Flying from New York to Paris with your Pet

What documents do I need to fly my pet from New York to Paris?

Our New York to Paris route operates via London – your flight lands in the UK, from where you and your pet continue overland to Paris by road with a Vicuna chauffeur. Because your pet enters the UK first, the documentation requirements below are for UK entry. You will therefore also need both an EU and UK Pet Health Certificate. While this may appear complex, it is quite simple if you follow these specific steps. Our document portal allows you to upload everything we need, and our traffic light system ensures that when all the greens line up, you are good to go!

Step 1

Your Pet

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The Microchip: Your pet MUST have a microchip implanted PRIOR to having their rabies jab.
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  It must meet ISO 11784 and 11785 standards (usually a 15-digit numerical code).

Step 2

Documents and vaccinations

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Rabies Vaccination:
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  Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before its first rabies vaccination.
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  Primary vaccine: The first rabies vaccination administered after microchip implantation is considered your pet's primary vaccine and is valid for ONE year only – regardless of the vaccine manufacturer's standard duration.
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  After the initial rabies jab you must wait between 21–30 days for the vaccine to become valid for travel, based on vaccine manufacturer guidelines. Your vet must document exact validity dates on the Animal Health Certificate (AHC).
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  You MUST use a USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) accredited vet.
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  Your vet must record the manufacturer, brand, batch number, expiry date, vaccination date and vaccine validity dates.
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  Boosters: A booster vaccination can be valid for 1–3 years depending on the manufacturer's guidelines, but it only qualifies as a booster if administered before the primary vaccine expires. Coverage must be continuous – if there is even a one-day gap between vaccines, the new vaccination is treated as a new primary and is only valid for one year, requiring the full 21–30 day waiting period before travel.
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Tapeworm treatment (dogs only): The UK requires tapeworm treatment for all dogs entering the country – this is why this step appears in your New York to Paris guide, as your route passes through London before continuing to France. This requirement applies to dogs only, not cats. This is also the only modification permitted to the Animal Health Certificate (AHC) after USDA endorsement.
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  The Treatment: Must contain praziquantel (or an equivalent effective against Echinococcus multilocularis).
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  The Timing: Must be administered by a USDA accredited vet between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) before your scheduled arrival in London. Important: London is 5 hours ahead of New York – the 24–120 hour window is calculated from your UK arrival time, so factor in the time difference when scheduling your appointment.
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  Our Tip: We recommend treatment two days before your flight so your pet is settled and ready for the transatlantic journey. Your vet can administer the tapeworm treatment before your endorsed certificate has arrived – as long as they document the exact date and time in your pet's medical record, this information can then be transposed onto the APHIS-endorsed certificate when it arrives.
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  Also note: The tapeworm treatment does not need to be administered by the same vet who completed your AHC – but it must still be a USDA accredited vet. This is particularly relevant if you are traveling while your endorsed certificate is still in transit.

Step 3

Further Guidance

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Only a USDA accredited vet can issue either a UK Health Certificate or an EU Health Certificate. To find a USDA accredited vet, use the APHIS search tool here.
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We strongly recommend confirming your USDA vet manages international pet travel documentation regularly and has recent experience issuing health certificates for travel to the UK and the EU. Additionally, confirm your selected vet has access to VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System), which allows for rapid electronic submission and quick corrections if needed.
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The mandatory vet visit, document review and submission of the health certificate online via VEHCS can be done up to 30 days prior to departure. Please request a copy of the health certificate(s) prior to submission and send to us – we will double-check everything for accuracy, helping to mitigate any potential problems that could delay your travel.
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We recommend asking your vet to hold actual submission of the health certificate(s) through VEHCS until 10 days prior to departure. This prevents inadvertent early review and endorsement by APHIS which may impact your travel window.
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When your vet submits through VEHCS they will include a prepaid shipping label from either FedEx or UPS. Some vets include this as part of their service; some request that you provide it. Use overnight express delivery and enable Saturday delivery. Your name and address should appear in both the To and From sections of the label – USDA should not appear on this label. You should receive a tracking number; check with your vet as to who is managing this.
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After all documents are submitted, APHIS will review, endorse and sign each page of the certificate. It will be sent to you via FedEx or UPS. Once you receive it, fill out and sign the last page confirming that you have no intention of selling or transferring ownership of your pet. From the date of endorsement you have 10 days to enter the destination country.

Please note you are responsible for all vet, USDA and shipping costs. We will help guide you through the entire process, but we cannot be held liable if you do not leave enough time, miss critical appointments, or for the shipping of the endorsed health certificate.

Need further assistance? Speak to a member of our team.