Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to the Netherlands with your dog
The Netherlands welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on the Netherlands itself. As an EU member, the Netherlands applies the EU pet-movement rules: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required. A dog coming from another EU country simply needs an EU pet passport. A dog from a listed non-EU country (such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom) needs an EU animal health certificate but no blood test. A dog from a non-listed country faces the longest path, including a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for the Netherlands |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Netherlands
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — Netherlands★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; NVWA |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The microchip must already be in place; otherwise re-vaccination is needed. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; NVWA |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013 |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not the Netherlands. | European Commission — pet travel |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required (non-commercial) | Commercial imports (sale, transfer of ownership, more than 5 animals) require a TRACES certificate and extra formalities. | NVWA — importing dogs and cats |
| Border check (documents & identity) | Non-EU arrivals | No systematic check for intra-EU (Schengen) arrivals. | EU Reg. 576/2013; NVWA |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | Puppies under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated, so cannot enter from outside the EU. | EU Reg. 576/2013; NVWA |
| Quarantine | Not required | Only if rules are breached — authorities may then order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia. | EU Reg. 576/2013; NVWA |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- ISO microchipMust be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies antibody testNon-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
- EU pet passportIssued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination.
- EU animal health certificateIssued/endorsed by an official vet before departure; valid 10 days to entry, then up to 4 months for onward EU travel.
- Advance notification / import permitFor a non-commercial move with your own dog, no import permit or prior customs appointment is needed.
- Border check (documents & identity)Non-EU arrivals pass through a designated border control post; in the Netherlands this is Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
- Puppies / minimum age12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country.
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplified — EU pet passport
A dog coming from another EU country needs an EU pet passport showing a valid ISO microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination. No antibody test, no health certificate and normally no border check.
⏱ A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed.
Health certificate, no blood test
From a listed non-EU country (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and others), your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate endorsed by an official vet before departure. No antibody test is required; you enter the EU through a designated border control post (Schiphol).
⏱ ~3–4 weeks: 21-day wait after the rabies shot, plus a health certificate valid 10 days.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-designated laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required.
⏱ ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches the Netherlands depends on where you flew from.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: you must enter via a designated border control post — Amsterdam Schiphol Airport — for documentary and identity checks.
- For a non-commercial trip with your own dog, no import permit is issued and no prior appointment is needed.
- Carry the original documents (not copies); the NVWA accepts documents in Dutch or English.
- If documents are missing or invalid, authorities may order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia — at the owner's expense.
- Dogs imported into the Netherlands must be registered in the national dog database within a set period after arrival.
🚫 Restricted dogs
The Netherlands has no national breed ban. The old breed-specific regulation (Regeling agressieve dieren, RAD) was repealed with effect from 1 January 2009, because it did not reduce bite incidents. No dog breed is currently prohibited from entering or being kept in the Netherlands.
Current legal status: since the RAD repeal there is no breed-specific import restriction. Types once targeted (pit bull, American Staffordshire, Rottweiler and similar) may be brought in like any other dog, provided the EU microchip, rabies and certificate rules are met. Aggressive behaviour is handled case by case, not by breed.
Proposed (not in force): the government's 2023 anti-bite plan discusses stricter rules for 'high-risk' dogs — for example allowing certain powerful types only with a pedigree — plus a national bite-reporting point and a mandatory owner course. An earlier advisory 'high-risk dogs' list is no longer valid. None of this is enacted law yet; check the latest position before travelling.
Local authorities can still impose muzzle or leash orders on an individual dog after a bite incident. For the current national position, consult Rijksoverheid and the NVWA. Documents may be in Dutch or English.
✈️ Airlines flying to Netherlands with a dog
Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.
+56 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 5 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in Netherlands
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
Netherlands with a dog: common questions
Netherlands: What does my dog need to enter?
Netherlands requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination.
Netherlands: Is a rabies antibody test required?
Netherlands — Rabies antibody test: Conditional. Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
Netherlands: Are any dog breeds banned?
The Netherlands has no national breed ban. The old breed-specific regulation (Regeling agressieve dieren, RAD) was repealed with effect from 1 January 2009, because it did not reduce bite incidents. No dog breed is currently prohibited from entering or being kept in the Netherlands.
Netherlands: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed. ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
Netherlands: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
Netherlands — Easy to difficult (depends on origin). MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 8 August 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of Netherlands and your vet before booking.
📚 Official sources
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Travelling with a pet within the EU
- European Commission — Listing of non-EU countries (antibody-test exemption)
- NVWA — Travelling with my pet (dogs and cats)
- NVWA — Bringing my dog or cat from a country outside the EU
- Rijksoverheid — Preventing dog bites and dangerous dog behaviour
- Dutch Customs (Douane) — Pets