AZ
Azerbaijan
✈️
FR
France

Pet Transport Azerbaijan to France: 2026 Guide

20-26 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified

Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →

Overview
France applies the standard EU unlisted process to pets from Azerbaijan: FAVN titre test, a mandatory 90-day wait from the blood draw date, and a State Vet-endorsed EU health certificate. Budget five to six months for preparation. Entry via Paris CDG is straightforward for compliant arrivals; the SIVEP inspection at Charles de Gaulle is routine. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the standard cargo routing from Baku.
Step by step

The Azerbaijan to France process

1
Before vaccination.
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet

2
After microchipping. 30-day wait before titre test.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet

3
30+ days post-vaccination. 90-day wait starts from blood draw date.
FAVN titre test at EU-approved lab

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet + EU-approved lab

4
Fixed by EU law.
90-day mandatory wait from blood draw date

Responsible: N/A

5
During wait. Turkish Airlines via IST is the established option.
Book cargo GYD to CDG via hub

Responsible: Owner or agent

6
Within 10 days of travel.
State Vet-endorsed EU health certificate

Responsible: Azerbaijani vet + State Veterinary Service

7
Travel day. GYD to CDG approximately 5-7 hours via IST.
Travel GYD to CDG. SIVEP/DGAL inspection at Charles de Gaulle.

Responsible: Airline + DGAL

Checklist

France: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. At least 21 days since primary vaccination.
Rabies titre testRequired. Azerbaijan is EU unlisted. FAVN or ELISA test at EU-approved lab. Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. Minimum 0.5 IU/mL. 90-day wait from blood draw date before entering France. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, April 2026.
QuarantineNone for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required.
Health certificateEU-format certificate endorsed by Azerbaijan State Veterinary Service, issued within 10 days of travel.
Leaving Azerbaijan

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion animals.
Health certificateEU-format health certificate from an official vet in Azerbaijan, endorsed by the State Veterinary Service of Azerbaijan (Ministry of Agriculture). Issued within 10 days of travel to France.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test (draw, lab, international shipping): AZN 250-750 (approximately EUR 130-400)
2State Vet health certificate and endorsement: AZN 100-250 (approximately EUR 55-135)
3Cargo GYD to CDG via hub: EUR 400-1,400
4IATA crate: EUR 80-300
5Pet transport agent: EUR 300-900
6Total typical range: EUR 950-3,000 over 5-7 months
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ 90-day wait starts from the blood draw date. Not when results arrive.
⚠ Microchip before the vaccination or the vaccination does not count for EU entry purposes.
⚠ Azerbaijan is EU unlisted. Association agreements do not override this classification.
⚠ The State Veterinary Service endorsement step is separate from your private vet. Allow extra time for the government endorsement.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
Baku Heydar Aliyev (GYD) to Istanbul (IST), then IST to Paris CDG. Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals on this route. CDG is France's main live animal cargo entry point.
Cargo Only
Air France via CDG
Connections to GYD via partner services or via hub, then Air France Cargo from CDG for the France leg. AF Cargo has established live animal handling at CDG.
Cargo Only
Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL)
AZAL operates limited European routes from GYD including to Moscow and some European cities. Check whether AZAL Cargo accepts live animals on any routing connecting to France.
Cargo Only

France's DGAL and SIVEP: who inspects your pet at CDG

France’s veterinary border inspections are run by SIVEP (Service d’Inspection Vétérinaire et Phytosanitaire aux Postes d’Inspection Frontaliers), which operates under the oversight of DGAL (Direction Générale de l’Alimentation) within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty.

At Paris CDG, the SIVEP post handles all live animal cargo arrivals. The process is: SIVEP officer checks the EU health certificate, confirms the titre test result and vaccination records, and verifies the microchip number against the documents. For a pet with complete and compliant documentation, this inspection is brief and your pet is released to you or to the onward cargo handler.

If your pet is arriving at a regional French airport such as Lyon (LYS) or Marseille (MRS), the inspection process is the same, though these airports handle smaller volumes. Confirm with your transport agent that the specific arrival airport has an active SIVEP post before routing your pet there.

Why the FAVN laboratory step is worth getting right first time

The most common avoidable delay on the Azerbaijan-to-France route is a failed or invalid titre test. This can happen if the blood sample is not stored correctly before shipping, sent to a non-approved laboratory, or if the dog was not vaccinated far enough in advance of the draw. Getting this wrong means the clock resets.

From Baku, international sample shipping adds time and cost. Confirm with your vet that they have done international FAVN samples before. If not, a specialist pet transport agent in Azerbaijan can coordinate the correct lab, shipping method, and result documentation. A failed test adds three or more months to your timeline.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. If your pet enters another EU member state and clears that country’s border inspection, onward travel to France does not require a repeat inspection. Internal EU movement after valid entry uses the EU pet passport rules. However, routing via another EU country is rarely more efficient than a direct cargo flight to CDG.
Yes. France has a national list of Category 1 and Category 2 dogs. Category 1 includes attack dogs (certain mastiff and Tosa types, not precisely defined by breed name). Category 2 includes Rottweilers and pitbull-type dogs. Category 2 dogs may enter France with additional conditions including muzzle requirements in public spaces. Check the current French breed legislation before travel if your dog could fall into either category.
The EU-format health certificate issued by your vet in Azerbaijan and endorsed by the State Veterinary Service must be dated within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in France. If you obtain the certificate on 1 July, your pet must arrive in France by 10 July. If travel is delayed beyond day 10, a new certificate is required.
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