Netherlands Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to the Netherlands pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter the Netherlands will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following:

• An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)
• An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)
• A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)
• An Animal Health Certificate when entering the Netherlands from the United Kingdom (UK-resident pets)

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO THE NETHERLANDS below.

Note that hairless cat breeds and those wtih folded ears that are born after 01 January 2026 are not permitted import to the Netherlands either for breeding or competition. Those types of cats born before 01 January 2026 are permitted entry with proof of birth date and adherence to regulations listed here.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering the Netherlands

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering the Netherlands if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

Netherlands Pet Import Requirements

NEWS: The EU has modified its regulations as of April 2026 with important changes to non-commercial transport (step 2). The EU has granted a transition period until March 2027; however, some countries like Germany have already enforced these new regulations. All new regulations have been indicated as such on this page.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to the Netherlands must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: EU Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) does not recognize any countries as rabies-free. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all countries are subject to current rabies vaccinations according to their regulations. The EU classifies countries as either

• EU Member States and territories
• part 1 listed third countries
• part 2 listed third countries
• unlisted countries

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to the Netherlands will depend on the classification of your country of origin and whether your pet has entered an unlisted country within the past 4 months. Click on the links above to find your origination country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing import regulations for the Netherlands.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial, as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter the Netherlands with their owner*. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets** unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The owner must attest that the purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership via a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations; however, the owner must still travel to the same destination no more than 5 days before or after their pet travels. (New regulation)

**If entering the EU by ground, a maximum of 5 pets per vehicle can travel under non-commercial regulations. (New regulation)

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

• The owner or a designated representative is not traveling with the pet OR
• The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport/vehicle OR
• The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption, or commercial sale.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this business or organization will be responsible for the import of the pet. The exporter must provide proof that they are registered in the exporting country.

Step 3: Pet Microchip

The third step to import a dog, cat or ferret to the Netherlands is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit, ISO 11784/11785 compliant pet microchip. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse must implant the microchip. (New regulation) You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer’s or government’s database in your country.

Note: By 1 January 2028, all pet microchips must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant. As there is no guarantee that border inspection officials will have a universal scanner available, it is advised to consider updating your pet’s microchip if you are a frequent traveler. (New regulation)

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

• It was applied prior to July 3, 2011 and
• The tattoo is clearly visible and
• Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied and
• All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept up-to-date. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered).

It is anticipated that after 2026 every dog or cat kept for sale, adoption, or cross-border movement within or into the EU will need to be registered in an approved database, with the microchip number acting as the primary identifier. EU Member States without current databases will be setting those up for this purpose. It is important to ensure that your pet’s identity and contact details are correctly recorded before departure.

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering the Netherlands must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering the Netherlands from another EU Member State, part 1 or part 2 listed country, your pet must wait at least 21 days after primary rabies vaccination* to travel. Note that every manufacturer of rabies vaccines has specifications on when immunity is reached, and your veterinarian should inform you of the wait time for your pet’s specific vaccine.

*The primary vaccination is one of the following:

• The first vaccination your pet received after a microchip was implanted.
• Your pet was microchipped at the time of its previous rabies vaccination; however, the previous rabies vaccination had expired when the current vaccination was administered.

If entering the Netherlands from an unlisted country, pets must wait for 30 days to have their veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step).

In both cases, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Other Vaccinations

Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as the following:

• canine distemper (also for ferrets)
• canine hepatitis
• canine leptospirosis
• canine parvovirus
• feline viral rhinotracheitis
• feline panleukopenia
• feline leukemia

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

For pets entering the Netherlands from unlisted countries, a rabies titer test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories.

A rabies titer test, also known as a serology test, measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. There are several kinds of rabies titer tests, although the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) test is preferred.

The titer test must be administered more than 90 days prior to the date on the EU Health Certificate (step 8). (New regulation)

It is worth noting that some EU Member States require that serology levels be confirmed prior to leaving their country.

The test is valid to enter any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 6: Import Permit

Pet owners do not need an import permit when entering the Netherlands with a dog, cat, or ferret. Unaccompanied pets may need an import permit.

Step 7: Parasite Treatments

Pet owners should always protect their pets from internal and external parasites to keep them healthy when traveling internationally; however, proof of these treatments is not required for pets imported to the Netherlands.

Step 8: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires an original health certificate in their pet import regulations, and the Netherlands is no exception. The EU Health Certificate must include pet owner information (New regulation) clearly identify your pet, including its microchip number. Your veterinarian must state that your pet is fit to travel and is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. Additionally, your veterinarian should attest that your pet displays no symptoms of any contagious diseases.

The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under – non-commercial or commercial. Both certificates must be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Your pet must enter the EU Member State within 10 days of endorsement (non-commercial) and depart the country of origin within 48 hours of endorsement (commercial). (New regulation)

Non-Commercial Transport to the Netherlands from an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

EU-Resident Pets: Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport or a government-issued Pet Passport for your pet. A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your air carrier.

An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to the Netherlands with a current Pet Passport.

Non-Resident Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or part 1 listed country for six months or you do not have a permanent address in an EU Member State, then your pet will need a non-commercial EU Health Certificate. (New regulation)

Non-Commercial Transport to the Netherlands from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 applies under the following conditions:

• Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
• Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a non-commercial health certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals. The certificate is valid for 10 days from endorsement to the day your pet arrives at the border inspection post. (New regulation)

The EU Health Certificate for the Netherlands is good for transports of five or fewer dogs, cats, or ferrets. The form is good for six months of travel within the EU if the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time. (New regulation)

Note: Resident UK pet owners traveling from the UK to any EU Member State under non-commercial regulations (see step 2) should not use an EU Pet Passport and instead obtain an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) according to the Animal and Plant Agency. The validity of the AHC has been extended to six months.

Commercial Transport to the Netherlands from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premise which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State
responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet must be inspected, and an Intratrade Pet Health Certificate must be endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) before travel. This system tracks the import, export, and intra-trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to the Netherlands from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must be inspected, and a health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent.

Commercial Transport to the Netherlands from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4, and 5 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter the Netherlands from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected, and a health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent in the Netherlands.

Other information

Importing Dogs and Cats to the Netherlands from Malaysia and Australia

If your dog, cat, or ferret is entering the Netherlands from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met:

• Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
• Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
• Your pet has been tested with a negative result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within ten days of export.

Cats may only enter the Netherlands from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Importing Puppies, Kittens and Kits to the Netherlands

Unvaccinated puppies, kittens and kits are not permitted to enter the Netherlands from any country or EU Member State. They can be microchipped at eight weeks of age; however, they must be 12 weeks of age to receive a rabies vaccination.

There is a 21-day wait after the rabies vaccination before a puppy or kitten can travel to the Netherlands from a EU Member State, or Part 1 or 2 listed third country. A declaration is necessary stating that the animal stayed in the place in which it was born since birth without contact with wild animals likely to have been exposed to the infection.

Puppies and kittens entering from unlisted countries cannot do so until they are at least seven months of age to meet requirements.

More information on transporting a puppy.

Banned Breeds

The Netherlands does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering the Netherlands with a Pet

Accompanied pets entering by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at international
airports in Amsterdam, Maastricht, Eindhoven, Rotterdam, Dan Helder, Lelystad, Seppe, Teuge, Twente as well as Woensdrecht and Gilze-Rijen air bases.

Pets may arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo, according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Acclimating your pet to its crate or carrier

Flights to the Netherlands should be direct or transit through an EU Member State, or part 1 or 2 listed third country if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

All commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the TRACES database, and the responsible transporter must be registered. Non-commercial transports by land must also be registered.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to the Netherlands. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

Exporting Resident Pets

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving the Netherlands for another EU Member State or Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Country should:

• Be microchipped
• Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age and
• Wait for a minimum of 21 days after primary vaccination before leaving the Netherlands.
• Have a licensed veterinarian issue an EU Pet Passport (EU destinations) or Export Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements) 

Note that many part 1 listed countries will have additional requirements in addition to a resident Pet Passport when returning to their country.

Pet owners should consider having serology levels confirmed prior to leaving the Netherlands. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

All animals leaving the Netherlands for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance with their destination country requirements prior to the issuance of an export permit. This permit will be issued by agencies in the origin province responsible for the issuance of export permits.

Importing Other Pet Animals to the Netherlands

Other Animals

Domesticated rodents, rabbits, and reptiles entering the Netherlands from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must:

• Be accompanied by their owner.
• Be not more than five in number.
• Have an examination by a licensed veterinarian within 10 days of transport.
• Show no signs of disease or external parasites.
• Have a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in English, Dutch, German, or French shortly prior to travel.
• Transport their pet in an IATA-compliant pet crate or carrier.
• Enter transport in the TRACES system.
• Enter the Netherlands at an approved border inspection post (non-EU entries).
• Provide notice of arrival at least one working day in advance.

Bird Import

Pet birds (non-fowl) originating in EU Member States can enter the Netherlands without a health certificate if they are accompanied by their owner and not more than five in number.

For birds can only enter the Netherlands from these countries and the following will apply.

A health certificate and Owner’s Declaration must accompany your bird.

• The import does not involve more than five birds.
• The birds must be identified by a non-removable, legible individual marking displaying an alpha-numeric code.
• Bird owners must enter the Netherlands at an approved border inspection point (see step 11).
• The birds must not originate in an area that under quarantine for Avian Influenza.

Requirements:

• Your bird must have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export OR
• Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import OR
• 14 days of isolation in the origination country under the supervision of an authorized veterinarian and undergone a test to detect the H5 and H7 antigen or genome OR
• PCR test for H5 and H7 avian influenza virus with negative result on one sample taken no sooner than the 7th day and no later than 14 days before import (a serological test is not sufficient) AND
• Birds that are covered by CITES must have appropriate permits AND
• The wildlife authority in the exporting country may require export permits.

Birds must be examined within 48 hours of transport and held in isolation until travel.

After entering the Netherlands, birds must be transferred directly to a private household or residency. The birds will be under surveillance during this time and must not be exposed to other birds for 30 days.

Birds that do not meet the above requirements will be quarantined for a minimum of 30 days when entering the Netherlands.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

Importers should verify that their pet is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). This is important if your pet is not a dog or cat, and very important if it is a turtle or parrot. You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Learn more about CITES

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to the Netherlands?

Have a question about importing a pet to the Netherlands? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.

Please note that the accuracy of comments made below by users other than Pet Travel has not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.

Current Information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Netherlands pet import requirements.