Importing Your Pet to Belgium

Belgium is an EU member state and follows the EU Pet Travel Scheme. The FASFC (Federal Agency for the Safety of the Food Chain / Agence federale pour la securite de la chaine alimentaire) administers animal import controls. EU/EFTA pets use EU Pet Passports. Pets from non-EU countries need an AHC.

Brussels Airport is one of Europe’s busiest hubs and handles significant volumes of pet movements. Belgium’s central location in Europe makes it a common transit point for pets arriving from outside the EU before connecting to other EU destinations.

Belgium does not require quarantine for compliant pets arriving with correct documentation. The process at Brussels Airport is generally efficient, with dedicated FASFC staff for animal checks during business hours.

Post-Brexit UK pets entering Belgium

Since Brexit, UK pets need an AHC instead of an EU Pet Passport to enter Belgium. The AHC must be issued within 10 days of travel by a UK Official Veterinarian (OV) and endorsed by APHA. If your pet had an EU Pet Passport issued in the UK before Brexit, it is no longer valid for EU entry.

Belgium is a popular first EU entry point for UK pets on their way to other EU destinations. If transiting through Belgium, the same entry documentation applies.

Using Belgium as an EU transit point

Many pets transit through Brussels Airport en route to other destinations. If your pet’s final destination is another EU country, entering Belgium is the official EU entry point for all third-country (non-EU) animals. The documentation check happens at Brussels, and once through, the pet can continue to other EU countries on the same journey.

Make sure you pre-notify FASFC for pets arriving from non-EU countries. The FASFC border inspection post (BIP) at Brussels Airport handles these checks.