Pet Transport from New Zealand to Belgium

The journey from New Zealand to Belgium for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Give yourself roughly 4-6 weeks, though this route carries fewer hurdles than most. Pets …

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4-6

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Low

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

4-6 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Low

Airlines

8 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from New Zealand to Belgium typically takes around 4-6 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.

Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant

Step by step

The New Zealand to Belgium import process

First step - must be done before any vaccinations.

Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

After microchip. 21-day wait before next steps.

Rabies vaccination

Responsible: Your veterinarian

2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space with airline directly.

Book IATA-compliant flight and cargo/cabin space

Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)

Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirement)

Obtain official veterinary health certificate

Responsible: Official veterinarian

3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin

Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation at cargo desk

Responsible: You + airline check-in/cargo desk

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). Before or on same day as first rabies vaccination

Rabies vaccination

Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel

Rabies titre test

Not required. New Zealand is a listed third country for EU pet travel, and pets from listed countries are exempt from the rabies antibody test and from the three-month wait that follows it. Source: European Commission, movement of pet animals, corroborated against the GOV.UK listed-country register read 2026-09-02.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant pets. Penalty quarantine applies if documentation is non-compliant

Import permit

Not required

Health certificate

Required. EU Pet Passport or AHC. Issued by: Official vet. Valid for 10 days from issue

Leaving New Zealand

Export requirements

Export permit

No formal export permit required. Destination import documentation serves as travel authority.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)

IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)

Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate

Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)

Critical points

Always verify current regulations with the destination country's official veterinary authority before travel.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Qantas	Cargo: QantasFreighter network for pet transport. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round. Temperature embargoes: seasonal restrictions during Australian summer (Dec-Feb)	Cargo Only
Lufthansa	Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round	Cabin and Cargo
Emirates	Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)	Cargo Only
British Airways	Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Book through approved cargo agent. No cabin pets on any route.	Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines	Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons	Cargo Only
Cathay Pacific	Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met	Cargo Only
Air France	Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo transport available for larger pets. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes	Cabin and Cargo
KLM	Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo: pets transported via KLM Cargo. Temperature restrictions apply. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo	Cabin and Cargo

Belgium import rules, explained

Belgium keeps its import requirements relatively light, which makes preparing easier. Even so, the basics still need to be right and in the correct order.

Practical tips for this move

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.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Allow at least 20 weeks from starting preparations to travel day. Some steps involve mandatory waiting periods that cannot be shortened, so starting early is the only way to keep to your schedule.

No routine quarantine is required in Belgium for pets arriving with correct documentation. However, if your pet arrives without the right paperwork, penalty quarantine can apply. Get everything right before you travel.

No. New Zealand is a listed third country for EU pet travel, and a pet from a listed country needs no rabies antibody test and none of the three-month wait that follows one. That wait is the longest fixed period in an EU move, so this is the difference between about four weeks of preparation and about five months. What you do need: an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an EU animal health certificate issued by an official vet within 10 days of travel.

Your pet needs a government-issued veterinary health certificate from an official vet in New Zealand. The certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. Present the original (not a copy) at check-in. Check Belgium’s authority for the exact format required.

Airline guides

Qantas
Lufthansa
Emirates
British Airways
Singapore Airlines
Cathay Pacific
Air France
KLM

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

IATA · International Air Transport Association, Live Animals Regulations