Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities.
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Overview
Both Lithuania and France are EU member states, which means the same EU pet travel rules apply to both sides of this move. Microchip, current rabies vaccination, and an EU pet passport or AHC is all you need. No quarantine, no titre test, no import permit. The flight journey from Vilnius (VNO) to Paris CDG involves one connection, most commonly via Warsaw (LOT) or Amsterdam (KLM), and typically takes 4-5 hours total.
Step by step
The Lithuania to France process
1
Before any other step.
Confirm microchip ISO compliance
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
2
First vaccination: 21-day wait before French entry. Booster within valid period: immediately valid.
Ensure rabies vaccination is current
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
3
One appointment with an authorised Lithuanian vet. VMVT-registered vets can issue or update the passport.
Obtain or update EU pet passport
Responsible: Authorised Lithuanian vet
4
3-4 weeks before travel.
Book flight from Vilnius to France and reserve pet space
Responsible: Owner
5
Travel day. Vilnius to CDG via Warsaw or Amsterdam: approximately 4-5 hours.
Travel from Vilnius to France
Responsible: Owner + airline
Checklist
France: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit). Must precede rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current. First vaccination: 21-day wait before French entry. Booster within valid period: immediately valid.
Rabies titre test
Not required for EU-to-EU movements.
Quarantine
Not required.
Import permit
Not required for companion animals moving between EU member states.
Health certificate
EU pet passport or VMVT-endorsed AHC, issued within 10 days of French entry.
Leaving Lithuania
Export requirements
Requirement
Detail
Export permit
No export permit required for companion dogs or cats leaving Lithuania for France.
Health certificate
EU pet passport issued or updated by an officially authorised Lithuanian vet. If no EU passport is held, a single-use AHC endorsed by the State Food and Veterinary Service (VMVT) is required, issued within 10 days of French entry.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
EU pet passport issuance or update: EUR 30-80
2
Rabies vaccination booster (if due): EUR 20-60
3
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 50-200
4
Cabin pet fee: EUR 30-100 per leg
5
Cargo pet fee (larger pets): EUR 200-700
6
Total typical range: EUR 150-900
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ France has a national breed restriction list (Category 1 dangerous dogs banned; Category 2 dogs face muzzling requirements in public). If you have a Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier or similar breed, confirm French law before travel.
⚠ Budget carriers from Vilnius (Ryanair, Wizz Air) do not accept pets. Only book with full-service carriers that have confirmed pet policies on your specific route.
⚠ The AHC must be issued within 10 days of French entry. This means scheduling your vet appointment and obtaining the VMVT endorsement within that window. Plan the endorsement step in advance, as it adds 1-2 working days.
⚠ If routing via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), the AMS live animal facility is well-managed. Allow at least 3-4 hours for connections involving cargo.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air France
Air France connects Lithuania to Paris CDG via partner connections. Small pets in cabin on Air France European services. Air France Cargo at CDG manages live animals. A good option for the Lithuania-to-France corridor.
Cabin and Cargo
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM serves Vilnius (VNO) to Amsterdam (AMS), with frequent AMS-to-CDG connections. Small pets in cabin. Excellent live animal facility at AMS. A practical two-leg routing via Amsterdam.
Cabin and Cargo
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT connects Vilnius to Warsaw (WAW) with onward services to Paris CDG. Small pets in cabin. Warsaw Chopin Airport handles cargo. A reliable option from Vilnius given LOT's strong Baltic hub connections.
Cabin and Cargo
Finnair
Finnair serves Vilnius to Helsinki (HEL) with onward connections to CDG. Small pets in cabin permitted. Helsinki is a practical intermediate hub for northerly routing.
Cabin and Cargo
Document requirements: EU passport versus AHC for the Lithuania-France move
For EU-resident owners moving a pet between Lithuania and France, the EU pet passport is the simplest option. Issued or updated by any officially authorised Lithuanian vet, the passport covers all EU border crossings as long as vaccinations remain current. French border staff at CDG or other entry points accept it without additional endorsement.
If you need an AHC (for example, you are a non-EU resident, or the EU passport was lost or damaged), your Lithuanian vet issues one and the VMVT provides the endorsement. The AHC is valid for a single entry and must be issued within 10 days of entering France. Transitional acceptance of older AHC formats continues until October 2026 under new April 2026 EU regulations, but using the current template avoids delays.
Flight routing from Vilnius to Paris
Vilnius Airport (VNO) does not have a direct non-stop service to Paris CDG on a carrier that accepts pets. The most common options are: LOT Polish Airlines via Warsaw (WAW) with onward connections to CDG; KLM via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) with a short onward connection to CDG; or Air France in code-share arrangements.
For small pets in cabin, LOT allows them on its Vilnius-to-Warsaw leg, and the Warsaw-to-Paris leg can be booked with LOT or a partner. KLM is another strong option given its excellent AMS hub and direct connections between Vilnius and Amsterdam. Book the cabin pet space at ticket purchase.
For larger dogs travelling as cargo, the connection via Amsterdam (AMS) is particularly well-managed. KLM Cargo at AMS is equipped for live animals, and the AMS-to-CDG cargo connection is routine. Allow at least 3-4 hours between connections to avoid cargo transfer delays.
FAQ
Common questions
France classifies certain breeds under two categories: Category 1 (banned from importation and ownership) and Category 2 (permitted but with restrictions including mandatory muzzling and leash in public). Category 1 includes certain fighting dog types. Category 2 includes Rottweilers and American Staffordshire Terriers. If your dog fits either category, contact the French Ministry of Agriculture (DGAL) before travel to confirm the rules.
For non-commercial movements, EU rules permit up to five pets per owner. If you are moving more than five animals, or if they are intended for sale or transfer, commercial movement rules apply, which involve different health certificates and requirements. Contact the DGAL or a licensed transport agent for the commercial movement process.
Your officially authorised Lithuanian vet issues the AHC. The VMVT (State Food and Veterinary Service) endorsement is added by a VMVT official vet at a regional VMVT office. Your vet should be able to arrange the endorsement step or direct you to the nearest office. Allow 1-2 working days for the endorsement.
No. Cats arriving from other EU member states on valid EU documentation with a current rabies vaccination are not subject to quarantine in France. The French DGAL may carry out spot checks at CDG but does not quarantine EU-compliant pets.