Shipping a dog or cat from Dominican Republic to Belgium rewards owners who start planning early. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 20-24 weeks. There is no routine …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Dominican Republic to Belgium
typically takes around 20-24 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Dominican Republic to Belgium import process
01
First step. Microchip must precede all vaccinations.
Implant ISO microchip before any vaccinations
Responsible: Dominican Republic veterinarian
02
After microchipping. Wait at least 30 days before blood draw for titre test.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Dominican Republic veterinarian
03
At least 30 days after vaccination. Ship blood sample to an EU-approved laboratory. Allow 2-4 weeks for results from receipt of sample.
FAVN titre test blood draw at an EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: Dominican Republic veterinarian plus EU-approved laboratory
04
Mandatory. Cannot be shortened. The clock starts from the blood draw date regardless of when results arrive.
90-day mandatory wait from the date of successful blood draw
Responsible: N/A
05
During the 90-day wait. Confirm live animal acceptance on all segments.
Book cargo from Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Brussels (BRU) via Amsterdam (KLM), Madrid (Iberia), or via a Brussels Airlines hub
Responsible: You or your pet transport agent
06
Within 10 days of travel to Belgium.
EU-format health certificate from DIGEGA-authorised vet, endorsed by DIGEGA
Responsible: DIGEGA-authorised vet and DIGEGA
07
Travel day.
Travel to Belgium. FASFC inspection at Brussels Airport on arrival.
Responsible: Airline, FASFC at BRU
Requirements
Belgium entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 compliant (15-digit) microchip. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. At least 21 days must have elapsed since primary vaccination. Blood draw for the titre test must occur at least 30 days after vaccination. Source: FASFC/AFSCA, Belgium.
Rabies titre test
Required. The Dominican Republic is an EU unlisted country. An FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory is mandatory. Minimum result: 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. A 90-day wait from the date of the successful blood draw must pass before the animal can enter Belgium (or any EU member state). Source: EU Regulation 2020/692; FASFC, favv-afsca.be.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant arrivals. Inspection at the border post at Brussels Airport (BRU) by FASFC veterinary officers.
Import permit
Not required for personal companion animals.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial health certificate from a DIGEGA-authorised vet, endorsed by DIGEGA. Valid 10 days from issue as the EU entry document. Source: EU Regulation 2020/692.
Leaving Dominican Republic
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets from the Dominican Republic.
Veterinary inspection
Clinical examination by a DIGEGA-authorised official vet within 10 days of travel.
Health certificate
EU-format official export health certificate issued by a DIGEGA-authorised veterinarian in the Dominican Republic, endorsed by the Direccion General de Ganaderia (DIGEGA) under the Ministry of Agriculture. Must comply with EU Regulation (EU) 2020/692 requirements for non-commercial pet movement from unlisted countries. Issued within 10 days of travel. Source: agricultura.gob.do.
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory plus international sample shipping: DOP 5,000-12,000 (approximately EUR 80-190)
EU health certificate from DIGEGA-authorised vet: DOP 2,000-6,000 (approximately EUR 32-96)
Cargo SDQ to BRU via Amsterdam or Madrid: EUR 700-2,200 depending on carrier and crate size
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 80-300
Pet transport agent (recommended): EUR 400-1,000
Total typical range: EUR 1,000-3,500 across a 5-6 month preparation period
Critical points
The 90-day wait after a successful titre test is a legal minimum under EU regulations. It cannot be shortened. The clock runs from the blood draw date, not from when results are received.
Microchip must precede vaccination. If the microchip is implanted after the rabies vaccination, that vaccination does not count for EU purposes and the process must restart.
The Dominican Republic is classified as an EU unlisted country. The FAVN titre test process is mandatory regardless of vaccination history. There is no exemption.
International blood sample shipping from the Dominican Republic requires temperature management and correct courier documentation. Confirm your vet has experience with FAVN test sample shipping to European laboratories.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines operates between the Caribbean and Brussels Airport (BRU) with connections via European hubs. Connect from Santo Domingo Las Americas (SDQ) to a Brussels Airlines-served hub, then Brussels Airlines cargo to BRU. Contact Brussels Airlines Cargo for live animal acceptance and current schedules.
Cargo Only
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
KLM operates cargo services from Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), with connections to Brussels. Amsterdam to Brussels is a short onward segment. Book through KLM Cargo for the transatlantic leg and arrange the AMS-BRU connection with a cargo agent.
Cargo Only
Iberia
Iberia connects SDQ to Madrid Barajas (MAD). From Madrid, connections to Brussels are available via Iberia partner carriers or Brussels Airlines. A Madrid hub routing is practical for Caribbean-to-Belgium cargo. Contact Iberia Cargo for the transatlantic booking.
Cargo Only
Belgium entry requirements at a glance
The requirements for Belgium are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Belgium follows EU rules for unlisted countries. The Dominican Republic is not on the EU list of countries with equivalent rabies controls, so a FAVN titre test is mandatory regardless of vaccination history. The test confirms that the rabies vaccination has produced an adequate immune response (at least 0.5 IU/ml). A 90-day wait then applies from the blood draw date before EU entry is permitted.
Typically 20 to 24 weeks from the date of the blood draw. Allow 4 weeks from vaccination to blood draw, then 90 days wait (13 weeks), then 4-6 weeks for booking, health certificate, and cargo logistics. If the rabies vaccination needs to be given first, add that to the start of the sequence.
No quarantine for compliant arrivals. FASFC veterinary officers at Brussels Airport inspect documentation and release pets whose paperwork is in order. Non-compliant arrivals may be held at the border post’s facilities at the owner’s cost.
DIGEGA (Direccion General de Ganaderia) is the Directorate General of Livestock under the Dominican Republic’s Ministry of Agriculture. It is the official competent authority for animal health certification. EU regulations require that health certificates for pets entering from non-EU countries be issued and endorsed by the official government authority. DIGEGA fills this role for pets leaving the Dominican Republic.
Airline guides
Brussels Airlines
KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Iberia
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.