Pet Travel & Moving with Animals

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Pet Travel & Moving with Animals

• The European Pet Passport (EU Pet Passport) allows for qualifying domestic animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) to freely cross borders in Europe.
• The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) provides for qualifying domestic pets to travel to and from the UK without undergoing quarantine.

Pet travel laws can be affected by exceptional outbreaks of diseases. Recent examples are Avian Influenza (the H5N1 strain of bird flu), Foot and Mouth disease and the Bluetongue outbreak.

The Netherlands Ministry of Agriculture provides clear information on the regulations for travelling with domestic mammals: dogs, cats and ferrets.

• For information: Click here

The Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde, Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association, also provides up to date information on travelling with pets.

• For a guide to travelling with pets to and from the Netherlands: Click here (PDF in Dutch)

Moving Pets within the European Union

European Pet Passport

The EU Pet Passport is a booklet, identical for all European countries, which contains obligatory information concerning an individual animal: identification number, proof of valid vaccine against the rabies virus. It may contain other non-obligatory information. It is valid for the lifetime of the pet. Each passport is numbered for identification purposes.

Animals travelling within any European Union countries other than Ireland, Sweden, Malta and the United Kingdom need to have:

• identification by microchip or tattoo (tattoos are only acceptable until July 2011)
• valid vaccine against rabies (except when crossing the Finnish border, where animals must have proof of tapeworm - echinococcosis - treatment)

All vets should have the relevant information and be able to prepare a pet for travel.

The EU Pet Passport can also be used when travelling between Europe and the following non-mainland European areas: Greenland, Faeroe Islands, Balearic Islands, Canary Islands (except Ceuta and Melilla), French Guyana, Guadeloupe, Martinique and Réunion, Gibraltar, the Azores, Madeira.

It may also be used when travelling between EU and other countries with the same rabies status. Included are: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State.

• For information on these places see the EUROPA website

Getting an EU Pet Passport

In the Netherlands, EU passports for pets are published by the:

• Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde (Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association)
• Full Service Bureau Dierenasielen Nederland
• Vereniging van Beroepsmatige Kennelhouders
• Stichting Chip

The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture approves the EU passports published by these four organisations. Pet owners may apply to their vet to get an EU passport for the animal. They will receive a Dutch version of the passport.

The passport may only be issued by a licensed vet and it, and vaccinations, should be kept current by the vet.

Before issuing it, the vet will confirm that the animal:

• is identified by a micro chip in the neck (or tattoo in the ear)
• has valid vaccines against rabies
• has had a blood test to confirm the vaccine is in the system

Following these steps the vet can issue a certificate of health - the Pet Passport.

Arriving in the Netherlands

A non-commercial importer may bring up to five pets into Holland.

Pet owners must carry a valid EU Pet Passport for each pet when travelling with their animals to the Netherlands.

The Netherlands does not set any additional veterinary requirements for pet dogs, cats and ferrets entering the country for non-commercial reasons. Animals do not have to be treated for ticks or tapeworms.

If the rabies vaccination was the animal's first vaccine then it must wait for 21 days before entering the country. There is no time delay with booster injections, providing there is proof that the booster was administered before the last vaccine had expired.

Animals under three months old can enter the Netherlands if the owner can prove that the animal resided at the same place as its place of birth and had no contact with animals that may have been infected with rabies. Young animals that are not yet weaned, and are accompanying the mother, may also enter the country.

However, young animals from third countries are not allowed entry.

Rabbits and rodents may travel without a passport but should be declared at the border.

• The Dutch Ministry of Agriculture website: Click here
• European Commission Animal Health and Welfare: Click here

Moving Pets between the Netherlands and the UK and Ireland

Dogs, cats and ferrets may travel between UK, Ireland, Malta and Sweden and Europe without quarantine, provided some (stringent) requirements are met. The system allowing travel is called the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).

DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs, has comprehensive and up-to-date information on the website. It will provide an information pack on request.

DEFRA website: Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)

• Pet Travel Scheme
  Tel: + 44 (0)870 241 1710
  Fax: + 44 (0)207 904 6834
  Open: Mondays to Fridays 09:00-17:00 UK time

Entering the UK or Ireland

Before entering Britain or Ireland (or Sweden or Malta) from the Netherlands or elsewhere in the EU, an animal must:

• have a anti-rabies booster vaccination (the pet must be vaccinated by a vet)
• have a blood test. A blood sample will be taken 30 days after the vaccination and will be sent to an approved laboratory to confirm it has been effective
• If the sample tests correct, the vet will sign the certificate
• If the sample tests negative, the vaccination and sampling process will be repeated until successful and there will be a six-month delay (see note below)
• between 24 and 48 hours before departure from the Netherlands the animal must be treated for ticks, and tapeworm (echinococcosis). This treatment must be carried out by an authorised vet
• have microchip identification, a tattoo is not acceptable
• have a valid EU Pet Passport completed with certificates and documentation of treatments

Note: A passport cannot be issued until six months after a satisfactory blood test. Once the vet has issued the pet's documentation and that six-month period has passed, the pet may enter the UK. The travel process is then much the same as above. The passport must be up to date and the rabies booster must be valid.

If the authorities are unsatisfied with the animal on entry to the UK it can be held in quarantine until the relevant tests are passed.

Further Information

• Irish Department of Agriculture website: Click here
• British Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, DEFRA website: Click here

Moving Pets to the Netherlands from outside the European Union

If taking the pet to a country outside the EU consult the Embassy or consulate to check the local regulations.

An animal entering the Netherlands or an EU Country from a non-EU country that has the same rabies controls need merely prove that the anti-rabies booster vaccinations are valid and up-to-date.

• For a list of complying countries see EUROPA website: Click here

Animals from countries not included on the list need to have complete anti-rabies treatment. The Dutch Embassy in the home country should be consulted.

Moving Pets to the Netherlands from the United States or Canada

Animals from the USA and Canada may enter the Netherlands if they have:

• a valid Veterinary Certificate (stating owners details, a description of the animal, details of identification and vaccinations)
• valid rabies vaccines
• a tattoo or a microchip (compatible with standards ISO-11784)

The cage or carrier must be labelled with the owner's name, and their (or a nominated person's) address and contact numbers in Holland.

Once in the Netherlands, a Dutch vet can issue an EU Pet Passport allowing travel within Europe.

• The Dutch Embassy to the United States provides comprehensive information: Click here 
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency website has further information: Click here

Pet Carriers To and From the Netherlands

It is essential to ensure that the pet is eligible to travel not only to or from the Netherlands but also any other countries it may pass through.

The animal will have to travel in an approved container. It must be big enough for the animal to stand, sit and turn during the journey. The container must allow adequate ventilation.

If the journey is longer than a few hours, food and drink may need to be supplied.

Several train companies, sea ferries and airlines carry caged animals across borders (normally a pet travelling by air will be in the hold). Consult the carrier for details.

Websites Dogsaway and DogsawayfromtheUSA have up-to-date lists of routes and carriers.

• Dogsaway (UK): Click here 
• Dogsaway (USA): Click here

Carriers in Holland and the UK

Animals must be transported via approved routes.

• DEFRA approved carriers and their contact details: Click here
• DEFRA has approved certain ports and airports: Click here
• EuroTunnel is pet friendly, allowing pets to travel across the English Channel by car: Click here

Dogs Banned in the Netherlands

• Pit Bull Terrier

Further Information

• Ministerie van Landbouw, Natuur en Voedselkwaliteit (LNV) Dutch Ministry of Agriculture
• Koninklijke Nederlandse Maatschappij voor Diergeneeskunde, Royal Netherlands Veterinary Association
• Dogs Away: practical advice and help for the travelling dog
• EURES, the European Mobility Portal
• AngloINFO INFOmation Page on Essential Animal Information