FR
France
✈️
US
United States
Pet Transport France to USA: 2026 Field Guide
4-6 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Low
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
Moving a pet from France to the USA is straightforward. France is classified as a low-risk country by the CDC, so dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form; there is no titre test and no quarantine. Air France allows small pets in the cabin. Allow 4-6 weeks.
Step by step
The France to United States process
1
Verify now.
Confirm microchip is in place and pre-dates any rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
2
Before travel. Valid for 6 months. Bring the QR code receipt.
Complete CDC Dog Import Form at cdc.gov/importation
Responsible: Owner
3
4-6 weeks ahead.
Book flight (Air France cabin for small pets, or cargo)
Responsible: Owner or agent
4
Within the airline-required window before travel
French vet health certificate for the airline
Responsible: French veterinarian
5
On travel date.
Travel to USA
Responsible: Owner / airline
6
On arrival. No quarantine. Released to owner.
CBP inspection on arrival. CDC Dog Import Form receipt scanned.
Responsible: US Customs and Border Protection
Checklist
United States: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required for all dogs. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Not required by the CDC for dogs from low-risk countries such as France. Required by airlines and advisable. |
| Import permit | No formal import permit. The CDC Dog Import Form (free, online at cdc.gov/importation) is the registration mechanism. |
| Health certificate | Not federally required by the CDC for dogs from low-risk France, but required by airlines for cabin or cargo booking. |
Leaving France
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No export permit required from France for cats and dogs. |
| Health certificate | Health certificate from a French veterinarian for the airline booking. EU pet passport documents the vaccination history. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Air France cabin pet fee: approximately EUR 70 to EUR 125 per leg for small pets |
| 2 | Air cargo fee (larger pets): EUR 1,000 to EUR 3,000 from Paris to a US hub |
| 3 | French vet health certificate for the airline: EUR 50 to EUR 150 |
| 4 | Pet transport agent fee if used: EUR 400 to EUR 1,200 |
| 5 | IATA-compliant travel crate (if cargo): EUR 80 to EUR 350 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The CDC Dog Import Form is required for ALL dogs entering the USA, including from low-risk France. Complete it online before travel and bring the QR code receipt.
⚠ The dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy on arrival.
⚠ Hawaii is not mainland USA and has its own strict entry rules. If moving to Hawaii, treat it as a separate process with titre test and advance paperwork.
⚠ United offers cabin-only carriage and no cargo. For larger dogs, Air France cargo or Delta cargo is needed.
⚠ Microchip must pre-date the rabies vaccination.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air France
Allows small pets in the cabin on many routes, plus cargo for larger pets. Paris to US hubs.
Delta Air Lines
Paris to US hubs. Cargo pet service. Partner of Air France-KLM.
United Airlines
Cabin only for small pets. No cargo service.
France's CDC low-risk status
The US CDC classifies France as a low-risk country. Dogs from France do not need a titre test, quarantine, or a CDC-registered facility. The only mandatory CDC document is the Dog Import Form, completed free online at cdc.gov/importation before travel.
While the CDC does not require a rabies vaccination for low-risk countries, airlines require one for their booking, so most pets will have a current vaccination. Cats from France face no US federal requirements at all.
Air France cabin travel
Air France allows small pets in the cabin on many transatlantic routes, which is an advantage for owners of small dogs and cats. Larger pets travel in cargo via Air France or Delta. United offers cabin-only carriage with no cargo. For most small pets, cabin travel on Air France keeps the animal with you throughout the journey.
FAQ
Common questions
No. France is a CDC low-risk country, so dogs do not need a titre test, quarantine, or a CDC-registered facility. The only mandatory CDC document is the Dog Import Form. Airlines require a rabies vaccination for their booking, so your dog will typically have one, but it is not a CDC entry requirement for low-risk France.
A microchip (implanted before any rabies vaccination), the CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and the dog must be at least 6 months old and appear healthy on arrival. The airline will require a health certificate for the booking. There is no titre test and no quarantine on the France to USA route for mainland destinations.
Yes, on Air France or United. Air France allows small pets in the cabin on many routes, with larger pets in cargo via Air France or Delta. United offers cabin-only carriage for small pets but no cargo. For small pets, cabin travel on Air France is a comfortable option that keeps your pet with you.
Yes, considerably. Hawaii has its own strict pet entry rules separate from mainland USA, including the HDOA programme with a rabies titre test, specific vaccination timing, and advance paperwork. If your destination is Hawaii, treat it as a separate, more involved process and start at least 6 months ahead. For mainland destinations, the simple CDC low-risk process applies.
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