Pet transport from Netherlands to France and France to Netherlands

Pet transport from the Netherlands to France or from France to the Netherlands is relatively simple because both countries are part of the European Union. The process follows the EU Pet Travel Scheme, which sets consistent rules for pet movement between member states. Here are the key steps and considerations:

Your pet must be microchipped with an ISO-compliant chip, and the rabies vaccination must be given on the same day or after the microchip is implanted.

There is a mandatory 21-day wait period after the primary rabies vaccination before your pet can enter France or the Netherlands. If your pet’s most recent vaccination is a booster given without a lapse in coverage, the 21-day wait does not apply.

Rabies vaccinations valid for 1, 2, or 3 years are accepted in both countries. No other vaccines are required for entry, but additional vaccinations are recommended for your pet’s health if boarding, group travel, or exposure to other animals is expected.

Travel Requirements: Pets must travel with their owner or with a designated person authorized by the owner. If a designated person accompanies the pet, they must travel within 5 days of the pet’s movement. If the pet is transported outside this 5-day window, the journey may fall under commercial movement rules and be subject to stricter requirements.

Additional Notes: Both France and the Netherlands require that dogs living in their territory be registered locally. In the Netherlands, dogs staying longer than 3 months must be entered into the national database through a veterinarian. In France, dogs must be registered with the national identification system (I-CAD) if they will reside there.

If you are transporting your pet more than five days before or after the owner or designated person, you will need to meet stricter import requirements and consider a commercial move, which increases costs and changes the EU import requirements and timeline.

You can find more info on our Pet Travel Checklist page if you need it.

If you'd like to book a trip for your pet, please feel free to reach out to us using the form below.