Can I bring a pet from another country to the Netherlands?

Conditions for bringing a dog, cat or ferret to the Netherlands from another EU country

The Netherlands wants to prevent animals with rabies from entering the Netherlands. If you want to bring a dog, cat or ferret to the Netherlands from another EU country:

• the animal must be at least 15 weeks old
• the animal must be vaccinated at 12 weeks old

• after the animal has been vaccinated, you must wait 21 days before bringing it to the Netherlands

• the animal must be microchipped and have a EU pet passport.

The Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA) has more information about travelling to the Netherlands with your cat or dog. 

Registering an imported dog

If you are planning to import a dog, you must have it microchipped and registered within two weeks of its arrival in the Netherlands. The microchip is normally implanted by a vet, who can also advise you on how to register the animal.

Bringing a dog, cat or ferret to the Netherlands from a non-EU country

If you want to bring an animal to the Netherlands from a country outside the EU, you should check the NVWA-website. NVWA can tell you whether this is allowed by law, and under what conditions.

Bringing another pet to the Netherlands from another country

If you are planning to bring another pet than a dog, cat or ferret from a country outside the EU to the Netherlands, you can also check the NVWA-website for more information. 

If the animal is a protected species, you must check that you are allowed to import it under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild flora and fauna (CITES). This international agreement regulates the trade in protected animal and plant species.