How to Import a Puppy from France to Switzerland

1 FÉVRIER 2025 · 2 min de lecture

Importing a puppy from France to Switzerland is more manageable than it sounds, as long as you keep a checklist and know what to expect. Here is everything we learned from bringing Abby home at eight weeks old.

What your breeder needs to prepare

If your breeder is close to the border, chances are they have done this before and know what is required. That said, always double check everything yourself. Here is what they need to provide:

Official pet passport
Puppy must be micro-chipped
8 to 12 weeks old, no rabies vaccine required, but a written declaration that the puppy has not been in contact with wild animals susceptible to rabies is needed.
Above 12 weeks old, rabies vaccine required.

One thing to check for Aussie owners: Switzerland does not allow the importation of dogs with docked ears or tails. Make sure your breeder does not dock before committing.

At the border

Not all French border crossings have a PABLO machine, so make sure to stop at one that does to scan the detax paperwork your breeder provides
Your breeder may or may not charge you tax upfront and refund you later, clarify this beforehand
At the Swiss border, bring your puppy to customs, pay the import tax and get the passport stamped
Swiss import tax is 8.1% of the purchase price

After arriving in Switzerland

AMICUS registration You have 10 days after importation to register your dog in the Swiss national dog database. Your local vet can do this for you, it is a paid service.

Geneva medal Once your dog turns six months old, you need to get an annual medal from your municipality's city hall. Bring proof of rabies vaccination and liability insurance. Prices vary by municipality.

Dog tax You will receive this in the mail automatically. Just pay it on time. Ours was CHF 80 for 2025.

Useful links

For the full story of how we found Abby's breeder and what the border crossing was actually like, read our full post here.