What are the requirements for entering France with pet fish?
Requirements are not the same for every “pet”. To enter France from a non-EU country with up to five tropical warm-water ornamental fish, on a non-commercial journey where they accompany their owner, French Customs currently requires an official accompanying document signed by a veterinary practitioner.
This limited route should not be automatically extended to cold-water fish, animals intended for farming or sale, consignments travelling separately, or more than five specimens. Those cases may require veterinary control at a border control post, TRACES-NT pre-notification and health certificates specific to origin and species.
Before travel:
- check the current French Customs page and contact the first point of entry;
- confirm that the airline or carrier accepts the fish and packaging, then check the authorisations applicable to live-fish transport;
- check CITES, protected-species and invasive-alien-species restrictions;
- obtain the required original document and retain ownership and itinerary evidence.
The former terms PIF and DVCE have been replaced by border control post (BCP) and common health entry documents managed through TRACES-NT. Rules of the departure and transit countries also apply.