Pet Transport from China to France: GACC Export and EU Titre Test

Pets moving from China to France face the same EU-unlisted country process as for any other EU member state: because China is not on the EU Annex II list of approved third countries, a titre test is …

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20-28

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The China to France import process

Before first rabies vaccination.

Implant ISO microchip.

Responsible: Vet in China

After microchip. At least 30 days before titre test blood draw.

Rabies vaccination primary course.

Responsible: Vet in China

At least 30 days after the final rabies vaccination. The 90-day wait starts from this date.

FAVN titre test blood draw at an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and EU-approved laboratory

Cannot be shortened or waived.

90-day wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: Owner to track

4-6 weeks before departure.

Apply for GACC export permit.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of French entry date.

Obtain EU-format AHC from GACC-authorised official vet, countersigned by GACC.

Responsible: GACC-authorised vet

After 90-day wait has elapsed.

Fly to Paris CDG. French customs inspection on arrival.

Responsible: Airline, French customs

Requirements

France entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. Primary course complete. 21-day wait from initial vaccination.

Rabies titre test

Required. China is not on the EU Annex II approved third-country list. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood draw at least 30 days after final vaccination. Mandatory 90-day wait from blood draw date before EU entry. Source: EU pet travel regulations, ec.europa.eu.

Quarantine

No quarantine on arrival in France for compliant pets.

Import permit

No formal import permit required. The AHC serves as the entry document.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate (AHC) in EU format from an official vet in China, countersigned by GACC. Valid 10 days from examination to French entry.

Leaving China

Export requirements

Export permit

GACC export permit required. Apply to local GACC office with health certificate, microchip record, and vaccination history. Allow 3-4 weeks. Approved departure airports: Beijing Capital (PEK), Shanghai Pudong (PVG), Guangzhou Baiyun (CAN).

Health certificate

Official health certificate in EU AHC format, issued by a GACC-authorised vet, countersigned by a GACC official. Issued within 10 days of arrival in France. Source: GACC, english.customs.gov.cn.

Costs

What this route typically costs

GACC export permit and health certificate endorsement: approximately CNY 800-2,000

Titre test at EU-approved laboratory: approximately EUR 300-600 or CNY 4,000-10,000

AHC from GACC-authorised vet: approximately CNY 500-1,500

Cargo fees China to Paris CDG: approximately EUR 900-2,800 depending on pet size

Pet transport agent fee: EUR 400-1,000 if used

Realistic total: EUR 2,500-6,500

Critical points

The 90-day wait from the titre test blood draw date is mandatory and cannot be shortened. Plan at least 5 months of preparation time before your intended French arrival date.

China is an EU-unlisted country. A titre test is required regardless of how long your pet has been vaccinated or how many boosters it has had. Source: EU pet travel regulations.

The AHC must be in the EU-specified format, countersigned by GACC. A general Chinese health certificate is not sufficient.

Air France direct services from Beijing and Shanghai to Paris CDG are the most straightforward route option, but advance booking for live animal cargo is essential.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Air France	Direct cargo services from Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), and Guangzhou (CAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). Air France Cargo handles live animal shipments. Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply. Documentation review required before acceptance.	Cargo Only
Air China	Direct cargo services PEK/PVG to CDG. Air China Cargo. Full documentation review before acceptance. Advance booking essential.	Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific	Via Hong Kong (HKG) to Paris CDG. AFCD transit rules apply during HKG connection. Useful for southern China departures.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo	Via Frankfurt (FRA) connections to Paris or direct to CDG. An option if departure is from Beijing or Shanghai with a Frankfurt connection.	Cargo Only

France entry requirements for pets from China

France applies EU-wide pet travel rules for imports from third countries. China is not on the EU Annex II approved third-country list, so a full titre test process is required. The process: microchip implanted before vaccination; full rabies vaccination course; FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory (blood draw at least 30 days after the final vaccination); a result of 0.5 IU/ml or above; a 90-day waiting period from the blood draw date; and an EU-format AHC issued within 10 days of French entry, countersigned by GACC. No quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

France has no federal breed ban specifically at the national level that differs from EU-wide rules, but certain breeds classified as Category 1 or Category 2 dangerous dogs require specific permits and muzzle requirements in France. Pit Bull type dogs (not registered as Staffordshire Terrier) are Category 1 and are banned from import. Check the French rules for your specific breed before travel.

Leaving China: GACC export for the France route

The GACC export process is the same for China-to-France as for any other international destination from China. You need a GACC export permit (applied for at your local GACC office with 3-4 weeks lead time) and a GACC-endorsed health certificate in EU AHC format. The certificate must be issued by a GACC-authorised official vet, not just any registered vet. It is countersigned by a GACC official and is valid for 10 days from examination to French arrival.

Most cargo flights from China to France depart from Beijing Capital (PEK) or Shanghai Pudong (PVG). Air France operates direct services from both cities to Paris CDG. Air China also operates direct services to CDG. These direct routes are simpler than connections via Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) or Frankfurt (Lufthansa), as they avoid the documentation requirements of an intermediate transit country.

The 90-day wait: how to plan your timeline

The 90-day wait from the titre test blood draw date is the main planning constraint for this route. To calculate your target blood draw date: work backwards from your planned French arrival date by at least 90 days, then add 30 days to account for the post-vaccination window before blood can be drawn. If your pet does not yet have a current rabies vaccination, add the time for the vaccination course as well.

Pets from China going to France face the same 90-day wait as pets going to Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, or Spain. The wait is consistent across all EU countries for EU-unlisted source countries. If you are comparing China-to-France against China-to-Canada, the key difference is that Canada does not require a titre test for personal pet imports, making Canada a faster destination to reach from China.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Yes. China is not on the EU Annex II approved list. An FAVN or ELISA titre test is required at an EU-approved laboratory. Blood draw must be at least 30 days after the final vaccination, result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above, and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date applies before EU entry. Source: EU pet travel regulations.

Yes. Air France operates direct cargo services from Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), and Guangzhou (CAN) to Paris CDG. Air China also operates direct PEK/PVG to CDG services. Direct routing avoids the documentation complications of transit via Hong Kong or other hub airports.

The requirements are identical: GACC export, EU-format AHC, FAVN titre test, 90-day wait, no quarantine. The difference is the entry airport and the national authority handling border inspection. Both routes take 20-28 weeks from start to arrival.

No. Pets from China do not need to quarantine on arrival in France, provided all documentation is correct (microchip, vaccination, titre test with passing result, 90-day wait elapsed, EU-format AHC). Non-compliant pets may be quarantined at the owner’s expense or returned.

The titre test must be performed at an EU-approved laboratory. In China, there are GACC-approved laboratories that can process FAVN tests, but the laboratory must specifically hold EU approval for the result to be accepted for EU entry. Your GACC-authorised vet or a specialist agent can advise on approved laboratories available from your city.

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