Travelling with your pet and making a transit

Travelling to a country within the EU

When you enter the EU with a pet, the animal must always be inspected in the first country of entry into the EU at designated travellers’ points of entry.

The animal must meet the EU import requirements.

I am travelling with my pet from a third country to an EU Member State via the Netherlands

If you are travelling with your pet from a third country to an EU Member State via the Netherlands, the inspection takes place in the Netherlands. You need to report to Customs for this inspection. In the arrivals hall, you then select the red exit ‘Goods to declare’. Customs is also situated in the international zone of the airport.

Some countries have additional requirements regarding the treatment against tapeworm, e.g., Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway. The United Kingdom is a third country, but it too applies this additional requirement. This treatment against tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) applies to dogs only. The dog must have been treated 1–5 days (24–120 hours) before entering one of these countries. The treatment must have been administered by a vet and confirmed by the vet in the dog’s pet passport.

I am travelling with my pet from a third country to the Netherlands via another EU Member State

If you are travelling with your pet from a third country to the Netherlands via another EU Member State, the inspection takes place in the Member State where you enter the EU.

Travelling with your pet and making a transit

I am arriving by plane with my dog or cat from a third country before travelling on to another third country.

Dogs or cats in transit must meet the EU import requirements.

Exceptions are only permitted if the animal remains in the international area of the airport, at your own risk and under the following conditions:

• The dog or cat must remain within the international transit zone of the airport and may have no contact with other animals.
• Under no circumstances may the dog or cat leave the international zone, including in the event of delays.

In case of unforeseen events, such as medical necessity or delayed flights, the international zone of the airport does not have the required facilities to house the animals, not even temporarily. It is therefore preferable for the animal to meet the EU requirements. That is the safest option.

If you continue your journey with your pet by boat or car (for example to the United Kingdom), this exception does not apply, and your pet must at all times meet the EU import requirements.

If your pet is travelling in cargo and temporarily staying in one of the sheds at the airport, your pet needs to meet the EU import requirements and Customs or the NVWA will inspect your pet.

Travelling from a third country with a low risk regarding rabies to the EU, via a third country with a high risk regarding rabies

If you want to make this journey without having to meet the requirements for travelling from a high-risk rabies country, you can only do so if you remain within the airport’s international zone and the pet has no contact with any other animals. To this end, this transit declaration has been prepared which you, the owner, must complete before departure. You must meet the requirements listed in this transit declaration. You do not need this declaration if your dog or cat meets the requirements for travelling from a high-risk country regarding rabies.

More information

For more information, please contact the authorities of the transit country or the country of your destination.