A move from France to Seychelles with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Around 12-16 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict order. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from France to Seychelles
typically takes around 12-16 weeks.
Expect 14 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The France to Seychelles import process
01
At least 3 months before travel.
Apply for the NBA import permit and book the Mahe quarantine facility slot.
Responsible: Owner, with a Seychelles-side agent if needed.
02
30 days to 12 months before export; all vaccinations at least 2 weeks before travel.
Implant the ISO microchip and administer the rabies vaccination.
Responsible: French vet.
03
At least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of travel.
Draw blood for the titre test at an accredited laboratory.
Responsible: French vet and accredited laboratory.
04
Close to the travel date.
Vet completes the AHC, then the DD(ec)PP endorses it, confirming any Brucella canis or parasite panel results for dogs.
Responsible: French vet, then DD(ec)PP.
05
4-8 weeks before travel.
Book the flight, direct with Air Seychelles if travelling June to August, or via Dubai or Abu Dhabi outside that window.
Responsible: Owner or cargo agent.
06
On arrival.
Arrive and complete the 14-day quarantine stay at the Mahe facility.
Responsible: NBA quarantine facility.
Requirements
Seychelles entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Microchip number declared on the National Biosecurity Agency (NBA) application. Industry practice points to ISO 11784/11785 compliance.
Rabies vaccination
Minimum age 3 months for an inactivated vaccine. Booster given 30 days to 12 months before export. All vaccinations, not only rabies, must sit at least 2 weeks before departure. Minimum travel age is 16 weeks.
Rabies titre test
Required for every pet regardless of origin. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of travel, result above 0.5 IU/mL. France's EU rabies-free classification places it alongside the UK and Germany in the NBA's lighter tier, rather than the three-month post-draw wait applied to a rabies-affected origin such as the US. Source: NBA, 'Importation of Cats and Dogs,' 2024.
Quarantine
Mandatory by law for every pet, no exceptions by origin. Because France counts as rabies-free or rabies-controlled under EU rules, the minimum is 14 days at Seychelles' single quarantine facility on Mahe, balance served at home. A rabies-affected origin such as the US instead faces a fixed 3-month post-draw wait plus roughly 28 days in the facility.
Import permit
Required from the NBA, issued within 7 working days of a complete application, valid for 1 month from the intended arrival date. A second Ministry of Finance import permit is needed to clear customs. Apply at least 3 months ahead given facility booking lead times.
Health certificate
Health certificate confirming microchip, vaccination and titre result. Dogs also need clearance for Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Leishmania and Erlichia canis unless the French vet certifies the country free of these diseases.
Leaving France
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit for a companion pet leaving France. The Animal Health Certificate (AHC) carries the documentation weight.
Veterinary inspection
A vet examines the animal, confirms the ISO microchip, and checks vaccination and titre records before drafting the AHC.
Government endorsement
An official veterinarian of the departmental DD(ec)PP (Direction Departementale de la Protection des Populations) signs the certificate under DGAL oversight, in English or French as the National Biosecurity Agency requires. Source: Direction Generale de l'Alimentation (DGAL), agriculture.gouv.fr.
Health certificate
EU-format AHC, issued under Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, dated close to travel.
Costs
What this route typically costs
AHC vet exam and DD(ec)PP endorsement: EUR 180-320.
Titre test and laboratory fee: EUR 130-230.
NBA import permit and Ministry of Finance customs permit: fees set at application.
Quarantine facility, approximately 14 days: SR 1,000 for the first 2 weeks, confirm current rates with the NBA.
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 90-320.
Cargo, Paris to Mahe direct or via a Gulf hub: EUR 1,600-3,200.
Total typical range: EUR 2,200-4,300, plus the quarantine facility fee.
Critical points
The Air Seychelles direct flight only runs June to August. Book outside that window and a Gulf hub transfer is the only option, whatever the calendar says elsewhere on this site.
Quarantine applies to every pet by law, whatever its origin. France's rabies-free EU status keeps the stay to around 14 days rather than the longer period a higher-risk origin faces, but it doesn't remove the requirement.
Seychelles has a single quarantine facility, on Mahe, for the whole country. Book at least 2 weeks ahead and reconfirm 24 hours before arrival.
A long list of dog breeds requires mandatory sterilisation before entry, not just a permit condition. Check your dog's breed against the current NBA list before booking.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Air Seychelles
Flies Paris to Mahe nonstop, but only as a seasonal service running from June to August, on a Boeing 787-9. Outside that window it doesn't operate, so this is a genuine either/or against the year-round Gulf hub options below.
Cargo Only
Emirates SkyCargo
Paris to Dubai nonstop, an established route with a dedicated Pet Lounge at the Dubai hub, then Emirates' own nonstop Dubai-Mahe service. The year-round default outside the Air Seychelles summer window.
Cargo Only
Etihad Airways
Paris to Abu Dhabi, connecting to a direct onward leg into Mahe, using the Pet Oasis facility for crate checks during the transfer.
Cargo Only
Meeting Seychelles's entry requirements
The requirements for Seychelles are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.
Advice worth following
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.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Yes, but only seasonally. Air Seychelles flies nonstop from Paris to Mahe on a Boeing 787-9 from June to August. Outside that window, every pet transfers through Dubai on Emirates or Abu Dhabi on Etihad.
Yes, every pet does regardless of origin. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of travel, with a result above 0.5 IU/mL.
Around 14 days at the single facility on Mahe, since France’s EU rabies-free status places it in the NBA’s lighter tier. A rabies-affected origin such as the US faces a longer combined wait.
Clearance for Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Leishmania and Erlichia canis, unless the French vet certifies the country free of a given disease.
Airline guides
Air Seychelles
Emirates SkyCargo
Etihad Airways
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.