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Travel Guide for a Service Dog in France
France is a place where most people would love to visit at least once in their lifetime. From the gourmet food and pastries to the outstanding architecture, France offers a vacation like no other.
If you need a Service Dog to help you navigate your way, or use one for other medical reasons, you can still enjoy all France has to offer; you just need to plan ahead.
In this post, we will provide you with a complete travel guide for a Service Dog in France. Don’t book your flight until you have all the facts.
Traveling to France With a Service Dog With an EU Passport
Before you can travel to France with your Service Dog, he or she must have a series of requirements completed. This can be in the form of an EU Pet Passport.
What is an EU Pet Passport?
The EU (European Union) Pet Passport is a document issued by an official veterinarian in a European Union Member State (a country within the EU) or other designated country that contains official health information related to a specific pet. The purpose of this document is to make it easier to travel between the EU Member States and for animals returning from the EU to other countries.
Note: an EU Pet Passport cannot be obtained in the U.S.
Who Can Fill Out an EU Pet Passport?
There are several sections that need to be completed on the EU Pet Passport. These sections are labeled as;
- Authorized Veterinarian – referring to an EU veterinarian
- A Veterinarian – any licensed vet including those from the U.S
It is very important that each veterinarian fills out there own sections. Failure to do so could have the Pet Passport denied.
Service Dog Requirements Without an EU Pet Passport
If you do not have an EU Pet Passport, you will have to complete a checklist of requirements before you can bring your Service Dog into France.
1. An ISO Compliant Microchip – these are 15 digits long (11784 and 11785). If your Service Dog does not have this type of microchip, you can either bring a compatible microchip reader with you or contact the EU Veterinarian at your destination point to see if he/she has the appropriate reader. You can also have a USDA accredited vet implant the EU microchip.
Remember, the number and implantation dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate.
2. Rabies Vaccination – Must occur AFTER the microchip was implanted or on the same day. However, any rabies vaccination administered before the microchip is considered invalid.
If your pet had a non-ISO compatible chip implanted at the same time as or before your pet’s most recent vaccination, your pet would not have to be re-vaccinated even if it had to be re-microchipped with an ISO compliant chip to travel to the EU.
Vaccinations that are valid from one to three years are acceptable as long as they are current and given according to the manufacturer’s requirements.
The vaccinations also cannot expire before entering France.
3. 21 Day Vaccination Waiting Period
Your Service Dog must wait 21 days after the primary rabies vaccination before traveling to France.
Vaccination is considered “primary” when it’s given at the same time or after a microchip implantation, or it is given after the previous rabies vaccination has expired.
4. The EU Health Certificate
Service Dogs must have an accredited veterinarian issue, complete, and sign the EU Health Certificate. This certificate must be issued within ten days of entering into France.
5. APHIS Endorsement
After your veterinarian has issued the EU Health Certificate, have your completed paperwork endorsed by your local APHIS Veterinary Services office.
APHIS (Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) will be able to provide specific information about the process and fees associated with the endorsement of the EU Health Certificate.
Click here to download a non-commercial Health Certificate for your Service Dog.
Please Note: According to their website;
“The EU health certificate is valid for travel within the EU for up to 4 months from the date it is issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian as long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire.
After entering the EU, dogs who are subsequently traveling to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway will need to be treated for tapeworms by an EU veterinarian within 1-5 days before entering those countries.
The EU veterinarian will add the tapeworm treatment information to the EU health certificate issued in the United States. It is your responsibility to ensure your pet meets the import requirements of each country you visit.”
Traveling in Paris With Your Dog
The public transportation rules in Paris are very dog-friendly. You may travel with your dog in subways and trains as long as you purchase a ticket for your dog and they are leashed. Unfortunately, buses do not allow dogs in Paris.
Traveling to France With Your Service Dog
Before you book your flight from the U.S. or Canada to France, be sure to start the lengthy process of getting your Service Dog ready to travel.
As we covered, your Assistance Dog will need to have an ISO compatible microchip, and up-to-date rabies vaccination. You will also need to have an EU Pet Passport in place or the five-step alternative process taken care of before your Service Dog will be admitted into France.
Following this process will ensure your Service Dog is ready and able to travel abroad.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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Can service dogs travel on trains?
Yes & in restaurants!
I’m trying to get a service shein vest for my little one, 16 lbs.
when I was last in Paris, even though he is registered in the USA, he’s vest was not recognized in most stores in Paris!
Good luck
For the sake of people reading this comment I’d like to explain why a vest from a registry in the US may not be acceptable else where. One of the reasons for this is because they have no way of validating that the dog is in fact a service dog. For example, there are no valid service dog registries in the United States. One or two states at the time of writing this do have a state “registry”, and is then only recognized by that sate and as long as the dog and the handler continue to qualify under state and federal definitions.
There are organizations in the US that are recognized internationally that train and certify their dogs, which if I am not mistaken need to be retested and re-certified periodically. For your dog to be recognized as a Service dog in the country you are traveling to you will have to meet that countries requirements as well.
Some countries will recognize US service dogs if they were certified by an internationally accredited training facility.
If you see an advertisement for a Service Dog registry you should avoid it, they are scams, and are illegal in many countries. I’m not sure why that are not in the US.
If I find information specifically on how to have a service dog recognized in France I will reply again with a link but since I only speak English I doubt I will.
Have you been able to learn anything else or find a solution?
In the U.S., things like registrations and vests are considered service dog paraphernalia for already qualified service dog owners. Meaning, you can’t claim you have a service dog solely because you have these items. In order to have a service dog under U.S. rules, you need to have a qualifying disability and a dog that has been fully trained to perform a job or task relating to that disability. No third party can insist on seeing a registration, certificate or vest.
How about traveling to the EU or UK? Flying from the US to London, the LHR airport asks for “Evidence of service dog status” which is strange for service dogs trained in the US because there is no official registry for the status anyway. How about EU, say, Paris? Does Paris airport ask for additional things?
If you are flying from the U.S., the DOT’s travel rules for service dogs apply. You might find this guide helpful: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/flying-with-a-service-dog-guide/
What color are service dog vests in France? I have an ADA Service Dog in the US & i’m traveling for a month in France and need to know what recognizable item is needed on the dog in order to have it be excepted for restaurants, lighting, etc.
We’re not aware of any such requirements in France but in the U.S. there is no specific color needed for service dog vests. Most service dog owners however prefer the vest to be somewhat attention grabbing so it can clearly signal that the dog is a working dog that shouldn’t be interfered with.
London has completely different rules when it comes to service dogs so contact that specific office to find out what is needed. They do not follow DOT standards. Also, British Airways is the worst!
That’s so odd that British Airways was not great for you and your service dog. They were absolutely brilliant with mine when we traveled to and from London/Seattle, booking out the entire row for us and letting my little guy have his own seat. They’re my favorite airline to travel with!