USABLE CHECKLIST
Save or work through this checklist
- Movement branch classified
- Current USDA France certificate selected
- Accredited veterinarian and USDA endorsement planned
- Owner or authorized-person declaration prepared
- First EU entry and responsible traveler recorded
- Printed endorsed certificate travels with the pet
Classify the movement before choosing a form
Pet count, ownership purpose, and whether the owner or an authorized person travels within five days help determine whether the non-commercial branch applies. Unaccompanied movement, transfer of ownership, or other facts may require a different process.
Use the current USDA France page
EU certificate models are changing in 2026. USDA currently identifies transition dates for the new non-commercial and commercial certificates. Open the France page for the planned endorsement date and use the form it identifies rather than a saved older copy.
Back-plan issue and endorsement
A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the certificate and USDA endorses it. For the non-commercial branch, USDA states that endorsement must fall within the required period before EU arrival. Protect courier or original-document handling as part of the timeline.
Close the first-EU-entry handoff
Record whether France is the first EU entry, the point of entry, declaration, original certificate, microchip scan, traveler responsible, and onward route. The certificate and identity checks occur at the route's actual entry control, not at a generic destination label.
AUTHORITATIVE STARTING POINTS
Verify the current requirement at the source
COMMON QUESTIONS
Which health certificate does a pet need from the USA to France?
The answer depends on the movement facts and planned endorsement date. Use the current USDA France page to choose the non-commercial or commercial branch and current form.
Can I rely on an old EU certificate PDF?
No. Certificate models and transition dates can change; use the current official page for the planned endorsement date.