Pet travel route
Dog or cat from the Netherlands to Ecuador: the rules
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before), dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival and vet examination within 10 days before the trip and 3 more.
Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 6 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- On this route: parasite treatment before travel and official stamp on the certificate.
- No rabies blood test, import permit or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
- Coming back to the Netherlands? 2 steps have to happen before your pet leaves.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
3 weeks
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail (14 working days is about 20 calendar days (our conversion, not an official figure); the destination decides how long before departure the legalisation may take place)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (dogs)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Parasite treatment before travel
- Official stamp on the certificate
How early to start (cats)
3 weeks
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail (14 working days is about 20 calendar days (our conversion, not an official figure); the destination decides how long before departure the legalisation may take place)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
- Parasite treatment before travel
- Official stamp on the certificate
Rule-change alertsChecked daily
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Rule change for pets travelling from the Netherlands to Ecuador
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Netherlands → Ecuador
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether the Netherlands (leaving) or Ecuador (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
Age ruleEntering Ecuador
Older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip
Your dog or cat must be older than 4 months when it enters Ecuador and be identified by its name, a tattoo or a microchip.
Details and the official words
“Los animales de compañía convencionales deberán tener una edad mayor a 4 meses y estar identificados mediante nombre, tatuaje o un microchip.”
VaccinationEntering Ecuador
Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before)
Your pet's rabies vaccination must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador. If it is your pet's first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given.
Details and the official words
“Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”
“Rabia. - Únicamente para esta enfermedad, en caso de ser la primera vacunación del animal para su ingreso al país, al menos deberá haber pasado catorce (14) días desde el día de la aplicación de la vacuna.”
VaccinationEntering Ecuador
Dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival
Your dog's vaccinations against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador.
Details and the official words
“Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”
“Enfermedad de carré (Distemper)”
“Parvovirosis”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering Ecuador
Vet examination within 10 days before the trip
A vet recognised by your country's official veterinary service examines your pet within the 10 days before the trip and finds it free of signs of infectious or parasitic disease and of healing wounds. The certificate gives the species, age, breed, sex and coat colour.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue sometido a un examen clínico por parte de un médico veterinario reconocido por el Servicio veterinario oficial del país de origen dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje y que al momento de realizar el mismo, éste se encontró libre de signos clínicos de enfermedades infectocontagiosas, parasitarias, así como, de la presencia de heridas en procesos de cicatrización”
TreatmentEntering Ecuador
Internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 21 days before boarding, with products authorised in your country. The certificate gives the product name, active ingredient and date.
Details and the official words
“El animal recibió un tratamiento antiparasitario interno y externo dentro de los veintiún (21) días previos al embarque con productos autorizados para su uso en el país de origen, detallando nombre del producto, principio activo, y la fecha de aplicación.”
PaperworkThe Netherlands and Ecuador
Official export health certificate, issued at most 10 days before arrival
The official veterinary service of your pet's country issues (or endorses) an export health certificate, in Spanish or English, stating that your pet meets Ecuador's requirements. It must be issued no more than 10 calendar days before your pet enters Ecuador. Show it on arrival: for a pet in the cabin, with your checked luggage or crossing a land border, it is the only document needed.
Details and the official words
Legalisation of the passport or health certificate at NVWA: Bring all the documents NVWA asks for to your appointment. If you need a health certificate for the trip, your own vet must complete and sign the form fully beforehand. NVWA checks the EU pet passport and any other documents and legalises them if everything is approved. If a document is missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place and you need a new appointment.
“El animal estará amparado por un Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación expedido o avalado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen con fecha de emisión no mayor a diez (10) días calendario previos al ingreso de los animales al Ecuador, mismo que deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés.”
“Para ingresar a Ecuador debe presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de su perro y/o gato otorgado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen, el mismo deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés, detallando el cumpliendo de los requisitos sanitarios exigidos por Ecuador.”
“Cuando el perro o gato arribe al país en la cabina del avión junto al pasajero o por un paso fronterizo terrestre, no necesitará obtener el Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación, pero obligatoriamente deberá presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido en el país de origen.”
“If you need a health certificate for your animal's trip, make sure your veterinarian completes and signs the form completely.”
“If there any documents missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place.”
Official stampLeaving the Netherlands
Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail
E-mail dpp@nvwa.nl at least 14 working days before the date you want the legalisation to take place, with the type of animal, the destination, any stops on the way, your expected departure date or period, the purpose of the trip and your phone number. NVWA tries to reply within 2 working days and then sends an appointment confirmation. The appointment is at its office in Utrecht, on working days between 10:00 and 16:00.
Details and the official words
The time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.
Cancelling or rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before the appointment. NVWA may be unable to move the appointment to your preferred date, especially if it is busy or the request came less than 14 working days ahead.
“Make sure to do this at least 14 working days before the date on which you want the legalisation to take place.”
“The appointment is at our office in Utrecht.”
“The amount of time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.”
Good to know
- These are Agrocalidad's rules for entering mainland Ecuador. The Galápagos Islands have their own biosecurity agency (ABG), which controls what animals may be brought to the islands: ask ABG before planning to take a dog or cat there. We don't cover the Galápagos.
- A pet in the cabin, delivered with your checked luggage, or crossing a land border only needs the export health certificate. If your pet flies in the cargo hold, it also needs an import permit: see the permit step (email the arrival airport 72 hours before arrival).
- If one of the required vaccines isn't approved for use in your pet's country, the export certificate must say so and you must have your pet vaccinated during your stay in Ecuador.
- If your pet will go back to a country that asks for a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml, at a lab approved by that country) or a microchip, check this before you travel to Ecuador.
- NVWA legalisation of the EU pet passport and other documents is needed only in some cases. It is usually not necessary if the Netherlands has made agreements with the destination country: NVWA's Export Assistent shows whether a 'binding certificate' with instructions exists. If there is none, ask NVWA whether legalisation is needed.
- The destination's own requirements decide which documents must be legalised, and they can change. NVWA's e-mail after you book tells you what to prepare, but check the current requirements with the destination's authorities too.
- Your pet does not have to come to the legalisation appointment: bring the documents only.
- Legalisation is at your own expense. NVWA's current rates page lists the fee for legalising a dog, cat or ferret passport or certificate (under 'Exportcertificering').
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
Cats
Get ready
Age ruleEntering Ecuador
Older than 4 months, identified by name, tattoo or microchip
Your dog or cat must be older than 4 months when it enters Ecuador and be identified by its name, a tattoo or a microchip.
Details and the official words
“Los animales de compañía convencionales deberán tener una edad mayor a 4 meses y estar identificados mediante nombre, tatuaje o un microchip.”
VaccinationEntering Ecuador
Rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before)
Your pet's rabies vaccination must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador. If it is your pet's first rabies vaccination, at least 14 days must have passed since it was given.
Details and the official words
“Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”
“Rabia. - Únicamente para esta enfermedad, en caso de ser la primera vacunación del animal para su ingreso al país, al menos deberá haber pasado catorce (14) días desde el día de la aplicación de la vacuna.”
VaccinationEntering Ecuador
Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus vaccinations valid on arrival
Your cat's vaccinations against feline panleukopenia, feline viral rhinotracheitis and feline calicivirus must be valid when it arrives in Ecuador.
Details and the official words
“Las siguientes vacunas tienen que encontrarse vigentes al arribo de los animales al país bajo las siguientes consideraciones:”
“Panleucopenia felina”
“Rinotraqueitis viral felina”
“Calicivirus felino”
In the days before you travel
Vet examEntering Ecuador
Vet examination within 10 days before the trip
A vet recognised by your country's official veterinary service examines your pet within the 10 days before the trip and finds it free of signs of infectious or parasitic disease and of healing wounds. The certificate gives the species, age, breed, sex and coat colour.
Details and the official words
“El animal fue sometido a un examen clínico por parte de un médico veterinario reconocido por el Servicio veterinario oficial del país de origen dentro de los 10 días previos al viaje y que al momento de realizar el mismo, éste se encontró libre de signos clínicos de enfermedades infectocontagiosas, parasitarias, así como, de la presencia de heridas en procesos de cicatrización”
TreatmentEntering Ecuador
Internal and external parasite treatment within 21 days before boarding
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites within the 21 days before boarding, with products authorised in your country. The certificate gives the product name, active ingredient and date.
Details and the official words
“El animal recibió un tratamiento antiparasitario interno y externo dentro de los veintiún (21) días previos al embarque con productos autorizados para su uso en el país de origen, detallando nombre del producto, principio activo, y la fecha de aplicación.”
PaperworkThe Netherlands and Ecuador
Official export health certificate, issued at most 10 days before arrival
The official veterinary service of your pet's country issues (or endorses) an export health certificate, in Spanish or English, stating that your pet meets Ecuador's requirements. It must be issued no more than 10 calendar days before your pet enters Ecuador. Show it on arrival: for a pet in the cabin, with your checked luggage or crossing a land border, it is the only document needed.
Details and the official words
Legalisation of the passport or health certificate at NVWA: Bring all the documents NVWA asks for to your appointment. If you need a health certificate for the trip, your own vet must complete and sign the form fully beforehand. NVWA checks the EU pet passport and any other documents and legalises them if everything is approved. If a document is missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place and you need a new appointment.
“El animal estará amparado por un Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación expedido o avalado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen con fecha de emisión no mayor a diez (10) días calendario previos al ingreso de los animales al Ecuador, mismo que deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés.”
“Para ingresar a Ecuador debe presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación de su perro y/o gato otorgado por el Servicio Veterinario Oficial del país de origen, el mismo deberá presentarse en idioma español o inglés, detallando el cumpliendo de los requisitos sanitarios exigidos por Ecuador.”
“Cuando el perro o gato arribe al país en la cabina del avión junto al pasajero o por un paso fronterizo terrestre, no necesitará obtener el Permiso Zoosanitario de Importación, pero obligatoriamente deberá presentar el Certificado Zoosanitario de Exportación emitido en el país de origen.”
“If you need a health certificate for your animal's trip, make sure your veterinarian completes and signs the form completely.”
“If there any documents missing or incomplete, the legalisation cannot take place.”
Official stampLeaving the Netherlands
Book your NVWA legalisation appointment by e-mail
E-mail dpp@nvwa.nl at least 14 working days before the date you want the legalisation to take place, with the type of animal, the destination, any stops on the way, your expected departure date or period, the purpose of the trip and your phone number. NVWA tries to reply within 2 working days and then sends an appointment confirmation. The appointment is at its office in Utrecht, on working days between 10:00 and 16:00.
Details and the official words
The time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.
Cancelling or rescheduling is free up to 24 hours before the appointment. NVWA may be unable to move the appointment to your preferred date, especially if it is busy or the request came less than 14 working days ahead.
“Make sure to do this at least 14 working days before the date on which you want the legalisation to take place.”
“The appointment is at our office in Utrecht.”
“The amount of time allowed between legalisation and departure can vary from country to country.”
Good to know
- These are Agrocalidad's rules for entering mainland Ecuador. The Galápagos Islands have their own biosecurity agency (ABG), which controls what animals may be brought to the islands: ask ABG before planning to take a dog or cat there. We don't cover the Galápagos.
- A pet in the cabin, delivered with your checked luggage, or crossing a land border only needs the export health certificate. If your pet flies in the cargo hold, it also needs an import permit: see the permit step (email the arrival airport 72 hours before arrival).
- If one of the required vaccines isn't approved for use in your pet's country, the export certificate must say so and you must have your pet vaccinated during your stay in Ecuador.
- If your pet will go back to a country that asks for a rabies antibody blood test (at least 0.5 IU/ml, at a lab approved by that country) or a microchip, check this before you travel to Ecuador.
- NVWA legalisation of the EU pet passport and other documents is needed only in some cases. It is usually not necessary if the Netherlands has made agreements with the destination country: NVWA's Export Assistent shows whether a 'binding certificate' with instructions exists. If there is none, ask NVWA whether legalisation is needed.
- The destination's own requirements decide which documents must be legalised, and they can change. NVWA's e-mail after you book tells you what to prepare, but check the current requirements with the destination's authorities too.
- Your pet does not have to come to the legalisation appointment: bring the documents only.
- Legalisation is at your own expense. NVWA's current rates page lists the fee for legalising a dog, cat or ferret passport or certificate (under 'Exportcertificering').
- Planning to bring your pet back to the EU? After a short stay in a non-EU country you can skip the 3-month wait after the rabies blood test, but only if, before you leave the EU, your pet was vaccinated against rabies, passed a successful titer test, and your vet recorded both in its EU pet passport. So do the blood test before you go.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in the Netherlands publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
NVWA legalisation of the passport or certificateLeaving Netherlands65.87 EUR
NVWA tariff 2026, per legalisation; no VAT.
“legaliseren paspoort|certificaat voor honden|katten|fretten 65,87”
NVWA-tarieven exportcertificering 2026 · as of 2026-01-01
Government fees in total: 65.87 EUR (each currency separately)
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
Vet examinationyour vet · for: vet examination within 10 days before the trip49.50–56 EUR
the Netherlands: 4 published prices
- Dierenartsenpraktijk Kollum - Buitenpost: Consultation by appointment during opening hours; prices incl. VAT, valid from 1 January 202649.50 EUR · per consultation · read 2026-10-13
- Dierenkliniek Zuilen (Utrecht): Consultation for a dog or cat52.50 EUR · per consultation · read 2026-10-13
- Uw Dierenarts (Lelystad): Standard 15-minute consultation55.75 EUR · per consultation · read 2026-10-13
- Dierenkliniek Middenwaard (Heerhugowaard): Consultation; prices incl. VAT, valid from 1 July 202656 EUR · per consultation · read 2026-10-13
Rabies vaccinationyour vet · for: rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before)55–87.05 EUR
the Netherlands: 4 published prices
- Dierenartsenpraktijk De Dijk (Leerdam area): Rabies vaccination for a dog (same price listed for a cat), including health check/consult, excluding home-visit surcharge (home-visit practice)55 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
- Dierenartsenpraktijk Kollum - Buitenpost: Rabies vaccination (valid 3 years); prices incl. VAT, valid from 1 January 202675.50 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
- Uw Dierenarts (Lelystad): Rabies vaccination including a health check84.25 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
- Groepspraktijk Dierenartsen (Barneveld): Rabies vaccination for a dog including a health check (stand-alone appointment)87.05 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
Other vaccinationsyour vet · for: dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival72–80.50 EUR
the Netherlands: 3 published prices
- Dierenkliniek Zuilen (Utrecht): Dog core vaccination 'large cocktail' (DHP + leptospirosis L4) including consult72 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
- Uw Dierenarts (Lelystad): Dog cocktail vaccination (parvo, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, hepatitis) including health check75.50 EUR · per vaccination · read 2026-10-13
- Dierenartsenpraktijk Kollum - Buitenpost: Dog cocktail vaccination DHP + L4 for the first dog; 59.75 for a second dog. Prices incl. VAT, valid from 1 January 202680.50 EUR · per vaccination (first dog) · read 2026-10-13
Health certificate (vet’s fee)your vet · for: official export health certificate, issued at most 10 days before arrival105 EUR
the Netherlands: 1 published price
- Dierenkliniek Vondelpark (De Dierenkliniek, Amsterdam): Consultation for a health certificate for travel outside the EU (the table cell lists the inside-EU label, then the outside-EU label, then the two prices in the same order, so the second price is the outside-EU one)105 EUR · per consultation · read 2026-10-13
No published prices yet for the Netherlands: parasite treatment.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to the Netherlands
Do before your pet leaves the Netherlands
- Microchip
- Rabies vaccination
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 8 steps: microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies antibody blood test (titer) and EU animal health certificate and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Ingreso al Ecuador de animales de compañía (perros y gatos) (Agrocalidad)
- Requisitos zoosanitarios para la importación de animales de compañía (Agrocalidad, March 2026)
- Agencia de Regulación y Control de la Bioseguridad y Cuarentena para Galápagos: trámites (gob.ec)
- Legalisation of EU pet passports and other documents for dogs, cats and ferrets (NVWA)
- EU rules on travelling with pets and other animals in the EU (Your Europe)
- NVWA-tarieven exportcertificering 2026
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from the Netherlands to Ecuador?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Ecuador?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Ecuador?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
How early should I start preparing my pet for the Netherlands to Ecuador?
With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination valid on arrival (a first vaccination at least 14 days before), dogs: distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus vaccinations valid on arrival and vet examination within 10 days before the trip and 3 more.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
Read next
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