Bringing a Dog or Cat to the Netherlands from the US — 2026 Requirements

Flying to the Netherlands from the US with your dog or cat follows standard EU pet entry rules — no quarantine, no blood test, no import permit.

The US is on the EU's "listed countries" list, so you skip the rabies titer test that travelers from unlisted countries face.

Timing is the hardest part. The health certificate, USDA endorsement, and your departure date all have to align, with very little slack in the schedule.

What You Need

The Netherlands is an EU member state. Pets from the US enter under EU Regulation for non-commercial movement. The rules are the same for dogs and cats.

• ISO microchip, implanted before rabies vaccine. Older non-ISO chips used in the US before 2009 may not be readable by EU scanners
• Rabies vaccine given after the microchip. Pet must be at least 12 weeks old at vaccination; primary vaccinations need a 21-day wait, so your pet must be 15 weeks old at departure. Valid boosters given before expiration have no waiting period
• EU health certificate signed by a USDA-accredited vet
• USDA endorsement within 10 days of arriving in the Netherlands ($101)
• Written declaration confirming non-commercial movement (your vet typically includes this on the health certificate, max 5 pets per person)

Pets enter through approved border inspection posts — Schiphol is the main air entry point. Dogs must register with a Dutch vet within 14 days of arrival (see Timeline below).

What You Don't Need

• Wait in quarantine
• Import permit
• Titer test (US is a listed third country under EU Regulation 577/2013)
• Tapeworm treatment

Rabies Vaccine and Microchip

Your pet needs an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccine. If your pet got the rabies shot before the microchip, the Netherlands won't accept it. You'd need a new vaccination and a new 21-day wait.

Critical

The first rabies vaccine given after microchip implantation counts as a "primary" vaccination under EU rules. It's valid for only 1 year, even if the label says 3 years. Boosters given within 12 months of the primary can be valid for 1–3 years per the manufacturer's instructions. If the booster lapses by even one day, the next shot resets to "primary" status.

Only primary vaccinations need the 21-day wait. If your pet already has an active rabies vaccine that was given after microchipping, and the booster is up to date, there's no waiting period. Most vets handle EU pet travel paperwork regularly and know this timing.

Microchip cost: $25–50. Rabies vaccine: $15–30.

Your vet can do both in the same visit, but the chip goes in first. Dutch customs officials scan the microchip to match your pet to its health certificate.

EU Health Certificate

The Netherlands accepts the EU non-commercial health certificate for pets traveling with their owners. A USDA-accredited vet fills this out after examining your pet and confirming the microchip number, rabies vaccine dates, and overall health. Not every vet holds this accreditation — find one near you.

Your vet signs the certificate, and it's valid for 30 days from that date.

USDA endorsement must happen within 10 days of your arrival in the Netherlands. This means you schedule the vet visit about 7–10 days before your flight, then send the certificate to your regional USDA endorsement office immediately.

Most USDA offices process endorsements in 2–3 business days by mail. In-person endorsement is same-day at most offices.

The certificate needs an original ink signature and USDA stamp/emboss. Airlines check this at the counter before letting your pet board.

USDA Endorsement

USDA endorsement is the government stamp confirming your vet filled out the health certificate correctly. This applies specifically to pets traveling from the United States. The Netherlands won't accept an unendorsed certificate from US-origin pets.

The endorsement costs $101 per certificate when no lab tests are needed (the Netherlands doesn't require any from US travelers). If you're traveling with multiple pets on the same certificate, it's still $101 total. Without this stamp, Dutch customs will reject your health certificate at the border.

Options:

• By mail: 2–3 business days. Ship overnight both ways if your timeline is tight
• In person: Same-day at your regional APHIS office. Call ahead to confirm hours and walk-in availability

The endorsed certificate lasts 10 days for entry into the EU. Once you're in the Netherlands, it covers travel within the EU for 4 months from the date of issuance, as long as the rabies vaccine stays active. If you're visiting multiple EU countries, you don't need separate certificates for each one.

Tip

If you're traveling with two dogs or two cats, your vet can list both on one certificate. USDA charges $101 per certificate, not per pet. Same endorsement fee whether you have one pet or five on the form.

Airline Rules for Flying Pets to Amsterdam

Country rules and airline rules are separate. Meeting the Netherlands' import rules doesn't mean your airline will accept your pet. Airlines add their own restrictions.

KLM is the main carrier between the US and Amsterdam:

• Cabin: Economy only on intercontinental flights (Business Class cabin pets only within Europe). Max carrier size 46 x 28 x 24 cm (18 x 11 x 9 in), 8 kg (17.6 lbs) total including pet. Fee: €70–500 per one-way depending on route
• Hold: up to 3 pets, max 75 kg (165 lbs) including IATA-approved kennel. Kennel max 122 x 81 x 89 cm on KLM flights. Fee: €70–500 per one-way
• Hold is NOT available on Boeing 787-9, 787-10, or Airbus A321neo aircraft. Check your aircraft type when booking
• Flat-faced breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persian cats, Exotic Shorthairs) can fly cabin but are banned from the hold
• Transfer Limit: If your pet is traveling in the hold with KLM, the connection time at Schiphol cannot exceed 3 hours.
• Book at least 48 hours before departure via My Trip; arrive 3 hours early. Minimum age: 15 weeks

Delta: $200 each way for cabin pets on international flights. Carrier max: 18 x 11 x 11 inches. No civilian cargo. Netherlands is an allowed destination for cabin pets.

United: $200 each way for cabin pets on international flights. Carrier max: 18 x 11 x 11 inches. No civilian cargo. Netherlands is not on their restricted list.

Watch Out

Delta and United carry no civilian cargo on international flights. If your pet is too big for the cabin, KLM is the only direct option — and only on a compatible aircraft type. If your KLM flight uses an incompatible plane, you'll need a pet relocation service.

All three airlines need pets to be at least 15 weeks old for EU travel. Reserve a pet spot as early as possible after booking your flight.

Most flights limit cabin pets to 1–4 per aircraft. For more airline details, see our airline guides.

Cost Breakdown

Netherlands entry rules are the same for dogs and cats. The cost difference comes from US re-entry paperwork and whether your pet flies cabin or hold.

Dogs (One Way, Cabin)

Cats (One Way, Cabin)

For hold travel, add $75–300 for an IATA-compliant kennel (one-time cost).

Timeline

5–6 weeks before (if starting from scratch): Get your pet microchipped with an ISO 15-digit chip. At the same visit, get the rabies vaccine. The 21-day wait starts at vaccination. If your pet already has an active rabies vaccine given after microchipping, skip this and start at 3–4 weeks.

3–4 weeks before: Call your airline to reserve a pet spot. Cabin spots on transatlantic flights fill up fast, especially on KLM. Confirm carrier or kennel dimensions meet your airline's rules. If flying KLM hold, check that your specific flight's aircraft type allows hold pets.

Watch Out

You or an authorized person must travel with the pet — or within 5 days before or after. If nobody travels in that window, the EU reclassifies it as "commercial" movement with different paperwork and much higher costs.

10 days before (at most): Schedule your USDA-accredited vet appointment. The vet examines your pet, confirms the microchip number, reviews rabies records, and fills out the EU health certificate.

7–8 days before: Send the signed health certificate to your regional USDA endorsement office by overnight mail. Or drive there for same-day endorsement. You need the endorsed certificate back before you fly.

1–2 days before: Confirm your airline reservation for the pet. Print all documents. Pack the original endorsed health certificate in a waterproof folder in your carry-on (bring copies as backups, but Dutch customs checks the original). For dogs, fill out the CDC Dog Import Form for the return trip now so it's ready.

Travel day: Arrive 3 hours early (KLM's recommendation). The airline checks your endorsed health certificate and rabies records at the counter. At Schiphol, present your pet and papers at Dutch customs.

Within 14 days of arrival (dogs only): Take your dog to a Dutch vet to register the microchip. You must first apply for a Unique Business Number (UBN) from the RVO (cost ~€20). This registration is mandatory for residents but is NOT required for travelers visiting the Netherlands for fewer than 3 months. It's Dutch law for all permanent and long-term canine residents. Cats don't need to register.

Common Mistakes

Airport Tips

Departing the US: Check in at the airline counter, not a kiosk. The agent needs to review your endorsed health certificate and rabies records before issuing a boarding pass.

For cabin pets, your carrier counts as your personal item on most airlines. For hold pets, drop off the kennel at the oversized baggage area after document review.

Arriving at Schiphol: Follow signs toward customs after landing. Schiphol handles pet arrivals daily as one of Europe's busiest airports. A customs officer checks your health certificate, scans the microchip, and reviews vaccine records.

If your paperwork matches, you're through in 10–15 minutes. Keep documents in your carry-on, not checked luggage.

Connecting through Schiphol: If the Netherlands is your first EU stop (even if you're continuing to another EU country), this is where your pet clears customs. After clearing at Schiphol, your pet can travel freely within the EU on the same health certificate for 4 months, as long as the rabies vaccine stays active. If your final destination is Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway, those countries need tapeworm treatment (praziquantel) 24–120 hours before entry — arrange this with a vet before you leave the US.

Returning to the US

Dogs

The Netherlands is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies. Return paperwork is minimal:

• Complete the CDC Dog Import Form online before your return flight. It's free and takes under 5 minutes. Save the receipt (print it or keep it on your phone)
• Dog must have a microchip readable by a universal scanner (you already have one from the Netherlands entry process)
• Dog must be at least 6 months old
• Dog must appear healthy on arrival
• Show the CDC form receipt to your airline before boarding and to US Customs on arrival

No screwworm certificate needed (the Netherlands is screwworm-free). No separate US health certificate for re-entry from low-risk countries. The form is valid for 6 months, so you can fill it out before you leave.

Cats

Federal re-entry rules for cats are minimal:

• Cat must appear healthy on arrival. That's the main CDC requirement
• No CDC import form (the Dog Import Form is dog-specific)
• No federal microchip requirement for US re-entry
• No screwworm certificate

Your cat already has a microchip and rabies vaccine from the Netherlands entry process. Keep those records, but US customs doesn't check them federally.

Many states require rabies vaccination for cats, and Hawaii quarantines all arriving cats. Check your home state's rules.

For detailed instructions on what to expect at US customs, see our complete guide to re-entering the US with a pet.

FAQ

Your next step: Book a USDA-accredited vet appointment 7–10 days before your flight. That's the bottleneck that controls your entire timeline. If your pet needs a new microchip or rabies vaccine, schedule that first and add 21 days.