Moving with Pets
If you are moving to the Netherlands with a pet, check the official rules before you travel. The requirements can depend on the animal species, your country of departure, your travel route, and whether you are travelling from inside or outside the EU. Some animal species might be prohibited from entering the Netherlands.
For dogs, cats, and ferrets, the rules usually include identification, vaccination, and travel documents. Other animals, such as rabbits, rodents, reptiles, birds, or fish, may have different requirements. The Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) is the primary official authority for bringing animals into the Netherlands. Always check the latest NVWA information before travelling with your pets.
On this page, you can find information about:
What to check before you travel with your pets
Before booking your journey, make sure you understand which rules apply to your pet. Requirements can differ depending on the animal species, country of departure, rabies risk, travel route, and transport provider. It is best to check official sources before booking travel, especially if you are travelling from outside the EU or with an animal other than a dog, cat, or ferret. Rules can change, and transport providers may have their own conditions.
Check whether:
- whether your animal is allowed to enter the Netherlands,
- whether you need an EU pet passport or animal health certificate,
- whether your pet needs a microchip,
- whether your pet needs a rabies vaccination or blood test,
- whether your pet must enter through a specific point of entry,
- whether you need to register your pet after arrival,
- whether your transport provider has additional requirements.
Bringing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Netherlands within the EU
If you are travelling from another EU country to the Netherlands with a dog, cat, or ferret, your pet usually needs:
- an EU pet passport,
- a microchip, or a clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011,
- a valid rabies vaccination,
- to be at least 15 weeks old.
The EU pet passport must be issued by an authorised veterinarian. It includes information about the animal, the owner, identification, and rabies vaccination.
Useful official sources:
- NVWA: travelling from EU countries to the Netherlands with your pet
- Government.nl: bringing a pet from another country to the Netherlands
- Dutch Customs: pets
Bringing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Netherlands from outside of the EU
If you are travelling from outside the EU, extra rules may apply. The requirements depend partly on whether your country of departure is considered a low-risk or high-risk country for rabies.
If you are travelling from a low-risk country for rabies, your pet may not need a rabies antibody blood test. If you are travelling from a high-risk country, your pet may need additional checks, including a rabies antibody blood test. This test usually needs to be taken after the rabies vaccination and before travel.
Your pet may need:
- a microchip,
- a valid rabies vaccination,
- an animal health certificate,
- a rabies blood test, depending on the country of departure,
- entry through an approved travellers’ point of entry,
- checks by Customs or NVWA.
The exact requirements depend on the country you are travelling from. If your pet does not meet the EU import requirements, it may be refused entry or placed under official supervision.
Useful official sources:
- NVWA: travelling from outside of the EU to the Netherlands with your cat or dog
- Netherlands Worldwide: taking your pet to the Netherlands
- EU: travelling with pets and other animals in the EU
Bringing other animals
If you have a different type of pet, such as a rodent, rabbit, bird, fish, amphibian, or reptile that you wish to bring to the Netherlands from an EU country, it must have a pet’s health certificate signed by a veterinarian. If the animal is a protected species, you must check that you are allowed to import it under the CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). Some animals may be prohibited or restricted.
If you have questions about bringing your pet that are not yet answered on their website, you can contact the NWVA to ask directly.
Registering a dog from abroad
If you bring a dog from abroad to the Netherlands, you may need to register the dog after arrival. RVO treats bringing a dog from abroad as an import, even if you are bringing your own pet with you. In many cases, you need to request a UBN (Uniek Bedrijfsnummer) before registration. A UBN is a unique number used to register the location where the dog is kept.
After arrival, take your dog to a veterinarian within 14 days. The veterinarian can check the dog’s microchip, passport or health certificate, and register the dog in the Dutch system. This registration is separate from any travel documents your dog needed to enter the Netherlands. It helps make sure your dog is traceable and registered correctly after arrival.
Check the current RVO rules before travelling or shortly after arrival, as the exact steps can depend on your situation.
Prohibited and restricted animals
Before bringing an animal to the Netherlands, check whether it is allowed. Some animals may be prohibited or restricted because of animal welfare, public safety, biodiversity, or disease-control rules.
For mammals, the Netherlands uses a pets and hobby animals list. This means that only mammals on the official list may be kept, sold, or bred as pets. The list has applied since 1 July 2024, and transitional rules may apply if you already owned an animal before that date. The list has applied since 1 July 2024 and includes 30 mammal species, such as dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, sheep, alpacas, and several types of rodents.
If you already owned a mammal that is not on the list before 1 July 2024, transitional rules may apply. In that case, you may usually keep the animal until it has passed, but you must be able to prove that you already owned it before 1 July 2024. For example, you may need a proof of purchase, a pet passport, or a veterinarian’s bill. You are not allowed to release the animal into the wild, and breeding may no longer be allowed.
Some dog breeds, such as pit bull-type dogs and Rottweilers, are not banned as breeds in the Netherlands. However, owners are responsible for their dog’s behaviour. If a dog is considered dangerous or is involved in a serious incident, authorities may take measures to protect public safety. In severe cases, this can include seizure, euthanasia of the dog, or other legal measures.
Protected species, invasive alien species, and some plants & animal products may also be restricted or require official documents, such as CITES documents. In some cases, you may not be allowed to bring the animal or product into the Netherlands at all. Always check official sources before travelling with, buying, or adopting an animal.
If you are unsure whether your animal is allowed, check official sources before travelling. You can also contact the Dutch embassy or consulate in your country, Dutch Customs, NVWA, or RVO.
Transporting your pet
Before travelling with your pet, check the rules of your airline, ferry company, train operator, or other transport provider. Each company may have different requirements for animals, travel boxes, documents, and booking procedures.
If you are flying, pets may travel in the cabin, in the cargo hold, or sometimes on a different flight. Not all airlines allow pets in the cabin, and rules can depend on the animal’s size, species, breed, and destination. Always check the transport rules before booking your journey.
Travel boxes and documents
If your pet travels in a box or crate, make sure it meets the requirements of your transport provider. In general, your pet should be able to breathe, stand, sit, turn around, and lie down comfortably inside the box. Check with your transport provider to make sure that you meet their travel requirements.
Some animals need a health certificate before travelling. This often applies to dogs, cats, ferrets, birds, horses, cattle and other hoofed animals, minks, and foxes. You can request a health certificate from an authorised veterinarian in the country you are travelling from.
If your dog, cat, or ferret travels without you, it may be treated as cargo. In that case, additional veterinary checks and documents may be required before departure and after arrival.
FAQ about Moving with Pets to the Netherlands
Can I bring my pets to the Netherlands?
In many cases, yes, but the rules depend on the animal species, country of departure, travel route, and whether you are travelling from inside or outside the EU. Dogs, cats, and ferrets usually need identification, rabies vaccination, and official travel documents.
What documents do I need to bring a dog, cat, or ferret to the Netherlands?
If you travel from another EU country, your pet usually needs an EU pet passport. If you travel from outside the EU, your pet may need an animal health certificate and additional checks. Always check the current NVWA rules before travelling.
Does my pet need a rabies blood test?
This depends on the country you are travelling from. If you are travelling from a country considered to be low-risk for rabies, a rabies blood test may not be required. If you are travelling from a high-risk country, your pet may need a rabies antibody blood test before entering the Netherlands.
Can I bring any animal to the Netherlands?
No. Some animals are prohibited or restricted in the Netherlands. For mammals, only species on the official list of pets and hobby animals may be kept, sold, or bred as pets. Protected species and invasive alien species may also be restricted or require official documents before they can enter the Netherlands.
Do I need to register my dog after arriving in the Netherlands?
If you bring a dog from abroad, you may need to register it after arrival. In many cases, this means requesting a UBN and visiting a veterinarian within 14 days of arrival so the dog can be registered correctly.