UK to Paris With Your Pet: Journey Plan and Paperwork Guide

Taking a dog or cat from the UK to Paris is a single-day road journey of about 450 km, with the Channel crossed in 35 minutes on Eurotunnel Le Shuttle. This guide is about planning pet transport from the UK to Paris: what the day looks like from pick-up in London to drop-off in Paris, the paperwork to line up beforehand, what the price covers and the questions owners ask most. PetVoyageUK is a pet taxi, so you travel in the same vehicle as your pet from the first minute to the last.

How a UK to Paris Pet Journey Works

The idea is simple. A DEFRA-licensed driver picks you and your pet up at your address, drives to the Eurotunnel terminal at Folkestone, crosses the Channel and carries on by motorway to your Paris address. You sit in the vehicle with your pet the whole way. Nobody is separated, nothing goes into a cargo hold or kennel and there are no transfers between vehicles.

That is the main difference from flying. Air travel means an airline cargo hold and a travel crate, with your animal away from you. On this route your dog or cat stays in a climate-controlled vehicle, beside you, with one driver for the entire trip. For anxious animals, older pets and cats in particular, that is often what decides it.

The Day, Step by Step

Everything happens in one day, with no overnight stop. Allow roughly 7–9 hours from pick-up to arrival, including the crossing and comfort breaks for your pet. This is how the day usually unfolds.

1. Pick-up in the UK. We pick you and your pet up from anywhere across Greater London and the M25 corridor. Have your pet's documents in one folder, within reach.
2. M20 to Folkestone. The drive south-east to the Eurotunnel terminal is the quick part of the day. At the terminal your pet's microchip and Animal Health Certificate are checked at Pet Reception.
3. The crossing. Le Shuttle takes 35 minutes. You stay in the vehicle with your pet, in an enclosed, climate-controlled carriage.
4. Calais to Paris. From Calais we join the A16 and A26 motorways south through Artois and Picardy, skirting Arras and Amiens, then drop onto the A1 for the final run into Paris.
5. Drop-off in Paris. We take you and your pet to the door of your address, in any arrondissement or in the wider Île-de-France.

The route is listed at 6–7 hours of travel. The longer 7–9 hour door-to-door figure allows for pick-up, the terminal checks, the crossing, comfort breaks and the final run to your address.

Where in Paris We Can Take You

Paris is not limited to the twenty arrondissements. The same trip covers the wider Île-de-France, including Neuilly, Boulogne-Billancourt, Versailles and Saint-Germain-en-Laye. If your address is further out, ask for a quote and give us the exact postcode.

Paperwork Checklist

Paperwork is where most delays start, so it is worth fixing the dates early. For a pet travelling from the UK to France you need the following.

• A readable ISO microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• An up-to-date rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days before travel.
• An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from an Official Veterinarian, issued within 10 days of travel.

We coordinate the AHC timing with your vet before the pick-up date, so the certificate sits inside the 10-day window and nothing holds up the journey. We do not repeat every detail of the rules here, because they are covered in full in our other guides: the documents checklist for dog travel to France, the guide to taking a dog to France and the Eurotunnel pet travel rules.

A Simple Planning Timeline

• Several weeks before: check that the microchip reads and that the rabies vaccination is current. If your pet needs a new vaccination, allow at least 21 days before travel.
• Before booking the vet: choose your travel date, because the AHC must be issued within 10 days of it.
• Within 10 days of travel: visit an Official Veterinarian for the Animal Health Certificate.
• Travel day: keep the AHC, vaccination record and your own passport or ID together and easy to reach.

If you plan to bring your dog back to the UK later, the tapeworm treatment for UK re-entry is a separate step, covered in our Paris to UK guide.

What the Price Covers

Pet transport from London to Paris starts from £730 for a single pet, door-to-door. The starting price covers the pick-up in London, French motorway tolls and the drop-off at your Paris address, with no per-mile surcharges. 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. The vet's charge for your Animal Health Certificate is agreed between you and your own practice.

The £730 figure is a starting point for one pet. The quickest way to see the exact price for your pets and your addresses is the instant fixed quote on our booking page. For a wider look at what moves the cost of a France trip, see our UK to France pet travel cost breakdown.

Why Eurotunnel Rather Than a Ferry

For London to Paris we use the Eurotunnel exclusively. The 35-minute crossing keeps your pet in the climate-controlled vehicle with you. Ferries typically require pets to stay on the car deck or in a kennel for 90 minutes or more, which most animals find more stressful. A shorter, enclosed crossing is simply easier on a nervous dog or cat.

Practical Tips for the Day

• Keep the documents in a clear plastic wallet so they are quick to show, and photograph every stamped page as a backup.
• Avoid feeding your pet in the two hours before the crossing, because a full stomach and nerves can lead to vomiting.
• Pack water, a familiar blanket and any medication, and tell the driver beforehand about anything that worries you, such as travel sickness or a fear of noise.
• Walk your dog before pick-up so the first stretch of the drive is calm.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the journey take?

Allow 7–9 hours door-to-door, including pick-up, the 35-minute Eurotunnel crossing, comfort breaks and the drive to your Paris address. It is all done in one day.

Can my dog travel in the car with me?

Yes, that is exactly how the service works. Your dog stays in the vehicle with you and the driver throughout, including the crossing, rather than travelling separately in a cargo hold.

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.

What documents does my pet need?

A readable microchip, an up-to-date rabies vaccination and an Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Our documents checklist has the full detail.

Can I book the return journey too?

Yes. The return trip has its own rules for entering the UK, including the tapeworm treatment for dogs, and we cover them in our Paris to UK guide. You can also look at the Paris to London booking page.

Book or Read Further

When you are ready for a price, the London to Paris pet transport page has the route details and an instant fixed quote. If you are comparing destinations across France, start with our UK to France pet transport guide.

• Pet Taxi London to Paris
• Pet Transport UK to France: Prices and Door-to-Door Service
• Taking a Dog to France: 2026 Guide
• Documents Needed for Dog Travel to France
• Eurotunnel Pet Travel Rules