How to Move from the US to the UK (via Paris) with a Pet
Moving internationally is hard enough. Moving internationally with a pet — whether a dog or a cat — is a whole new level of logistics. When I relocated from the US to the UK with my dog Thor, I tracked every step and every receipt because the process is confusing and always changing, the rules are strict, and the costs add up fast.
Here’s the full breakdown of what it actually cost me, step by step and receipt by receipt, plus a few tricks I learned along the way that might save you time, money, and stress.
🩺 Health & Paperwork
Cost: $818.50
EU Health Certificate: $250
UK Health Certificate: $250
USDA Overnight Shipping Label: $150
Tapeworm Pill (Administered by Vet, Dogs Only): $18.50
Rabies Vaccination: $0 (Thor already had it), typically $25–$75
ISO-Compliant Microchip: $0 (Thor already had it), typically $50–$75
Before any of the paperwork even starts, your dog has to be up to date on their rabies vaccination and have an ISO-compliant microchip to travel. Thor already had both, so we didn’t have to pay for that step, but if you are starting from scratch, you’ll need to factor them in. The rabies shot must be administered at least 21 days before travel (for a primary vaccination), and the microchip has to be implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination for it to count.
This is where things get complicated. To bring Thor into the UK, I needed two health certificates: one for the EU and one for the UK. Each had to be completed within 10 days of travel.
The catch is that your vet cannot just hand them to you. They have to email the documents to the USDA (or your country’s official veterinary authority), who then e-sign, stamp, or print the paperwork and return it to you, often by courier or overnight shipping.
On top of that, dogs must be given a tapeworm pill within 5 days of departure and the UK certificate signed again. (Note for Cat Owners: The tapeworm treatment only applies to dogs. Your cat won’t need this step.)
For reference, I scheduled Thor’s vet appointment 8 days before my flight because we were spending a day in Paris and I needed the UK certificate to still be valid for that entry. I did not receive the signed certificates back until the morning before we traveled. Not stressful at all… According to my vet, this kind of last-minute turnaround is completely normal. So I grabbed the UK Certificate from the mail, and immediately took Thor back to the clinic for his tapeworm pill and final signature.
✈️ Flight & Airport Stress Test
Cost: $222
Airline Pet Fee (Air Tahiti): $150
Pidipiti Expandable Carrier (17” x 12” x 8.3”): $60
Clearly, I was anxious. I packed three different dog carriers into my parents’ car on the way to LAX, just in case the check-in desk rejected one. Airline rules say your dog has to be able to stand up and turn around inside the bag, which feels impossible with the dimensions they allow. The standard is 17” x 11” x 11”, but my Air Tahiti flight restricted it to 17.7” x 13.8” x 7.9”.
Luckily, the Pidipiti Expandable Carrier worked perfectly. It was sturdy and versatile across all the different modes of transportation on the trip, and the expandable sides gave Thor just enough extra room to spread out comfortably. I’d highly recommend it to anyone flying with their dog.
At LAX, there’s a pet relief area, so I made sure Thor went before we boarded. Most international airports have one, and that was his last chance before the 11-hour flight.
👩🏾🎨 Day into Paris
Cost: ~$295 (plus points & credits)
Uber Pet from CDG → Hotel: €33
OKKO Hotel Rosa Parks: $200
Early Check-In: $45
Navigo Travel Card (for Paris): €2
I booked the OKKO Hotel Rosa Parks in Paris, and also paid for early check-in. I booked a morning flight specifically so we could nap, recharge, and still have the afternoon and evening free to explore. We felt like a million bucks after the nap, and had the best day! I’m so glad we didn’t rush straight over to Calais then to London, and chopped up the journey.
Thor, by the way, held it the entire time from LAX until we got outside the hotel. Poor guy, but I’m proud of him for not taking letting it go at the airport.
The real lifesaver was the Cibaabo Portable Dog Water Bottle with Food Container, which recycles unused water back into the bottle. With Paris in the middle of a heatwave, it kept Thor hydrated as we explored, and it also made it easy to have a built-in bowl for feeding him along the journey.
And while I was caught up in logistics, Thor was making friends left and right! He would have stayed in Paris if it was up to him.
🚆 Train to Calais
Cost: ~$107
Bus from the Hotel → Gare du Nord: €1.90 (used Navigo pass)
Gare du Nord → Calais Ville: $62
Uber Pet from Calais Ville → Calais Fréthun: €39
We left Paris at 9:30am and arrived in Calais just after 1pm. But here’s a trick I wish I’d known: there’s a faster train to Calais Fréthun for about the same price, and it goes directly to the station where the Pet Taxi departs.
I skipped it because there was only a 15-minute gap between the train’s arrival and the taxi’s departure. In reality, the station is tiny and the Pet Taxi is used to people arriving on that exact train, so I definitely would have booked it.
Since I didn’t, we had to grab a pricey Uber Pet from Calais Ville to Calais Fréthun — just a 10-minute ride. There is also a bus, but it takes 40 minutes and wasn’t running on a Sunday afternoon.
🚕 Pet Taxi through the Eurotunnel
Cost: $236 (now $250)
Le Pet Express: $236
Dogs aren’t allowed on the Eurostar, so you must use a Pet Taxi to cross the Channel. Le Pet Express was the cheapest one we could find, and was highly rated. Nigel was awesome! The only ticket I could get left at 4pm, which felt late, but in hindsight I wish I had booked it — it would have saved me time and that extra Uber.
Before your cross the channel, you have to stop to get your paperwork checked by the officers, as well as have your pet’s ISO-compliant chip scanned.
🚆 Final Leg to London
Cost: $66
Train from Ashford Station → London: $66
Once Thor and I crossed with Le Pet Express, it was just one last train into London, and we were finally home!
🐾 Qute Tips for Traveling with Your Pet to the UK
Time your vet visits carefully. Schedule the first appointment 8–9 days before departure so you’re within the 10-day health certificate window but still have buffer for delays.
Double-check rabies + microchip. Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip and a rabies vaccination done at least 21 days before travel. No exceptions.
Make sure your pet carrier fits the airlines limits, and that your pet can stand up and turnaround in it. I found the Pidipiti Expandable Carrier super versatile and sturdy.
Book direct routes when you can. Taking the direct train to Calais Fréthun instead of Calais Ville can save both time and extra Uber costs.
Pay for early hotel check-in. If you land in the morning, it’s worth it to let your dog settle and recharge.
Carry a spill-proof water feeder. Travel days are long and unpredictable. A feeder like the Cibaabo Portable Dog Water Bottle that recycles unused water back into the bottle is a lifesaver, especially in hot weather.
Expect last-minute stress. Certificates often don’t come back until the day before departure. Plan your timing around this so you’re not blindsided.
🎬 Final Frame
Moving a pet internationally isn’t cheap. It’s full of meticulous steps that can easily trip you up. But with a little planning, like booking the direct train to Calais Fréthun, paying for early hotel check-in, and carrying a spill-proof water feeder, it’s absolutely doable!
Thor handled it like a champ, and now he’s happily settled into his new London life.
Meet Qute Moment: Watching Thor strut through Paris and making a ton of friends in London reminded me why the stress and costs were all worth it.
💸 Total Cost
Health & Paperwork: $818.50
Flight & Airport: $222
Paris Arrival: $248 (after $50 Chase credit applied)
Trains to Calais: $106
Le Pet Express: $236
Final Train to London: $66
Grand Total (what I actually spent): ~$1,700
