Pet Transport France to Azerbaijan: 2026 Guide

Azerbaijan requires a veterinary import permit from its State Veterinary Service (under the Ministry of Agriculture) before your pet can enter the country. This is the first task to tackle, ahead of booking flights or arranging the French health certificate.

Contact the State Veterinary Service with your pet’s details, including microchip number, vaccination records, and your planned travel date. Processing times can vary, so apply at least eight to ten weeks before you intend to travel. Once you have the permit confirmed, you can align your French documentation and flight booking around it.

The permit is presented alongside the DGAL-endorsed health certificate at Heydar Aliyev International Airport (GYD) on arrival in Baku. The State Veterinary Service inspection team there will check both documents together.

France’s export health certificate for companion animals is issued by a DGAL-authorised official vet and endorsed by the Departmental Veterinary Services (DDPP) or by DGAL directly. The certificate is typically issued within 10 days of travel, so you need to time your vet appointment and DDPP submission carefully relative to your departure date.

The DDPP in your department handles the endorsement. Allow a day or two beyond your vet appointment for the endorsement to be completed. If your travel date is firm, work backwards from it: identify the latest vet appointment date, then book accordingly.

This is a straightforward process for most owners, but the tight 10-day window catches some people out when they try to sort it too far in advance. A pet transport agent familiar with French DGAL procedures can manage this scheduling for you.

There is no direct cargo service between Paris CDG and Baku GYD. The standard routing is CDG to Istanbul IST, then IST to GYD on Turkish Airlines. Both legs are well established for cargo transport, and Turkish Airlines Cargo has facilities for live animal handling at Istanbul.

Alternatively, Air France Cargo can route via partner carriers, though this typically adds complexity and may increase transit times. Check what is available at the time of your booking. The total journey from CDG to GYD via IST is generally eight to twelve hours including the Istanbul transit.

On arrival at Heydar Aliyev International Airport, present your import permit, the endorsed health certificate, and your pet’s vaccination records to the State Veterinary Service team. For compliant arrivals, clearance is typically achieved without quarantine.