Paris to the UK With Your Pet: Entry Rules and Journey Day

Bringing a dog or cat from Paris to the UK is the same road as the outward trip, driven in reverse, but the rules change. The UK checks what comes in, and for dogs there is a tapeworm treatment with a strict time window. This guide to pet transport from Paris to the UK explains what is different on UK entry, how the day runs from pick-up in Paris to drop-off at your UK address, what the price covers and the questions owners ask most. PetVoyageUK is a pet taxi, so you travel in the vehicle with your pet from start to finish.

What Is Different When You Enter the UK

Most people expect the paperwork to mirror the trip out. It does not. Heading into the UK, your pet is checked against UK entry requirements, and the one that catches people out is the tapeworm treatment for dogs. The checks happen on the Eurotunnel route: UK border control is carried out in Calais before you board, and your pet’s microchip and documents are checked at Pet Reception. For the step-by-step version of that check, see our Pet Reception Calais guide.

For a pet entering the UK from France you need the following.

• A readable ISO microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• A valid rabies vaccination. A primary vaccination must be at least 21 days old before travel.
• An EU pet passport or an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). If your pet has no EU passport, an Official Veterinarian in France issues the AHC within 10 days of travel.
• For dogs, a tapeworm treatment given by a vet 1–5 days before arrival in the UK.

Cats and ferrets are exempt from the tapeworm treatment, so for them the list is shorter. Puppies must be at least 15 weeks old to enter the UK. Our guide to bringing a dog from France to the UK and the equivalent guide for cats go through each document in detail, so we keep this page to the essentials.

The Tapeworm Window for Dogs

The treatment must be given by a vet, not less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (5 days) before your scheduled arrival in the UK. Work backwards from your arrival time. If you are due to arrive at 2pm on a Saturday, the window opens at 2pm on Monday and closes at 2pm on Friday. A treatment given outside that window means your dog is refused entry, even if it is only an hour out.

The vet must record the date, time, product and their stamp in the passport or certificate. In France the treatment typically costs €30–€60 for the consultation and the treatment. We arrange this at a partner vet in northern France, timed to your Eurotunnel booking, so there is no risk of being turned away because of a mistimed appointment.

The Day, Step by Step

The journey is about 450 km and is done in a single day, with no overnight stop. The route is listed at 6–7 hours of travel, and you should allow extra time for comfort breaks and the checks on the way.

1. Pick-up in Paris. We pick you and your pet up from any Paris arrondissement or from the wider Île-de-France, including Neuilly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Keep your pet’s documents and your own passport together.
2. North to Calais. We join the A1 and the A16/A26 motorways north to the Eurotunnel terminal.
3. The checks. Your passport is checked before boarding, and your pet’s microchip is scanned and matched to the documents. The scan can usually be done at the vehicle, so your pet does not have to leave the car.
4. The crossing. Le Shuttle to Folkestone takes 35 minutes. You stay in the vehicle with your pet throughout, which is why it is the calmest way to bring a pet back to the UK.
5. Folkestone to your address. From Folkestone the M20 and M25 carry us into London and the surrounding home counties, and we take you and your pet to the door at any UK postcode.

Pick-Up From Paris and Timing

Paris pick-ups are usually the easiest part to organise, because you give us an address and a date and we work out the timing backwards from the Eurotunnel slot. The same timing logic sets your vet appointments. Once the crossing time is fixed, we can tell you the window for the dog’s tapeworm treatment and, if you need one, the date by which your AHC visit has to happen.

What the Price Covers

Pet transport from Paris to London starts from £730 for a single pet, door-to-door. The starting price covers the pick-up in Paris, French motorway tolls and the drop-off at your UK address. The Eurotunnel ticket is not included in that price: you pay for it separately, or we can book it for you at no extra cost. Vet fees for your pet’s passport or certificate and the tapeworm treatment are agreed between you and the practice.

The £730 is a starting price for one pet, so the quickest way to see the exact figure for your pets and addresses is the instant fixed quote on our booking page. If you are comparing the whole trip, our UK and France pet travel costs guide breaks the costs down.

Arriving in the UK With Your Pet

Once the checks are cleared you can continue anywhere in the UK, and the whole process at the terminal is quick when the paperwork is right. After a long day, your dog or cat will want water, a quiet space and some time to settle. If you are moving to the UK, it is sensible to register with a local vet soon after arrival so that your pet’s records are in one place. Our guide on importing a pet to the UK from the EU covers the longer-term side of a move.

If the Paperwork Is Wrong

UK entry rules are enforced strictly. A missing or mistimed tapeworm treatment, an expired rabies vaccination, a missing passport or certificate or an unreadable microchip can all mean entry is refused, or that your pet is returned to France. A missed tapeworm window also means rebooking the crossing. This is why we fix the dates early and check every document before the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the journey from Paris take?

It is about 450 km in a single day. The route is listed at 6–7 hours, and you should allow extra time for comfort breaks and the checks at the Eurotunnel terminal. There is no overnight stop.

Can my dog travel in the car with me?

Yes. Your dog stays in the vehicle with you and one driver the whole way, including the crossing, rather than travelling separately in an airline cargo hold.

Does my cat need the tapeworm treatment?

No. Only dogs need the tapeworm treatment to enter the UK. Cats and ferrets still need the microchip, rabies vaccination and passport or certificate.

Is an EU pet passport accepted?

Yes. A passport issued by a vet in France or another EU country remains valid for UK entry, as long as it shows a current microchip record and rabies vaccination. For dogs the tapeworm treatment must be recorded in it.

Is the Eurotunnel ticket included in the price?

No. The Eurotunnel ticket is paid separately, or we can book it for you at no extra cost. The starting price covers the pick-up, French motorway tolls and the drop-off.

Can you pick us up outside central Paris?

Yes. We pick you and your pet up from any Paris arrondissement and the wider Île-de-France, and the same £730 starting price applies.

What about the outward journey to Paris?

Our UK to Paris guide covers the outward journey and its own paperwork.

Book or Read Further

When you are ready for a price, the Paris to London pet transport page has the route details and an instant fixed quote. For the rules in full, start with the guides below.

• Pet Taxi Paris to London
• Bringing Your Dog from France to the UK
• Bringing a Cat from France to the UK
• Pet Reception Calais: Eurotunnel Pet Check-in
• Eurotunnel Pet Travel Rules