PetTravelCheck Know before you go

Belgium pet travel requirements
for dogs, cats, and ferrets

Belgium applies standard EU pet travel rules — your EU Pet Passport and current rabies vaccination are all you need.

Rabies 21-day rule EU Pet Passport

What your pet needs for Belgium entry

  1. 1

    Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)

    Must be implanted before or on the same day as the rabies vaccination.

  2. 2

    Rabies vaccination — 21-day wait for primary vaccines

    Boosters given within validity have no wait. Lapsed boosters restart the 21-day clock.

  3. 3

    EU Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate (AHC)

    EU/EEA-origin pets need a valid EU Pet Passport; arrivals from other countries need a government-endorsed AHC issued within 10 days of travel.

Check your compliance

Vaccination type

The date the rabies vaccine was administered

When you plan to cross the border with your pet

Pet type

Travelling to Belgium with your pet

Belgium is a compact, densely connected country ideal for city breaks with dogs. Brussels, Bruges, Ghent, and Antwerp are all welcoming to well-travelled pets. Belgium applies EU Regulation 576/2013 without additional national requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets. A valid microchip, current rabies vaccination, and EU Pet Passport for intra-EU travel covers you.

Pets from outside the EU/EEA need a government-endorsed AHC within 10 days of travel. No tapeworm treatment, no pre-arrival notification, and no quarantine for compliant pets. FAVV-AFSCA (the Belgian Food Safety Agency) is the competent authority.

Belgium is a common transit hub for pets travelling between the UK/Ireland and continental Europe via the Calais–Folkestone corridor or the Eurostar route. Note: Eurostar does not currently allow pets (other than assistance animals) on board.

Frequently asked questions

Does Belgium require tapeworm treatment for dogs?
No. Belgium has no Echinococcus tapeworm treatment requirement. Tapeworm treatment is only required for entry into Great Britain, Ireland, Finland, Norway, and Malta.
Can I take my pet on the Eurostar from London to Brussels?
Currently, Eurostar does not allow pets (other than guide and assistance dogs) to travel between London and Brussels. Pets must travel on dedicated pet-transport ferry services or by air cargo. Belgian documentary requirements remain the same regardless of how you cross.
Is there breed-specific legislation for dogs in Belgium?
Belgium abolished its national pit bull ban in 2018 in favour of behaviour-based legislation. However, the Walloon and Brussels regions maintain lists of dogs subject to mandatory evaluation and registration. Check with the relevant regional authority if your dog is a Pit Bull-type or American Staffordshire Terrier.

Related resources

Rabies 21-Day Rule Calculator

Standalone rabies timing check for all EU/UK destinations

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