Dog - Custom Clearance

Hi


Coming from Australia to Paris - does anyone know what the custom clearance costs are for bringing your dog.


We have been given a quote but they have excluded this cost and cannot advise it as it is payable at the other end.


Just want to know what we are up for.


Also, what happens when you get to the airport and how do you collect your dog. Can you then take them on the train from the airport?


Many thanks

I came from California with a 10 year old dog in early 2004. I went to the French consulate website and found the dog requirements list. There were vaccinations required within 2 weeks of travel... lots of vaccinations, 14 I think. Then there were the veterinarian exams, statements and certificates. It was a tedious list and I followed it to the letter, resulting in a fat dossier for the carry on luggage. The dog flew in her crate in the cargo hold of my plane. Upon arrival at DeGaulle we were waved through without mention or request for any dog papers. A brief glance at my passport was the only requirement. Needless to say, after all of the effort on the dog's behalf, I was somewhat crestfallen. They didn't even look in her crate. I could have smuggled in a rabid komodo dragon.

I guess they figured that if we managed to get past the post-911 gestapo at the airport boarding gates in the states, we were squeaky clean.

We brought two dogs in from Sri Lanka last year. They were sent cargo (ie, they were not on the same plane as us) and we went to collect them from CDG. The process was very straightforward: Collect the documents from the admin section, pay about 40 Euros per dog, take the papers upstairs to the Douane office. Providing everything has been done (chip, vaccine, blood test etc) the Douane will stamp the papers (no charge) which you then take back to the admin section who then direct you to where you can collect your dog.

The cat was even easier; arrived on the same flight as us and was waved through customs without even a cursory glance at the paperwork.

Happy travelling!

We didn’t pay anything for our cat from India. I guess your dog is coming as cargo, and not “accompanied baggage” on the flight you are on? If there’s any chance you can get him booked in this way, on your flight, it’s the cheapest and easiest way. If not, and he’s coming as cargo then you’ll have to pick him up at the cargo terminal - don’t think the costs will amount to anything more than 100 Euros though. Once he’s cleared then you can take him on all public transport - not a problem....

A General requirement is: Microchip (ISO compatible!), must be implanted on the same day or prior to the rabies vaccination.I only mention the EU wide regulations (UK as usual, has some funny extra red tape)

  • Valid rabies vaccination, at least 21 days prior to entry into any EU country.
  • Health certificate, issued within 10 days of travel.

I don't know how this is in Australia but a additional requirement is if you have known cases in Australia with urban rabies: then a rabies blood test at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. At least 3 month must elapse between the blood test and entry into the EU country.

I travel with our two Rotties, South Africa and recently Singapore using a travel dog crate /cage, never have had probs at departure or return. I use Goldenway International because they are handling pets everyday and they are approved which is helpful because my male Rottie does not like every stranger telling him what to do.... You may want to save the 100 €, but I can tell you, then you will get some experience for free. Once you are in France you find a vet who is helping you to with the papers. Its all not a big deal and quite easy. Good luck!

Have a look at Useful Links/Pets (link at top of page) which deals with this. Will be adding Ian's suggestions asap.

I would contact both the French embassy/consulate where you are as well as the company you are flying with ...if someone knows - they surely should! Good luck... :)

" I had 3 animals at the time"...We actually had a big mess at Paris Orly airport"

Love it Valerie.

you can take dogs on the French train system... they are supposed to have a ticket... but the ticket checkers have been known to turn a blind eye!

x teresa

Hi Jo

Excellent links by Ian.

My two pennies worth - I can't remember exactly now as I had 3 animals at the time (2 cats and the dog) but I think for the dog it was about €80. Huge guess though as I wasn't in the mood (more like furious) to pay much attention. This was 3 years ago.

We actually had a big mess at Paris Orly airport. We were told to wait in one of the main halls where there was a conveyor marked "Animal collection point". We duly did. Except I asked repeatedly if that was right because we waited 3 hours!! I was frantic because the animals had already endured the flight and we had a 5+ hour drive ahead of us. It turned out that, because they'd put them as "cargo", we had to go and collect them from a customs warehouse 1.5 km away and the taxis are simply not interested in a small journey like that. Luckily we had a hire car arranged anyway but it took another 30 mins to find the blooming place.

Anyway, back to the point - find out when you check the dog in before boarding whether they're marking the crate as "cargo". Armed with that info, once you arrive ask for the exact collection point for "cargo" / "non-cargo" as the case may be. It could literally save you hours.

The train I can't say about as we had the car. I think much goes according to size / breed.

Thanks for all the Info Ian. I was aware of the microchip and the rabies shot. Will check out the links and see if I can find any more info. Thanks again :)

Hi

This page : http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/vivre-a-l-etranger/preparer-son-retour-en-france/les-formalites-douanieres/article/animaux-domestiques-retour-en

says : the dog must be identified by electronic transpondeur implanted under the skin (ISO 11784 or annex A of ISO 11785) ; must have current rabies vaccination contre la rage (primo-vaccination and follow-ups) ; Australia is exempt from having to produce a medical certificate concerning the efficacity of the vaccination.

If you're going to be in transit (changing planes), you'll have to check the rules of the transit country too. Some countries refuse animal transits.

This page : http://www.airfrance.com/MF/fr/common/voyage-en-avion/preparation-voyage/animaux-avion.htm

gives the rules for Air France, you'd better look up your flight airline. Dogs 8kg-75kg obligatory in the hold. From 26/10/14 all "push-nosed" dogs, eg bulldogs, are forbidden on Air France flights. The case has to conform to IATA standards. There's a form to fill in.

This page : http://vosdroits.service-public.fr/particuliers/F806.xhtml

details the formalities of admission : european passport for domestic animal, furnished and filled in by a veterinary doctor authorised by the authorities of originating country.

I haven't found anything about customs clearance costs ; I suppose there is a wait while the case is unloaded and ferried to the collection space ; you can of course take them on the train, if they have a ticket :)