Pet Transport from Vietnam to France: EU Titre Test and MARD Certificate

France applies EU-wide pet travel rules for third-country imports. Vietnam is not on the EU Annex II approved third-country list, so pets from Vietnam require an FAVN or ELISA titre test at an …

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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 Vietnam to France import process

Before first rabies vaccination.

Implant ISO microchip in Vietnam.

Responsible: Vet in Vietnam

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

Rabies vaccination primary course.

Responsible: Vet in Vietnam

At least 30 days after final vaccination. 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.

90-day wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: Owner to track

Within 10 days of French entry.

Obtain EU-format AHC from MARD-authorised vet, countersigned by DAH.

Responsible: MARD-authorised official 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. Vietnam 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 for compliant pets.

Import permit

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

Health certificate

EU-format Animal Health Certificate (AHC) from MARD-authorised official vet in Vietnam, countersigned by DAH. Valid 10 days from examination to French entry.

Leaving Vietnam

Export requirements

Export permit

No separate export permit required for personal pet export. MARD-endorsed health certificate is the export document. Departure from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN).

Health certificate

Official health certificate in EU AHC format, issued by a MARD-authorised official vet, countersigned by the Department of Animal Health (DAH). Issued within 10 days of French entry. Source: Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, cucthuy.gov.vn.

Costs

What this route typically costs

MARD health certificate and DAH endorsement: approximately VND 500,000-2,000,000

Titre test at EU-approved laboratory: approximately EUR 250-500 or VND 6,000,000-14,000,000

Cargo fees Vietnam to France (direct Air France or via hub): approximately EUR 800-2,300 depending on pet size

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

Realistic total: EUR 2,000-5,000

Critical points

The 90-day wait from titre test blood draw date is mandatory. Plan at least 5 months before your intended French arrival date.

Vietnam is EU-unlisted: titre test required regardless of vaccination history.

Air France operates direct cargo from SGN and HAN to CDG, making Paris a more straightforward EU entry point compared to Spain (no direct Vietnam-Spain cargo) or Italy (requires a hub connection).

The AHC must be in EU-specified format, endorsed by DAH. A general Vietnamese vet certificate is not sufficient for EU entry.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Air France Cargo	Air France operates direct cargo services from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). This is the most direct routing for Vietnam-to-France live animal cargo.	Cargo Only
Vietnam Airlines	Vietnam Airlines connects HAN and SGN to Paris CDG. Cargo arrangements to France. Confirm live animal acceptance and documentation requirements directly with Vietnam Airlines Cargo.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo	Via Frankfurt (FRA) to Paris or other French destinations. An alternative if Air France direct services are unavailable. FRA would be the EU entry point, not France.	Cargo Only
Emirates SkyCargo	Via Dubai (DXB) to Paris CDG. A longer routing but available when direct European carrier services are fully booked.	Cargo Only

EU import requirements for pets from Vietnam: what France applies

The EU framework applies uniformly across all member states for pets from unlisted third countries like Vietnam. The process: ISO microchip (implanted before or same day as first vaccination); rabies vaccination primary course (21-day wait from initial vaccination); FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory (result 0.5 IU/ml or above); blood draw at least 30 days after final vaccination; mandatory 90-day wait from blood draw date; EU-format AHC from MARD-authorised official vet in Vietnam, endorsed by DAH, issued within 10 days of EU entry. No quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.

France does not add requirements beyond the EU standard for pets from Vietnam. There are no French federal breed bans comparable to Germany’s four-breed restriction. However, French municipalities and departments may have local breed classification rules for dogs classified as “chiens dangereux” (dangerous dogs). Check locally for your specific destination in France if your dog is a breed that might fall under these classifications.

Air France direct cargo: Vietnam's route advantage to France

The most direct routing for Vietnam-to-France live animal cargo is Air France from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) or Hanoi (HAN) directly to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). This avoids the transit documentation requirements of hub airports such as Dubai (Emirates), Frankfurt (Lufthansa), or Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific). Vietnam Airlines also operates CDG services. CDG is the principal French entry airport and the most commonly used for live animal imports from Vietnam.

For owners departing from cities other than Ho Chi Minh City or Hanoi, connections via SGN or HAN are usually necessary before taking the direct European service. If using a hub routing (via Dubai or Frankfurt), note that the EU entry point shifts to the hub country, which affects which AHC documentation is prepared.

France versus other EU destinations from Vietnam

All five major EU destination routes from Vietnam (Germany, France, Netherlands, Spain, Italy) have identical requirements: EU-unlisted country titre test process, MARD health certificate, 90-day wait. Differences are in routing. Germany (Frankfurt) has Lufthansa connections from Vietnam. France (Paris CDG) benefits from Air France direct services. The Netherlands (Amsterdam AMS) has KLM direct connections from SGN. Italy and Spain have no direct cargo services from Vietnam and require hub connections.

For owners choosing between France and Germany, the practical documentation difference is the EU entry airport (CDG versus FRA), which determines where the AHC is presented on arrival. Both are well-served routes from Vietnam. France has a routing advantage over Spain, which has no direct Vietnam-to-Spain cargo and requires a hub at CDG, AMS, or FRA.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Yes. Vietnam is not on the EU Annex II approved list. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory is required, with a mandatory 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Source: EU pet travel regulations, ec.europa.eu.

No. There is no quarantine for compliant pets on arrival in France. All requirements (microchip, vaccination, titre test, 90-day wait, EU-format AHC) must be met, but there is no mandatory holding period on arrival.

Yes. Air France operates direct cargo services from Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) and Hanoi (HAN) to Paris Charles de Gaulle (CDG). This is the most direct routing and avoids hub connection complications.

Allow 20-28 weeks total. The timeline is driven by the titre test process (at least 30 days post-vaccination before blood draw, plus the 90-day wait). Add time for MARD health certificate and cargo booking.

Both routes have identical requirements: EU unlisted country, titre test, 90-day wait, MARD health certificate. The difference is routing. France benefits from direct Air France cargo from SGN/HAN. Germany is reached via Lufthansa connections from Vietnam.

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