Bringing your dog or cat from Maldives to France takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 16-22 …
Rabies vaccinationRequired, given after the microchip is …
Rabies titre testRequired. The Maldives is not on the …
QuarantineNone for a fully compliant arrival.
Import permitNot required.
Health certificateEU-format non-commercial certificate, in …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Maldives to France
typically takes around 16-22 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Day 0.
Confirm the microchip is fitted and scannable, then vaccinate against rabies.
Responsible: Vet in Male.
2
At least 30 days after vaccination.
Draw blood for the FAVN titre test.
Responsible: Vet in Male, sample couriered to an EU-approved laboratory.
3
Usually 2-4 weeks after the blood draw.
Receive a passing result and start the 90-day countdown to travel.
Responsible: EU-approved laboratory.
4
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo space and a crate through an agent handling the Male-Doha-Paris routing.
Responsible: Owner and pet shipping agent.
5
Within 10 days of departure.
Get the EU-format health certificate signed.
Responsible: Vet in Male.
6
Travel day, once the 90-day wait has fully elapsed.
Fly and clear French veterinary checks on arrival.
Responsible: Airline ground handler, French border vet.
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. ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required, given after the microchip is confirmed on a scanner.
Rabies titre test
Required. The Maldives is not on the approved-country list under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so a FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory applies: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, then a 90-day wait counted from the draw date, per Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.
Quarantine
None for a fully compliant arrival.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial certificate, in the layout fixed by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705, completed by the Male vet within 10 days of travel.
Export permit
Nothing to apply for. The Maldives has no pet export permit scheme for companion animals.
Health certificate
A Male vet issues an export health certificate confirming vaccination status and fitness to fly. There's no government counter-signature built into the process, unlike many origin countries covered on this site.
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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
Launching twice-weekly Paris Orly-Male flights from 19 December 2026, flown as a triangle route on to Colombo before returning to Paris. It's a genuinely new option, but as a leisure long-haul carrier without fifth-freedom rights on the Male-Colombo leg, confirm live animal cargo terms directly before assuming it can carry a cat.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Connects Male to Paris via Doha, with QR Cargo's dedicated animal facility at Hamad International. The established fallback while French Bee's cargo terms are still unconfirmed.
Cargo Only
Air France
Handles the Paris-side connection for pets arriving via a Gulf hub. Air France Cargo has long experience with live animals into CDG.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test plus international courier to an approved lab: USD 220-320.
EU-format health certificate near travel: USD 150-250.
IATA crate, cargo booking and agent handling fee: USD 900-1,600.
Air waybill, Male to Paris via Doha or Dubai: USD 1,150-2,050.
Total typical range: USD 2,500-4,400 over 4-5.5 months.
Critical points
This route runs almost entirely on cats. Dogs face no legal restriction on leaving the Maldives, but so few live there given the country's own import ban that a genuine dog enquiry on this route is rare.
French Bee's new Male service is a triangle route built for Colombo-Paris leisure demand first. Don't book on the assumption it accepts live animal cargo without confirming that directly with the airline.
Male has no rabies antibody laboratory of its own that we could confirm. Every blood sample leaves the island before testing, which is the single biggest source of delay here.
France entry requirements at a glance
Bringing a pet into France involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Getting the details right
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.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions
Not yet confirmed. French Bee’s Orly-Male-Colombo service starts 19 December 2026, but the airline hasn’t published live animal cargo terms for this new route. Check directly with their cargo desk before assuming it’s available.
Legally, yes, there’s no export restriction on dogs leaving the Maldives. In practice, almost nobody there owns one, because of the Maldives Customs Service’s own ban on dog imports. This guide is written around a cat because that’s what almost every real enquiry involves.
Because the clock starts on the blood draw date for the FAVN titre test, not the day the result arrives. Miscalculate that and you can book a flight before the cat is legally allowed to enter France.
No, for a cat that completes every step correctly with a valid EU-format certificate. Incomplete paperwork can mean the animal is held, quarantined at the owner’s cost, or refused entry.
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