Pet relocation guidance UK to France
Specialist partners, paperwork-aligned
Pet relocation is handled by specialist firms; we coordinate timing with your household move and provide guidance on the post-Brexit pet travel paperwork.
About pet relocation guidance uk to france
— in detail
Pet relocation is outside the scope of our removals service directly — animals travel under their own paperwork regime and require specialist handling that is not interchangeable with household goods. We refer pet moves to specialist firms in our partner network; we coordinate the timing with your household move so the family's arrival in France aligns with the pet's arrival.
Post-Brexit pet travel paperwork is more involved than the pre-2021 EU pet passport regime. Dogs, cats, and ferrets travelling from the UK to France need: a microchip; a rabies vaccination valid for at least 21 days before travel; an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a UK veterinary practitioner within 10 days of travel; tapeworm treatment for dogs (24-120 hours before arrival in France for dogs travelling to Ireland-Norway-Finland-Malta directly, but a recommendation rather than a strict requirement for dogs entering France).
Other pets — rabbits, birds, reptiles — have separate regimes. Birds particularly often need export documentation specific to the species. Our pet-relocation partner can advise on the species-specific paperwork.
Practical timing guidance: the AHC is the most time-sensitive document — issued within 10 days of travel, and many UK vets need 5-7 working days notice to arrange. Plan the AHC appointment 2-3 weeks ahead of the move so any veterinary issues (booster vaccinations, medical considerations) can be resolved before the move date.
On the quote
- Specialist pet-relocation partner network
- Post-Brexit AHC (Animal Health Certificate) timing guidance
- Coordinated with your household move timing
- Dogs, cats, ferrets — standard regime
- Other species — specialist paperwork
Right for
- Households moving with dogs, cats, ferrets, or other pets.
- Specialist pet owners (working dogs, breed-society animals) needing experienced handling.
Common questions
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No — pets travel under their own regime through our specialist partners. We coordinate timing and refer.
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2-3 weeks ahead of the move date is comfortable. The certificate itself is issued within 10 days of travel, but the underlying veterinary appointments need to fit your vet's schedule.
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For UK-issued pet passports, no — UK is now considered a third country for pet-import purposes. The AHC is the current document. EU-issued pet passports are still valid for entry to France.
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No — animals travel with you (in your vehicle, by ferry foot-passenger, or by air through specialist pet-transport firms). The moving lorry is not animal-suitable transport.