Checklist
Pet Travel to France: The Complete Checklist
A week-by-week plan, from six weeks out to the day you cross.
- 6 weeks out: confirm the microchip, book the rabies vaccine if it’s a first dose, and start a Category 2 dog’s permit process.
- 1 week out: confirm the microchip number matches every document, and pack medication with a vet’s letter.
- Day of travel: arrive 90 minutes early for Eurotunnel Pet Reception, and keep documents accessible, not packed away.
Your plan, step by step
4 steps · updated October 2026
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Step 1 · 6 weeks before
6 Weeks Before
Chip confirmed, rabies vaccination booked if needed, and the category 2 dog permit process started now — it has the longest lead time of anything here.
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Step 2 · 3 weeks before
3 Weeks Before
The 21-day rabies wait clears around now if you started at six weeks — also the point to lock in transport and accommodation.
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Step 3 · 1 week before
1 Week Before
Paperwork cross-check week: chip number matches every document, medication is packed with a vet's letter, and any required permit is in hand.
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Step 4 · Day of travel
Day of Travel
Early arrival, documents within reach rather than buried in luggage, and a saved emergency vet number before you actually need it.