recommend trying to get in contact with CANIDEA or an Assistance Dog school in France to see if they can help.
Transit through France
Per an exchange with the Europe Direct Contact Centre in July 2024;
"As a general rule, EU law applies to ‘entering’ the EU. This is different to ‘transiting’ – for example stopping at an airport for a few hours without leaving it before continuing your trip. Therefore, in principle, no specific documentation is required for pets when stopping at an EU airport en route to a third country. On the other hand, if you were to leave the airport, this could be considered as ‘entering’ and you could then be obliged to ensure your pet fulfils all EU requirements. In such a case, we advise that you contact authorities in the relevant country for clarification."
As this is general information, we suggest that those planning to transit through France with an Assistance Dog contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty directly to confirm the specific requirements that apply in their circumstances.
Animal Food Import Policy
Requirements for importing products for animal consumption into the EU.
Please note that different requirements apply depending on whether you are travelling within the EU, or are travelling to the EU from a non-EU country. Information can be found on the Your Europe website and in European Regulation no 206 of 2009, both of which we have linked here.
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