Pet Transport Brazil to Netherlands: 2026 Guide

The Netherlands follows EU regulations for pet imports from third countries. Brazil is not on the EU’s approved list, so the full titre test process applies to every dog and cat moving on this route.

The sequence is fixed: microchip first, then rabies vaccination, then wait 30 days, then blood draw for the FAVN titre test. The sample goes to an EU-approved laboratory. Once the result confirms a satisfactory antibody level (0.5 IU/ml or above), the 90-day wait begins. That wait is measured from the date the blood was drawn, not from the date you received the result. This is a common source of confusion that can cause costly delays.

Your MAPA-authorised vet issues the official health certificate within 10 days of your pet’s travel date. The certificate must be in the EU Annex IV format for non-listed countries and must be endorsed by MAPA before departure. Dutch customs at Amsterdam Schiphol will check all documents on arrival. If everything is in order, there is no quarantine.

One specific point for the Netherlands: there is a national ban on pit bull terriers and dogs that resemble them. If your dog could be classified under this restriction, confirm the breed position before starting the transport process. This is worth checking early rather than discovering it as a problem at the border.

The realistic minimum preparation time is 20 weeks from the first vet appointment to travel. Most families building this process from the beginning find that 22 to 24 weeks is more comfortable, particularly if there are any delays with titre test results or MAPA paperwork.

Breaking it down: the microchip and first vaccination can happen on the same day (microchip first). Then 30 days before the blood draw. Lab processing takes 10 to 20 working days typically. Then 90 days from the blood draw date. Then the health certificate appointment and endorsement, which takes a few working days with MAPA. Then cargo booking confirmation.

Cargo from GRU (São Paulo Guarulhos) to AMS (Amsterdam Schiphol) typically costs USD 1,200-3,000. KLM operates a direct route which simplifies the cargo process and reduces transit time for your pet, compared to routes with connections. A small cat or toy breed in a lightweight crate sits toward the lower end of the cost range; a large dog can push toward the upper end.

Add titre test costs (around USD 80-150), MAPA certificate endorsement (USD 100-250), vet appointment fees, and a quality IATA crate (USD 100-400 depending on size), and you are looking at a total spend of USD 2,000-4,500 for most pets on this route.

Amsterdam Schiphol is one of Europe’s busier live animal hubs and handles pet cargo arrivals regularly. Pets arriving as manifest cargo from Brazil are processed through the airport’s animal handling facility and then transferred to Dutch customs for document checks.

The customs officer will verify the microchip number against the health certificate, check the rabies vaccination date, confirm the titre test result date and result, and calculate whether the 90-day wait was correctly completed before travel. If all of this aligns, your pet will be released. There is no holding kennel period if the paperwork is correct.

Collection from the cargo facility at Schiphol requires advance arrangement. If you are not a Netherlands resident and are using a transport agent to receive the pet on your behalf, confirm that arrangement well in advance. The cargo facility does not hold animals indefinitely. Schiphol has good facilities for live animal arrivals, but prompt collection is expected.