Can I Take My Dog on Holiday to France from the UK? (2026 Rules)

The short answer is yes — thousands of Brits take their dogs to France every year. But since Brexit, the rules got stricter and pricier. Here’s whether you can take your dog to France from the UK, what it costs, and how to do it without a last-minute panic at the port.

The post-Brexit rules in brief

Since 1 January 2021, the old EU pet passport scheme no longer applies to UK travellers. Instead, your dog needs:

1. A microchip (implanted before the rabies vaccination)
2. A rabies vaccination — given at least 21 days before travel
3. An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) — issued by an official vet within 10 days of travel, valid for 4 months of onward EU travel
4. Tapeworm treatment — for dogs, given by a vet 24–120 hours before returning to the UK

Full details are on gov.uk’s pet travel pages — check them before you book anything, as rules can change.

How much does it cost?

Be prepared: the AHC is the big expense. Expect £150–£250 per certificate from most vets (some charge more in London). The certificate covers up to 5 pets travelling together and lasts 4 months, so one AHC can cover multiple trips. Add:

• Rabies vaccination: £40–£70 (lasts 3 years, so often already done)
• Microchip: £15–£30 if not already chipped
• Tapeworm treatment in France before return: €30–€60 at a French vet

Realistic first-trip total: £200–£350. Subsequent trips within the AHC’s validity are much cheaper.

Getting there: ferry vs tunnel

Eurotunnel Le Shuttle (Folkestone–Calais)

The easiest option by far: your dog stays in the car with you for the 35-minute crossing. Book the pet add-on (around £20–£25 per pet each way). You must visit the pet reception at Folkestone before boarding for document checks. In my experience, this is the least stressful route for nervous dogs.

Ferries

Dover–Calais ferries (P&O, DFDS, Irish Ferries) allow dogs, but most require dogs to stay in the car on the car deck for the 90-minute crossing — not ideal in summer heat. Some routes offer kennels or pet-friendly cabins:

• Portsmouth–St Malo/Caen (Brittany Ferries): pet-friendly cabins available — the gold standard for dog owners, though pricier.
• Newhaven–Dieppe (DFDS): dogs stay in vehicle; shorter crossing.

Always check the operator’s pet policy when booking — it varies by route and season.

What documents do you need?

For the full checklist, see our guide to the documents needed to travel with a pet from the UK. In short: AHC, proof of microchip, rabies vaccination record, and your dog must be at least 15 weeks old.

Once you’re in France

France is wonderfully dog-friendly — dogs are welcome in most restaurants (on the floor, being French about it), many beaches (check local restrictions in July–August), and gîtes often accept dogs for a small supplement (€5–€10/night). French vets are plentiful for the pre-return tapeworm treatment; book it a day or two before you travel home, as the 24–120 hour window is strict.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Leaving the AHC too late: it must be issued within 10 days of travel, but vets get booked up — arrange it 2–3 weeks ahead.
• Rabies timing: the 21-day wait after a first vaccination catches people out every year.
• Forgetting the return tapeworm treatment: without it, your dog will be refused boarding home. No exceptions.
• Assuming pet passports still work: UK-issued EU pet passports are no longer valid for travel from GB. (Northern Ireland has different arrangements.)

The bottom line

Yes, you can absolutely take your dog to France — the Eurotunnel makes it genuinely easy, and France loves dogs. Just budget £200–£350 for the first trip’s paperwork, get the AHC sorted early, and don’t forget the tapeworm treatment on the way home. Do it once and the second trip is a breeze.

Taking your dog to France: the practical realities

Beyond the paperwork, here’s what it’s actually like. French motorways have regular aires with dog-walking areas — better than UK services. Restaurants are remarkably dog-tolerant: well-behaved dogs under the table are normal, not exceptional. (Aggressive or yappy dogs will get you the famous French stare.) Gîtes and campsites overwhelmingly accept dogs — look for “animaux acceptés” — usually €5–€10/night supplement.

Beaches: many French beaches restrict dogs in July–August (typically 9am–7pm). Outside peak season, most are fine. Look for the “plage autorisée aux chiens” signs. Vets (“vétérinaire”) are plentiful and cheaper than UK vets — the pre-return tapeworm treatment costs €30–€60. Book it 1–2 days before departure to stay inside the 24–120 hour window.

Heat: if you’re going south in summer, this matters more than any paperwork. Never leave a dog in a car (French police will break windows), walk early/late, and carry water. Some dogs — flat-faced breeds especially — struggle badly in 35°C+ heat. Consider whether the trip is fair on the animal, not just legal.

Dog-to-France FAQs

How old must my puppy be? At least 15 weeks — 12 weeks for first rabies vaccination plus the 21-day wait. No exceptions.

Can I take more than 5 dogs? Over 5 is classed as commercial movement — different rules, Export Health Certificate, APHA involvement. Don’t try to game this.

What if my dog’s rabies vaccination lapses? If a booster is given after the previous one expired, the 21-day clock restarts — and you’ll need a new AHC timeline. Keep boosters current.

Do cats need tapeworm treatment? No — the tapeworm requirement is dogs only. Cats need microchip, rabies vaccination and AHC, same as dogs otherwise.

Can I use the AHC for multiple trips? Yes — one AHC is valid for 4 months of EU travel and UK re-entry. Frequent travellers often get an EU pet passport from a French vet on the first trip to skip future AHCs.

Breed restrictions: the French rules that catch people out

France has breed-specific legislation that surprises British owners. Category 1 (attack dogs — pit bull types, Boerboels, Tosas without pedigree papers): banned — cannot be imported, and being caught with one means seizure and euthanasia. Category 2 (guard dogs — Rottweilers, American Staffordshire Terriers with pedigree papers, Tosas with papers): permitted with strict conditions — muzzled and leashed in public, permit (permis de détention) required, liability insurance mandatory, behavioural assessment by an approved vet.

What this means practically: if your dog is a Category 1 type, do not take it to France — period. If Category 2, research the permit process before travelling (it involves a French vet assessment and local mairie registration — difficult to arrange as a tourist). Staffordshire Bull Terriers (the English Staffy) are not on the French dangerous-dogs list — but French police sometimes confuse them with pit bull types; carry pedigree papers if you have them. When in doubt: check the current list on service-public.fr (the official French government site) and consult your vet — being turned away at Calais with a beloved pet is a nightmare worth 30 minutes of research to avoid.

Related reading

Don’t miss our full pet travel documents checklist and how to find last-minute holiday deals for the crossing itself.