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Pet Transport from Bulgaria to France

Taking your dog or cat from Bulgaria to France comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect about 3-5 weeks, with a short and predictable checklist. No routine …

3-5 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
3-5 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Low
Airlines
7 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipRequired (ISO 11784/11785). Must be …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day …
Rabies titre testRequired for: Pets from unlisted third …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine. Non-compliant …
Import permitNo formal import permit. EU pet passport …
Health certificateRequired
Country and airline guides
Shipping from Bulgaria→Importing to France→Air France pet policy→Emirates pet policy→
In short: Preparing to move a pet from Bulgaria to France typically takes around 3-5 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by , Senior Pet Relocation Consultant
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
First step - must be done before any vaccinations.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

2
After microchip. 21-day wait before next steps.
Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your veterinarian

3
Blood drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. The three-month wait then runs from the date the blood was sampled, not the date the result arrives. Laboratories take two to four weeks to report, so counting from the result adds a month you do not owe.
Rabies titre test (blood test at accredited laboratory)

Responsible: Your veterinarian + approved laboratory

4
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space with airline directly.
Book IATA-compliant flight and cargo/cabin space

Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)

5
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirement)
Obtain official veterinary health certificate

Responsible: Official veterinarian

6
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation at cargo desk

Responsible: You + airline check-in/cargo desk

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or at same time as rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel. Standard EU protocol. 21-day wait from first vaccination.
Rabies titre test
Required for: Pets from unlisted third countries. Not required for: Pets from EU and listed third countries (all P1 countries listed). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from test date before entry
Quarantine
No routine quarantine. Non-compliant animals may be quarantined or returned at owner's expense.
Import permit
No formal import permit. EU pet passport or AHC serves as documentation.
Health certificate
Required
Export permit
Not required
Health certificate
Required
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Bulgaria to France move gets missed.

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Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo transport available for larger pets. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes
Cabin and Cargo
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
Cabin and Cargo
British Airways
Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Book through approved cargo agent. No cabin pets on any route.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons
Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met
Cargo Only
KLM
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo: pets transported via KLM Cargo. Temperature restrictions apply. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo
Cabin and Cargo
Costs

What this route typically costs

Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)
IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate
Rabies titre test laboratory fee
Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)

Critical points

Always verify current regulations with the destination country's official veterinary authority before travel.

What France requires

Bringing a pet into France is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.

Avoiding the common mistakes

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

FAQ

Common questions

Allow at least 20 weeks from starting preparations to travel day. Some steps involve mandatory waiting periods that cannot be shortened, so starting early is the only way to keep to your schedule.
No routine quarantine is required in France for pets arriving with correct documentation. However, if your pet arrives without the right paperwork, penalty quarantine can apply. Get everything right before you travel.
No. The European Commission states the rabies antibody titration test is not required for travel between EU member states. Both countries are members, so no test and no waiting period for one. Your pet needs a microchip, a current rabies vaccination and a wait of at least 21 days after the primary dose.
Yes, cats can be transported from Bulgaria to France. The same microchip, vaccination, and health certificate requirements apply as for dogs, though some rules (such as tapeworm treatment) apply to dogs only. Check the full requirements for cats with the destination authority.
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Airline guides
  • Air France
  • Emirates
  • Lufthansa
  • British Airways
  • Singapore Airlines
  • Cathay Pacific
  • KLM
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

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