In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Iceland to France
typically takes around 5-8 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Planning a pet relocation from Iceland to France is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. This is a middle of the road route, and about 5-8 weeks of preparation usually covers it. Compliant pets are not held in quarantine on arrival.
No rabies titre test is required. The guide below walks through each stage so nothing gets missed.
Step by step
The Iceland to France process
1
Start of planning.
Implant the ISO microchip if not already done.
Responsible: Icelandic vet
2
At least 21 days before travel.
Administer or confirm the current rabies vaccination.
Responsible: Icelandic vet
3
4-8 weeks before travel, if applicable.
If bringing a Category 2 dog type, apply for the French permis de detention and confirm civil liability insurance before travel, not after arrival.
Responsible: You, with French authorities
4
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book the flight, confirming whether it moves through Icelandair Cargo or a Lufthansa connecting routing.
Responsible: You or your agent
5
Within 10 days of travel.
Get the MAST-endorsed health certificate on the EU form.
Responsible: MAST-accredited vet, endorsed by MAST
6
Day of travel.
Fly Keflavik to Paris CDG, or via a connection.
Responsible: Airline cargo handler
Checklist
France: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required, 21-day wait from first vaccination before travel, standard EEA protocol.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Iceland is treated as an EEA territory under the EU pet travel framework, the same as any EU member state, so no titre test applies.
Quarantine
None for a compliant pet. Penalty quarantine only applies where documentation is wrong or incomplete.
Import permit
No formal import permit. The MAST-endorsed certificate is the entry document.
Health certificate
MAST-endorsed certificate on the EU form, valid 10 days from issue to French entry.
No separate export permit. MAST's endorsement of the health certificate is the export step.
Health certificate
Official certificate on the EU-specified form, completed by a MAST-accredited vet and endorsed by MAST. Valid 10 days from MAST's endorsement to the date of entry into France. Source: MAST, mast.is, 2026.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
Rabies vaccination and vet check: ISK 15,000-30,000 (roughly EUR 100-200)
2
MAST certificate endorsement fee: around ISK 6,600 (roughly EUR 44)
3
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 60-250
4
Cargo fee, Keflavik to Paris CDG: EUR 450-950 depending on crate size and season
5
Permis de detention and insurance, Category 2 dogs only: EUR 100-300
6
Agent fee, if used: EUR 150-400
7
Total typical range: EUR 750-2,000
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Icelandair stopped taking pets as checked baggage on 1 November 2024. It now goes through Icelandair Cargo as manifested freight, which has its own lead times and paperwork, not the ordinary passenger check-in process.
⚠ There is no titre test and no quarantine on this leg for a compliant pet, but France's Category 1 and Category 2 dog rules still apply on arrival regardless of where the dog is coming from. A Category 1 type cannot be imported at all, and this is unrelated to Iceland's own breed restrictions.
⚠ The MAST certificate is valid for only 10 days from endorsement to French entry. Time the vet visit close to your actual travel date.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Icelandair
The only airline flying Keflavik (KEF) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG) nonstop, around 8 times a week. Since 1 November 2024, pets no longer travel as checked or excess baggage on Icelandair. This route now moves as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo, a separate booking process from a standard passenger fare.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa
No direct Iceland to France service, but pets can route via Frankfurt: Keflavik to Frankfurt direct on Lufthansa, which operates its own Frankfurt Animal Lounge, then a connecting Air France or Lufthansa leg into a French airport.
Cabin and Cargo
The rules for bringing a pet into France
France keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.
How to keep this move on track
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
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.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Iceland is treated as an EEA territory under the EU pet travel framework, so a pet moving from Iceland to France needs only a microchip, a current rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, and a MAST-endorsed certificate on the EU form. No titre test applies.
Yes, but with conditions. Registered American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers and registered Tosa types are Category 2 under French law and can be imported, provided the owner holds a permis de detention and civil liability insurance and keeps the dog muzzled and leashed in public. Unregistered Pit Bull, Boerboel and Tosa types fall under the banned Category 1 and cannot be imported regardless of origin.
Not as checked baggage. Icelandair stopped accepting pets in the passenger hold from 1 November 2024. The pet now travels as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo, booked separately from a normal ticket. Routing via Frankfurt on Lufthansa, which operates its own live animal facility, is a practical alternative if Icelandair Cargo does not fit your dates.
No. There is no quarantine for a compliant pet entering France from Iceland. France only applies penalty quarantine when documentation is missing or incorrect, and this is unrelated to the strict quarantine Iceland itself imposes on incoming pets.
Airline guides
Icelandair
Lufthansa
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.