FranceVietnam is not exempt from the EU’s rabies titer test, so every dog and cat needs a blood test and a 90-day wait before the certificate can be issued.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026i
Four things that shape how a pet reaches France from Vietnam.
Vietnam is not exempt, so a rabies antibody blood test is mandatory
Certificates must use the current EU model (Regulation 2026/705)
No advance permit is issued, and compliant pets skip quarantine
Set by a fixed 90-day wait between the blood draw and the certificate
Six requirements every pet must clear before a France-bound flight is booked.
An ISO 11784/11785 microchip must go in before the rabies vaccine. Vaccination needs a pet of at least 12 weeks, France refuses any animal under 16 weeks, and a dog must have at least one adult tooth.
The vaccine must be given after the microchip and counts as valid 21 days after the primary course. A lapse turns the next dose into a new primary vaccination and repeats the titer test.
Blood is drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, must show 0.5 IU/ml or higher, and is tested by an EU-designated laboratory. There is none in Vietnam, so the sample is shipped abroad, commonly to Bangkok.
Issued by an official vet at least 90 days after the blood draw, on the current EU model (Regulation 2026/705), in French and English. It is valid for 10 days until the customs check in France.
The owner declares the move is non-commercial. If someone else accompanies the pet, they must travel within 5 days of the owner, and the owner authorises them in writing.
France bans Category 1 dogs from entry and transit, and Category 2 dogs, including Rottweilers, arrive under strict conditions. Cats face no breed ban, apart from Bengal and Savannah pedigree rules.
Two mechanics that surprise owners who expect a permit or a quarantine.
France issues no import permit before travel, and there is no appointment to make. The owner presents the pet and its documents to customs on arrival.
Customs, not a veterinary border post, checks the documents and microchip before the pet leaves the international zone, then endorses the certificate.
The 90-day wait between the blood draw and the certificate is fixed — no amount of urgency shortens it.
Microchip implanted, then the rabies vaccine at the same visit or later, at 12 weeks or older. This date anchors every deadline that follows.
Earliest day for the blood sample, 30 full days after the vaccine. Sampling earlier means starting the wait again.
The sample ships abroad because there is no EU-designated lab in Vietnam. A result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher clears the way to the 90-day count.
The health certificate can be issued no earlier than 90 days after the blood draw, on the new EU model, in French and English.
The pet travels within the certificate’s 10-day validity, with the owner on the same flight or within five days, under a written authorisation.
Customs checks the documents and microchip before the pet leaves the international zone, then endorses the certificate.
Every border crossing point open to international passengers can receive a pet — no short pet-only list applies.
France treats every international passenger border point as an entry point for pets, and the list covers more than 70 airports, from Paris to Marseille.
Vietnam Airlines and Air France fly nonstop between Vietnam and Paris Charles de Gaulle, where customs checks the pet before it leaves the international zone.
France classifies dogs by type and papers, not by breed name.
Nonstop flights make cabin and hold travel possible — weight and breed decide which one is open.
Vietnam Airlines takes up to 6 kg with the carrier and Air France under 8 kg. Pet and carrier are weighed together.
Checked baggage on the owner’s flight: up to 32 kg with the crate on Vietnam Airlines, up to 75 kg on Air France.
A separate booking for heavier pets, breeds the passenger airlines refuse, or pets flying apart from the owner.
A visa decision can’t be planned to the day. A pet’s waits are fixed — plan both together.
Start the microchip and vaccine when the decision to move is made, and issue the certificate only once the visa and flight are confirmed.
A pet staying more than three months is registered in the national database through a vet visit within eight days of arrival.
The trip out is simple. The return is where the titer test decides the timeline.
Vietnam needs an official health certificate and a rabies vaccine given 30 days to 12 months before departure, but no titer test.
Without a titer test done in France before leaving, the pet returns as a first-time import and waits at least 90 days after the blood draw.
Pet owners work with a single point of contact through our international pet relocation service, while we coordinate every stage — from the first blood draw to the customs check in France.
Every shipment is priced by weight, crate size, and requirements — we break down every line, no hidden fees.
Our process is designed to be simple and fully guided — so pet owners always know what to expect at every stage of the journey.
Submit a Quotation Request
Pet owners begin by submitting essential information about their pet, destination, and travel needs through our online form.
Consultation & Quotation
Our team reviews your case and provides a clear travel plan with a detailed quotation.
Documents & Preparation
We handle the vaccination schedule, titer test, bilingual health certificate, and non-commercial declaration in the correct sequence.
Travel & Arrival
Your pet travels according to the approved plan, with careful handling from departure through the French customs check and final handover.
Last updated 17 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
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