Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) classifies countries as either:

EU Member States or

Listed Third Countries and Territories or

Unlisted Third Countries.

The requirements to import a dog, cat or ferret to Belgium will depend on the classification of the origination country, and whether your pet has visited an Unlisted Third Country within the past 4 months.

Importers and pet owners should always check their country's classification before reviewing these regulations.

Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Belgium from any country is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that does not have 15 digits, then you can bring your own microchip scanner.

The microchip should be implanted by your veterinarian, veterinary hospital or trained nurse. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions how to register your pet's information in the manufacturer database.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible, your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and all rabies vaccinations have been administered before previous vaccinations have expired.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Belgium.

If your pet is entering Belgium from a Listed Third Country, the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Belgium.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• The previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• The booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expire

Belgium does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

If your pet is entering Belgium from an Unlisted Third Country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the rabies vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Belgium from an Unlisted Third Country or has visited an Unlisted Third Country in the previous 4 months prior to travel, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies, wait a minimum of 30 days, then have a rabies titer test (FAVN) administered by your veterinarian.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Belgium no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine.

This step is not required unless entering Belgium from an Unlisted Third Country or after visiting an Unlisted Third Country within 4 months of travel.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Belgium from any country; however, Belgium is not free of tapeworm and treatments against this parasite are always recommended when traveling internationally.

Pet Health Certificate

The type of EU pet health certificate depends on whether or not your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport (all conditions must apply):

• The pet owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The transport does not involve the purchase, sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with five pets or less unless proof of participation in a show or competition is available for pets over 6 months of age.

Non-Commercial Transport to Belgium from a Listed Third Country or Unlisted Third Country:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. If entering Belgium from an Unlisted Third Country, step 3 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU pet health certificate for Belgium. A government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country which is responsible for the import and export of live animals must endorse the certificate within 10 days of arrival.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see item 7 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-Commercial Transport to Belgium from an EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Belgium from another EU Member State unless your pet does not qualify for an EU Pet Passport (non-resident pet). In this case, an EU Health Certificate is required.

A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your carrier.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Commercial Transport (any condition can apply):

• The owner or legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The purpose of the transport involves a sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with more than five pets and proof of participation in a show or competition is not available.

Commercial Transport to Belgium from a Listed Third Country or Territory:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals. Official Pet Passports will be accepted from certain countries.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see step 7 for transports of more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Your pet must enter Belgium at an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at Brussels, Liege, Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Oostende Airports. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to Belgium from an Unlisted Third Country:

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Belgium from these Unlisted Third Countries. Pets must conform to all steps above and also have a rabies titer test according to step 3 above.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Commercial Transport to Belgium from an EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premises 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's veterinarian must issue an Intratrade pet health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

TRACES

Regardless of whether your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial, it must be entered into the TRACES system. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #5)

Import permit

An import permit is not required to import a dog, cat or ferret to Belgium. Permits are required for importing some other animals or exotic species.

Entering Belgium from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Belgium from peninsular Malaysia, the following 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 negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Belgium 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.

Entering Belgium by Air

Pets entering Belgium by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at Brussels, Liege, Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Oostende Airports. Pets not flying with or within 5 days of their owners must enter at Brussels or Liege.

Pets may arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

Pets should enter Belgium directly or transit through an EU Member State or a Listed Third Country if a direct flight is not possible.

If your pet transits another EU Member State on the way to Belgium, it must have an endorsed transit pet health certificate.

If your pet transits an Unlisted Third Country on the way to Belgium, then, unless your pet does not disembark the aircraft, it will need an endorsed transit pet health certificate and a rabies titer test administered a minimum of 3 months prior to transit.

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

Puppies and Kittens

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens are not permitted to enter Belgium from any country. Microchips can be implanted at 8 weeks of age; however, rabies vaccinations cannot be given prior to 12 weeks of age. Puppies and kittens entering Belgium from an EU Member State, Listed Third Country or Territory cannot do so until the age of 15 weeks. Unvaccinated pets cannot enter Belgium until reaching 7 months of age.

Banned Breeds

Belgium does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are responsible for the behavior of their pets.

Exporting Pets Living in Belgium

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Belgium for another EU Member State must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Belgium. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to an Unlisted Third Country, your veterinarian should do a rabies titer test before you leave Belgium if you intend to return.

All pets leaving Belgium for non-EU country must have all required documentation for the destination country available at the time of export.

Export permits may be required for non-accompanied transports.

Other Animals

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Belgium from other EU Member States. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

CITES

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

Need More Assistance?

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 the pet import regulations of the destination country.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We include unlimited email support for all your and your veterinarian's questions.

We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 2:00 PM EST.

 

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