Adopted a cat in Morocco, or moving back to France with yours? Good news: it is entirely possible. Bad news: it does not happen in a week. Because Morocco is a "non-listed" third country for rabies, the European Union requires a titration test and a waiting period. Here is the full process.
The 5 mandatory steps
- ISO microchip implanted by a vet. It must be implanted before the rabies vaccine.
- Rabies vaccine from 12 weeks of age. It becomes valid 21 days after the injection.
- Blood draw for the titration test, at least 30 days after the vaccine, analysed by an EU-approved lab (result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml). See our rabies titration guide.
- 3-month waiting period from the date of the successful blood draw.
- EU health certificate endorsed by ONSSA within 10 days of arrival in France (see our health certificate guide).
Minimum age for a kitten
Adding up the delays (vaccine at 12 weeks, titration 30 days later, then 3 months of waiting), a kitten cannot enter the EU from Morocco before about 7 months of age. If you adopt a very young cat, start the microchip and vaccine as soon as possible.
How long overall?
For an adult cat without a valid vaccine, allow 4 to 5 months. If your cat already has a valid vaccine given after the microchip, you save a few weeks, but the 3 months after the titration test cannot be shortened.
Cabin, hold or cargo?
- Cabin: most airlines accept cats in the cabin if the total weight (cat + soft bag) is around 8 kg or less. Places per flight are limited, so book the pet together with your ticket.
- Hold: for heavier cats or when the cabin is full, in a rigid IATA crate.
- Cargo: if the cat travels without you. Read: sending your pet alone by plane.
What if I don't travel with my cat?
If you do not travel within 5 days of your cat, the move becomes "commercial": a TRACES certificate and a veterinary border control post on arrival are required. It is doable, but it must be planned from the start.
Arriving in France
Show the documents (ONSSA certificate, titration report, booklet) at customs. Once in France, your vet can issue a European pet passport and register the cat in the I-CAD database.
Going to Belgium instead?
The rules are the same (EU): see our Morocco to Belgium pet transport page.
Prefer to hand it over? Our IATA-certified team in Casablanca handles the vet file, ONSSA, the crate and the flight. Ask for a free quote: answer within 24 hours.
