Pet Transport Peru to Netherlands: 2026 Guide

No. The Netherlands lifted its national breed-specific legislation in 2008 and now uses a behaviour-based assessment instead of breed bans. This means that dogs of breeds restricted in Germany (Rottweiler, Pit Bull) or banned in the UK (XL Bully) can enter the Netherlands legally from Peru, provided they meet the standard EU import requirements.

There are no breed-specific import restrictions at the Dutch national level. Individual municipalities may have local leash rules that apply to all dogs in certain areas, but these are not breed bans and they do not affect the import process.

This makes the Netherlands a straightforward destination for owners with breeds that face restrictions elsewhere in Europe. The focus for the Netherlands move is on the EU titre test and 3-month wait, not on breed paperwork.

KLM operates a direct service from Lima Jorge Chavez International Airport (LIM) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS). This is one of the few direct European cargo routes from South America, and it simplifies the logistics significantly compared to routes requiring a connection.

KLM Cargo accepts live animals on this route as manifested cargo in the temperature-controlled hold. Schiphol has dedicated live animal reception facilities, and NVWA (the Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority) carries out the import inspection there on arrival.

Book your cargo slot four to six weeks before travel. Provide the exact dimensions of the IATA-compliant crate and the total combined weight of pet plus crate. Not all aircraft on the LIM-AMS route have identical live animal cargo configurations, so confirm live animal acceptance for the specific flight number when booking.

Air France via CDG is the main alternative if KLM direct is unavailable on your preferred dates. Iberia via Madrid adds a second leg and is a longer routing.

NVWA (Nederlandse Voedsel- en Warenautoriteit) is the Dutch government body responsible for food and consumer product safety, including live animal import inspections. When your pet arrives at Schiphol from Lima, NVWA inspectors check:

First, the microchip: they scan the pet and confirm the number matches the certificate. Second, the EU Animal Health Certificate: they verify it is from a SENASA-authorised official vet in Peru, issued within 10 days of travel, and in the correct EU format. Third, the titre test: they check the result is at least 0.5 IU/ml and, critically, that the blood sampling date is at least 3 months before the arrival date. Fourth, the vaccination record: the rabies vaccination must be current and the microchip must predate it.

If all of this is in order, the inspection is routine and takes one to two hours from cargo arrival to pet release. The most common cause of delays is the titre test date calculation: inspectors work from the blood sampling date, not the result date. Make sure your certificate states both dates clearly.