Destination Profile: France

Last verified: 23 February 2026
Competent health authority: Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire
Official URL: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/voyager-avec-un-animal-de-compagnie-entre-pays-tiers-et-union-europeenne

Global destination classification

Regulatory model

Model B: conditional quarantine for non-compliance. France, under Regulation (EU) 576/2013, allows direct entry of pets that fully meet health requirements. In case of documentary non-compliance or clinical suspicion, the authority may order isolation under official control, return to country of origin or, in extreme cases, euthanasia. There is no routine quarantine for animals with complete documentation.

Rabies status of destination country

Canine rabies free.
Source: WOAH — https://www.woah.org/en/disease/rabies/

Country-of-origin classification system

Yes. France applies the European Union list system established in Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013. Countries are divided into those listed in Annex II (low risk, exempt from RNATT and waiting period) and non-listed countries (high risk, with mandatory full protocol).

Peru is a non-listed country, classified as high risk. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and most Central American and Caribbean countries share this category in Latin America. Chile, Argentina and Mexico are listed in Annex II of Regulation 577/2013 and are exempt from RNATT and the 3-month waiting period.
Verification URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0577

Requirements for dogs

Microchip

— Required standard: ISO 11784 or Annex A of ISO 11785 (Regulation EU 576/2013).
— Must it be implanted before vaccination? Yes. Identification must be prior to or simultaneous with rabies vaccination for it to be valid.
— If the chip was implanted after: the vaccine is considered null for export purposes. The full protocol must be repeated after chip implantation.

Rabies vaccine

— Mandatory: Yes.
— Minimum age for vaccination: 12 weeks (84 days) (Regulation EU 576/2013, Art. 10).
— Minimum post-vaccination period: 21 calendar days for primary vaccination before sample collection for RNATT or before travel (Regulation EU 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Recognised validity: according to manufacturer's datasheet (1 or 3 years), provided there are no gaps without immunisation. If the vaccine expires during the post-RNATT waiting period, the booster must be administered before the exact expiry date or continuity of the process is lost.
— Accepted vaccine types: inactivated with at least one antigenic unit per dose, or recombinant vaccine.
— If expired: the new dose is processed as primary vaccination. The 21-day wait, sample collection for RNATT and the 3-month waiting period restart.

Rabies serology titre (RNATT)

— Mandatory: Yes, for animals from Peru and all non-listed Latin American countries.
— Minimum threshold: 0.5 IU/mL (Regulation EU 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Minimum post-vaccination period for sample collection: 30 days from vaccination (Regulation EU 576/2013, Annex IV).
— Waiting period: 3 months (90 days) before entry into France. The count starts from the date of blood sample collection, not from the date of receiving the result (Regulation EU 576/2013, Art. 10, point c).
— EU-accredited laboratories list: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/pet-movement/approved-rabies-serology-laboratories_en
— Accredited laboratories in Latin America: there is no EU-accredited laboratory in Peru, Colombia or Argentina. There are accredited laboratories in Brazil (TEC-SAÚDE) and Mexico (SENASICA). Owners exporting from Peru must send the sample to accredited laboratories outside the country, with shipping and result time factored into the calendar from the start of the process.
— If the result is below threshold: mandatory re-vaccination and new sample collection 30 days later, fully restarting the 3-month waiting period.

Other vaccines required by entry regulations

French and European regulation does not require additional vaccines to rabies as a legal import requirement for non-commercial movements.

However, SENASA — Peru's official veterinary authority — requires a complete and valid vaccination schedule to issue the International Health Certificate for export. Without this schedule, SENASA does not certify the animal and the process cannot begin. For dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious canine hepatitis, Leptospirosis and Parainfluenza (valid quintuple vaccine). Verify directly at https://www.gob.pe/senasa before starting the process from Peru.

The same logic applies for all Latin American countries of origin. Each national veterinary authority requires its own complete vaccination schedule to certify export, regardless of what France requires:

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted as a mandatory requirement for direct entry to France from Peru. Antiparasitic treatments are mandatory for entry to Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway, but not for France under current EU regulation.

Health certificate

— Official name: EU Health Certificate for non-commercial movement of companion animals from third countries (Annex IV, EU Implementing Regulation 577/2013).
— Who can issue it: official veterinarian of the authority of the country of origin. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa). In Colombia: ICA. In Ecuador: AGROCALIDAD. In Brazil: MAPA Brasil SDA.
— Validity window: 10 days from official signature until border control in the EU.
— Requires endorsement? Yes, mandatory. In Peru: SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa).
— Official model URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R0577&from=EN

Official entry document

— Exact name: EU Health Certificate for non-commercial displacement from third countries + Non-commerciality declaration.
— Who issues it: in Peru, SENASA based on the official EU model (Annex IV, Regulation 577/2013). In each Latin American country: the equivalent national veterinary authority indicated in the table above.
— Validity window: 10 days from issuance until entry point in France.
— Official model URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R0577&from=EN

Mandatory digital forms

No centralised national digital form prior to travel identified in primary regulation consulted for France in non-commercial movements.

Quarantine

— Mandatory: Not routinely. Conditional for documentary non-compliance or clinical signs detected at the entry point.
— Facilities: Postes Frontaliers and Stations de quarantaine integrated into authorised airports, including Charles de Gaulle.
— Cost: entirely borne by the owner.
— What can extend it? Unreadable microchip, incomplete documentation, post-RNATT waiting period not fulfilled, or expired vaccine.

Breed restrictions

Not covered in this profile. Consult directly with Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire before starting the process.

Minimum entry age

Approximately 7 months for animals from Peru and non-listed Latin American countries: 12 weeks minimum age + 30 days post-vaccination for sample collection + 90 days post-collection wait (Regulation EU 576/2013, Art. 10).

Transport mode

Cabin baggage (PETC) or hold (AVIH) permitted for non-commercial movements. Manifest Cargo is not mandatory for entry to France (IATA LAR / Ministère de l'Agriculture).

Requirements for cats

Microchip

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Rabies vaccine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Serology titre (RNATT)

Same as dogs — see previous section. The 0.5 IU/mL threshold, the count from sample collection and the 3-month waiting period apply equally to cats from Peru and non-listed Latin American countries.

Other vaccines required by entry regulations

French regulation does not require additional vaccines to rabies for entry. However, SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) requires a complete valid vaccination schedule for cats to issue the International Health Certificate from Peru: Feline Triple (Calicivirus, Feline viral rhinotracheitis and Panleukopenia) plus rabies vaccine. Without this schedule, SENASA does not certify. The same principle applies for ICA in Colombia, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador and the other authorities indicated in the table above.

Antiparasitic treatments

Not identified in primary regulation consulted as a mandatory requirement for entry to France.

Health certificate

Same as dogs — see previous section. Issued and endorsed by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) in Peru, or by the equivalent veterinary authority in each Latin American country of origin.

Official entry document

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Mandatory digital forms

Not identified in primary regulation consulted.

Quarantine

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Breed restrictions

Not covered in this profile. Consult directly with Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire before starting the process.

Minimum entry age

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Transport mode

Same as dogs — see previous section.

Variations by country of origin

Differentiated requirements by origin?

Yes.

Risk classification system

EU list system (Regulation 577/2013, Annex II). Listed countries exempt from RNATT and waiting period. Non-listed countries with mandatory full protocol.
Verification URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0577

Situation of Peru and Latin America

Peru is a non-listed country. Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil, Venezuela, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay and most Central American and Caribbean countries share this classification. Chile, Argentina and Mexico are listed and exempt from RNATT and the waiting period. Export certification in each case corresponds to SENASA in Peru (https://www.gob.pe/senasa), ICA in Colombia, AGROCALIDAD in Ecuador, MAPA Brasil SDA in Brazil, SAG in Chile, SENASICA in Mexico, SENASAG in Bolivia, SENACSA in Paraguay, MGAP-DGSG in Uruguay and INSAI in Venezuela.

Situation of low-risk countries

Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Canada and Japan: do not require RNATT. Only ISO microchip, valid rabies vaccination and official health certificate equivalent to the European passport. Germany, Italy, Spain and other EU member states: only European passport with valid vaccination.

Transit through third countries

If an animal from a listed country transits through Peru or any non-listed country, it must meet the requirements of that transit country, including RNATT, unless the owner can prove by declaration that the animal had no contact with rabies-susceptible animals and remained in the international airport area throughout the transit (Regulation EU 576/2013, Annex I, Part 3).

Common errors

ERROR 1: Sample collection before 30 days post-vaccination

What happens: the sample is taken before the immune system has responded sufficiently. The antibody titre often falls below the 0.5 IU/mL threshold. Common in files from Peru where owner urgency shortens deadlines.
Regulatory consequence: test rejection; mandatory re-vaccination and 30 additional days wait for new sample, restarting the 3-month waiting period (Regulation EU 576/2013, Annex IV).
How to prevent: strictly respect 30 calendar days from vaccination before any sample collection. SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) verifies this sequence in the endorsement.

ERROR 2: Calculating the 90 days from the result date, not from collection

What happens: the owner schedules the flight counting 3 months from when they receive the laboratory result, when the count starts the day the needle touches the animal.
Regulatory consequence: rejection at the French Poste Frontalier and mandatory quarantine at owner's expense until the 90 days are completed (Regulation EU 576/2013, Art. 10, point c).
How to prevent: calculate the eligible flight date as day 91 from blood collection, with an additional 2-3 day margin for time zone and operational differences.

ERROR 3: Microchip implanted after rabies vaccination

What happens: the certificate shows that the vaccine was administered before chip implantation. Common error in clinics in Peru, Colombia and Ecuador unaware of the sequence requirement of Regulation EU 576/2013.
Regulatory consequence: the vaccine is legally invalidated; denial of entry at the French border.
How to prevent: verify that the chip registration date is prior to or equal to the vaccination date. SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) verifies this sequence in the endorsement; if there is a discrepancy, it does not certify.

ERROR 4: Use of laboratory not accredited by the European Commission

What happens: the sample is sent to a laboratory with national or WOAH accreditation but not included in the official EU list. Particularly common from Peru, where there is no EU-accredited laboratory.
Regulatory consequence: the result is null before French and European customs, without exception.
How to prevent: verify the exact laboratory name on the official list before collection: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/pet-movement/approved-rabies-serology-laboratories_en

ERROR 5: Health certificate without SENASA endorsement

What happens: the certificate signed only by the private veterinarian is presented at the border, without the official SENASA seal.
Regulatory consequence: the document has no international legal validity; rejection at the French Poste Frontalier.
How to prevent: process the official endorsement at SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) with sufficient advance notice, remembering that the certificate is only valid for 10 days from issuance.

ERROR 6: Vaccine expired during the 3-month waiting period

What happens: the valid vaccine at the time of RNATT expires before the flight date and the owner administers the booster after expiry, breaking documented immunisation continuity.
Regulatory consequence: loss of validity of the entire process; restart from vaccination (Regulation 577/2013).
How to prevent: calculate the expiry date of the active vaccine at the start of the process and schedule the booster before that date if the waiting period reaches it.

Minimum calendar from scratch

Scenario A — Animal with microchip and valid vaccination (vaccine with more than 30 days)

— Day 0: sample collection for RNATT and shipping to EU-accredited laboratory. SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) can initiate endorsement processing in parallel.
— Day 15 (approximate): receipt of positive result (≥ 0.5 IU/mL).
— Day 81-88: issuance of International Health Certificate by SENASA and official endorsement. 10-day validity window.
— Day 91: minimum eligible date for embarkation to France.
— Total minimum time Scenario A: 3 months from sample collection.

Scenario B — Animal with no prior history, from scratch

— Day 0: ISO microchip implantation + rabies vaccine + additional vaccines required by SENASA (quintuple for dogs, feline triple for cats). Minimum age 12 weeks completed.
— Day 30: sample collection for RNATT (minimum 30 days post-vaccination, Regulation EU 576/2013).
— Day 45 (approximate): receipt of positive result from EU-accredited laboratory.
— Day 111-118: issuance and endorsement of International Health Certificate by SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa).
— Day 120: minimum eligible date for embarkation.
— Total minimum time Scenario B: 4 months from scratch.

Authorised entry points

There are entry point restrictions. Animals must enter through Traveller Entry Points (TTP) designated by France for receiving companion animals from third countries.

Official URL: https://agriculture.gouv.fr/liste-des-points-dentree-des-voyageurs-pet-animals-entry-points

Directory of authorities

Cited current regulation

1. Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 — On the non-commercial movement of companion animals. Articles 10 and 35 on requirements for animals from non-listed third countries and measures in case of non-compliance. URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=celex%3A32013R0576 — Verified: 23 February 2026.
2. Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 — Identification document models, territory and third country lists, and forms. Annex II (country list) and Annex IV (health certificate model). URL: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32013R0577 — Verified: 23 February 2026.
3. Code rural et de la pêche maritime (France) — Articles L211-12 to L211-16 on companion animal keeping and owner responsibility in French territory. URL: https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr — Verified: 23 February 2026.

France is identical to Spain and Italy in base regulation because it is the same European regulation, but what differentiates it operationally is the rigour of the Postes Frontaliers at Charles de Gaulle. The most critical error in practice remains the same as across the entire EU: confusing the result date with the collection date. The 90 days are counted from the needle stick, not from the laboratory envelope, and that error costs quarantines at CDG that can last weeks. What genuinely surprises owners who have managed files for Spain or Italy is that the process is technically identical, but France has its own administrative pace in border inspections and Ministère response times can be slower than expected for prior consultations. The point nobody anticipates from Lima: there is no EU-accredited laboratory in Peru. The sample travels outside the country, and that time must be calculated from day one. If the process is coordinated with rigour from SENASA, it is completely predictable and executable in 4 months from scratch.

This profile was verified against primary official sources on February 23, 2026. Requirements may change without prior notice. Always verify directly with the Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Souveraineté alimentaire and SENASA (https://www.gob.pe/senasa) before initiating any export process from Peru.