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Pet Transport from France to Maldives: 2026 Guide

Shipping a dog or cat from France to Maldives rewards owners who start planning early. Budget around 5-8 weeks and start early, because the mandatory waits on this route stack up …

5-8 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Very High
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
5-8 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Very High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipRequired. A 15-digit ISO …
Rabies vaccinationRequired for cats, given between 30 days …
Rabies titre testNot part of the standard cat pathway …
QuarantineNone for a compliant cat. Non-compliant …
Import permitGenerally not required for a pet cat …
Health certificateOriginal certificate completed by a …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from France to Maldives typically takes around 5-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Before anything else.
Confirm you're moving a cat, not a dog. There is no standard pathway for a dog to enter the Maldives.

Responsible: Owner.

2
At least 30 days before travel.
Microchip if not already done, then vaccinate against rabies and the core feline diseases.

Responsible: Vet in France.

3
3-4 weeks before travel.
Book the flight and an IATA-compliant crate via an agent used to the Male routing.

Responsible: Owner and pet shipping agent.

4
Within 10 days of departure.
Get the health certificate signed.

Responsible: Vet in France.

5
Travel day.
Fly and present documents at Velana International.

Responsible: Airline ground handler, Maldivian quarantine officer.

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. A 15-digit ISO 11784/11785-compliant chip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required for cats, given between 30 days and 12 months before entry. Dogs cannot enter under any standard pathway, so this simply does not apply to them.
Rabies titre test
Not part of the standard cat pathway based on current published guidance, though sources on this specific point are thinner than for most destinations. Confirm directly with your vet or agent.
Quarantine
None for a compliant cat. Non-compliant animals face quarantine where available or return to origin, per guidance summarised by PetTravel.com's Maldives country page.
Import permit
Generally not required for a pet cat travelling with its owner, though official Maldivian sources on this point are limited.
Health certificate
Original certificate completed by a licensed vet within 10 days of entry, recording the core feline vaccinations (viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia and feline leukaemia) alongside rabies.
Export permit
No export permit required to move a pet cat out of France.
Health certificate
Official veterinary health certificate confirming the cat's microchip, vaccination history and fitness to travel, signed close to departure.
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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.

French Bee
Launches twice-weekly Paris Orly-Male flights from 19 December 2026, part of a triangle routing onward to Colombo. Live animal cargo terms for this new service haven't been published, so confirm directly before booking a cat on it.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Paris to Male via Doha, using QR Cargo's dedicated animal handling facility at Hamad International. The dependable option while French Bee's terms remain unconfirmed.
Cargo Only
Emirates
France to Male via Dubai. Emirates SkyCargo requires an IATA-compliant crate booked through a recognised pet shipping agent.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

French export health certificate: EUR 130-230.
Rabies vaccination and additional feline vaccines, if not already current: EUR 70-140.
IATA crate, cargo booking and agent fee: EUR 950-1,750.
Air waybill, Paris to Male via Doha or Dubai: EUR 900-1,650.
Total typical range: EUR 2,050-3,770 over 5-8 weeks.

Critical points

Dogs cannot enter the Maldives. The Maldives Customs Service lists dog import as prohibited, with no standard exception for pet owners, so a French dog cannot travel this route through any conventional process.

Savannah and Bengal cats face an added restriction: they're only accepted once at least five generations removed from a wild ancestor, per PetTravel.com's country guidance.

Maldivian government sources on the exact cat pathway are thinner than for most destinations on this site. Confirm permit and titre test status directly before finalising flights.

Meeting Maldives's entry requirements

Getting a pet into Maldives means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.

Advice worth following

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.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Dog import is prohibited under Maldives Customs Service rules, with no standard exception for pet owners, including assistance dogs. Get written confirmation from the Maldives government directly if you believe a genuine exception applies.
Not yet in any confirmed way. The service starts 19 December 2026 as a triangle route onward to Colombo, and live animal cargo terms haven’t been published. Check with the airline’s cargo desk before booking.
Around 5 to 8 weeks in most cases: time for the rabies and feline vaccines to be given at least 30 days before arrival, plus booking cargo space and getting the health certificate signed within 10 days of travel.
Yes. They’re restricted unless the cat is at least five generations removed from its wild ancestor. Check pedigree paperwork before assuming a Bengal or Savannah qualifies.
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