Once your chartered surveyor has helped you secure a beautiful South of France property, you’ll probably be keen to pack your bags and start enjoying your new life. However, before the big move, there are a lot of things which need to be sorted out.
If you have pets and plan to bring them with you when you relocate, you need to make
sure you are complying with the rules and regulations of your destination country. Pet relocation will be less stressful – on you and your animals – if you make sure everything is in place ahead of time.
Please note – at present both the UK and France are member states of the European Union (EU). However, once the UK leaves the EU, it is likely these regulations will change. Even without this consideration, it is the nature of regulation to change over time. Therefore, the following information should be considered correct at time of writing – but official advice should always be sought.
Microchip
All pets must be microchipped, and the device should comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785. France currently accepts AVID 9 and AVID 10 in addition to ISO. Make sure the microchip is implanted before you take your pet for its rabies vaccination.
Rabies Vaccination and Certificate
Pets must have a rabies certificate which has been authorised by a registered vet. The vaccine must have been administered at least 21 days ahead of leaving the UK. The UK is one of the few countries where rabies is not prevalent, so you shouldn’t encounter any issues with this.
You should speak to your vet for more details on the rabies vaccine.
Additional Vaccines
The following vaccines are recommended, but not compulsory.
Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parainfluenza and Parvovirus (DHLPP) and Bordetella. Dogs will also require an up-to-date worming treatment.
Cats: Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus and Panleukopenia (FVRCP).
If you are relocating animals other than dogs or cats, you should seek professional guidance on which vaccines are required/recommended.
Pet Passport
A pet passport can be acquired from your vet and will contain a record of all the medical treatments your animal has received. If you are unable to acquire a pet passport for any reason, you will need an official veterinary certificate from within the UK.
Transport
Whether you are flying or driving to France, you will need to make appropriate travel arrangements for your pet – including crates and travel insurance.
And Relax
As long as your pet meets all the criteria for relocation, it won’t have to spend any time in quarantine. Making all the necessary arrangements to relocate a pet from the UK to France can cost between £250 and £300, so make sure you budget adequate funds.
Once you have made all the necessary preparations however, you can start looking forward to your (and your pets’) amazing new life in your beautiful South of France property.
If you’re still looking for your dream property in the South of France, Charles Mackintosh is a chartered surveyor with 30 years’ experience, based in France. Please get in touch now for more information.