For all other customs formalities (furnishing a secondary residence, importing a vehicule, medicines, food, gifts sent by mail, etc…), please see the website of the French Embassy in Washington DC.
New rules for the importation into or transit through the territory of mainland France and French Overseas Departments (Guadeloupe including St Barthelemy and St Martin, French Guyana, Martinique, Reunion Island) of live animals from non-EU member states are laid down in an administrative order of July 19, 2002, published in the Journal Officiel of August 2, 2002 (under the heading of Ministère de l’Agriculture, de l’Alimentation, de la Pêche et des Affaires rurales).
These provisions, which entered into effect on August 3, 2002, stipulate that any carnivorous pet animal (especially dogs and cats, maximum of 5), accompanied by its owner, imported into or in transit through mainland France or the overseas departments, must have the following;
Every animal must be at least 3 months old (or otherwise travel with the mother).
Every animal must be identified by a microchip (standard ISO 11784, if the microchip is different you must travel with your own scanner to read the microchip) or a tattoo.
A certificate of good health filled out and signed by a Veterinarian certified by the USDA (for the list see the following link - www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/area_offices.htm), must accompany the animal. It is highly recommended to have this certificate done a few days before departure. The certificate is valid for 4 months from the date it is signed by the Veterinarian and must be valid upon arrival into France.
ATTENTION : The blood test (rabies neutralizing antibody titration test) is no longer required for animals coming from the USA and Canada.
For information on importing other domestic pets to France (other than dogs and cats), please see the website of the French Embassy in Washington DC.
"CERFA déménagement"
The form entitled "Certificat de Changement de Résidence" (Change of Residence Certificate) could be required by the French Customs (eventually through the intermediary of your movers).
These certificates will be issued by the French Consulate under the condition that you have lived outside of the European Union for a minimum of twelve consecutive months, and that you present the following:
Foreigners and non registered French Citizens
Passport
Visa for France (if applicable)
Proof of legal status in the USA (visa, Green Card or American passport)
Proof of continued residence outside France for the last 12 months
(any of the following : 12 last cable, electricity or telephone bills or summary statement from the service providers; 12 last pay-stubs; homeowners/renters insurance or vehicule insurance; lease ; Tax Return).
Fee, payable in cash or by credit card (see Fees)
French Citizens registered at the Consulate
A valid Consular Registration Card
French passport
Proof of legal status in the USA (visa, Green Card or American passport)
The procedure of filling the ’Retail Export Form(s)’ allows travellers, residing outside of the European Union and on a visit to France for less than 6 months, to benefit from the exoneration of the VAT (Value Added Tax) on certain items purchased in stores which supply these forms (items excluded are; food, tobacco, services i.e. hotels, transportation, restaurants and tips).
The vendor will give the Retail Export Forms after the purchase of items in their store (3 page form). Within three months of the purchase date you must present the following to the Customs Office at the airport when you exit the European Union; the items purchased (with price tags attached), the proof of residence abroad (if you are a French Citizen a valid Consular Registration Card must be presented), and the Retail Export Form(s) which the Customs Officer will stamp, and must be mailed from the port of exit from the European Union.
If for a serious and valid reason your Retail Export Form(s) were not stamped by Customs upon your departure from the European Union, you may still ask for a tax refund once you return to your country of residence. However, the process is time-consuming, and may turn out to be more expensive than the amount of tax refund that you are claiming. This procedure does not guarantee a refund.
You have to address, within 6 months after the date of purchase of your goods, a request for a tax refund to the Customs office of the place where you left France.
This request must be supported by the following documents:
A letter with exhaustive explanations of the reasons why you were not able to get your form stamped when leaving France (travelers’ carelessness or oversight can absolutely not be taken into consideration i.e late arrival at the airport, forgetting to show the items)
An "attestation de présentation des marchandises" issued by the French Consulate that has jurisdiction over the state you live in. In order to get this document you must come to the Consulate with ALL the goods you bought (with price tags attached) and your passeport. There is a fee for each Retail Export Form (approximatively $20 per store) payable in cash or by credit card (see Fees).
A copy of your passeport
A copy of your travel ticket stubs (plane ticket, bording pass or train ticket)
The Retail Export Form(s) and envelope(s).
IF YOU HAVE ANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING FRENCH CUSTOMS OR CUSTOMS OFFICIALS, PLEASE FAX IT TO THE CUSTOMS OFFICE AT THE FRENCH EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON DC: 1 202 944 6517.
