Canada to the Netherlands
Pet Shipping from Canada to the Netherlands
We provide international pet transport from Canada to the Netherlands, planned around the EU’s entry rules, the Canadian winter and your move date.
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.
- Airline booking
- The travel crate
- The CFIA export paperwork
- Check-in at your Canadian airport
- Pickup in the Netherlands with delivery to your new address
The Netherlands at a glance
Full requirementsArriving from Canada, you report your pet to Dutch Customs at the airport under goods to declare, where the chip, the health certificate and the other documents are checked, as the NVWA sets out.
- Microchip
- ISO 11784, in before the rabies shot; another type needs a reader you supply
- Rabies vaccination
- 21 days after a first shot; a booster given before the last one lapsed counts straight away
- Rabies titre
- Not needed from Canada, listed in Annex II of Implementing Regulation 2026/636
- Health certificate
- Signed by your veterinarian, valid 10 days from that signature, endorsed by the CFIA
- Pet limit
- Up to five pets can travel non commercially with an owner. Larger moves follow the commercial route
Pet Shipping from Canada to the Netherlands
A move to the Netherlands follows the standard EU order, and each step depends on the one before it: the microchip first, the rabies vaccination next, a 21-day wait, then the EU certificate your vet signs within 10 days of the landing and the CFIA endorses.
Which route does a pet take into the Netherlands?
Six Dutch airports are on the NVWA’s points of entry list for pets: Lelystad, Groningen Eelde, Maastricht, Eindhoven, Rotterdam and Amsterdam Schiphol. The airline flying your pet out of Canada settles which one; if the move goes on commercial paperwork instead, entry is only through the two Schiphol inspection centres designated for dogs and cats.
What are the entry requirements for pets going to the Netherlands?
The short answer
From Canada, the Netherlands follows the EU requirements for listed countries: a chip implanted first, then the rabies vaccination, and an EU animal health certificate the CFIA endorses as the last step before your pet leaves.
Which pets can enter the Netherlands?
A pet from Canada qualifies for the Netherlands once its rabies vaccination is valid under the EU’s rules, which makes 15 weeks the youngest age at arrival after a first shot, the NVWA says.
Dutch national guidance on dog bites, as read on 7 October 2026, lists no banned breed; it says municipalities can require a lead or a muzzle and that the cabinet is preparing rules for keeping dogs with certain traits. Once a dog has been in the country more than three months, a veterinarian registers it with RVO, inside two weeks of arrival.
What vet work and documents does a pet need for the Netherlands?
Start with the microchip, ISO 11784 compliant or with a reader you supply, then the rabies vaccination; a first shot has to be 21 days old by arrival. The EU animal health certificate is signed by your veterinarian, valid 10 days from that signature and endorsed by the CFIA on every page, and the owner’s declaration goes with it. Someone you authorize to fly with the pet carries proof, a boarding pass copy for example, that you are travelling within five days.
| Requirement | The Netherlands, from Canada |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784, in before the rabies shot; another type needs a reader you supply |
| Rabies vaccination | 21 days after a first shot; a booster given before the last one lapsed counts straight away |
| Rabies titre | Not needed from Canada, listed in Annex II of Implementing Regulation 2026/636 |
| Health certificate | Signed by your veterinarian, valid 10 days from that signature, endorsed by the CFIA |
| Pet limit | Up to five pets can travel non commercially with an owner. Larger moves follow the commercial route |
| Falling short | The NVWA sends the pet back or to a quarantine location, and the owner pays |
The export side follows the CFIA’s page on taking a pet to the EU, EU entry follows the European Commission’s guidance on pet movements, and the Netherlands’ own rules from the NVWA, on dogs and cats from outside the EU and its points of entry.
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to the Netherlands
Plan for 4 to 6 weeks for a straightforward move when the microchip and rabies vaccination are already current, or about 7 weeks if the vaccination needs to be redone, since the 21 day immunity wait and the 10 day certificate window both have to line up with the flight.
For a line by line breakdown of what this route costs, see our cost page for Canada to the Netherlands.
Every Pet Travels Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Because timelines, airline rules, and the EU’s entry requirements can vary, we build a plan that fits your pet and your move date.
Destination-Focused Planning
We use the Netherlands’ official EU import guidance as the baseline, then turn it into a simple checklist and timeline you can follow.
Smart Routing and Logistics
We help choose practical routes, travel windows, and handoff procedures so your pet’s trip is safer and more predictable.
Personalized Support
Pet Travel Advisors assigns a move coordinator who keeps you updated and checks details before travel so nothing important is missed.
Questions about moving a pet to the Netherlands
Request a QuoteHow much does it cost to move a pet from Canada to the Netherlands?
That comes down to how big your pet and its crate are, the airline, the time of year and how much of the move you book with us. Our cost page for Canada to the Netherlands lists the government fees, and a quote gives the full figure.
How does Pet Travel Advisors handle a Canada to the Netherlands move?
One coordinator owns the file, and you decide what to hand over: flights, the crate, the EU certificate with the CFIA appointment, check-in in Canada, and collection on arrival in the Netherlands with the drive to your new home.
Ready to start?
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.