Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from the Netherlands → Peru
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
We’re re-checking these rules. An official source they rely on has changed since we last verified them, so something here may be out of date. Before you book or travel, confirm the details with the official authority.
- Conoce los requisitos para la salida e ingreso de mascotas al país (SENASA, 12 January 2020) · page changed, noticed 12 Oct 2026
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Peru publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. SENASA states these requirements in a press note (29 November 2024) and an older page (2020), not in a regulation we could read. They give no deadline for the certificate, no blood test, no quarantine rule and no list of accepted origin countries, and the fees quoted in them are old. Ask SENASA (viajacontumascota@senasa.gob.pe) what applies to your route. Customs (SUNAT) has its own rules for the pet's arrival.
How early to start
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
3 weeks
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
What your dog or cat needs
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination (pets 3 months or older)
The rabies vaccine is compulsory for dogs and cats from 3 months of age, and the vaccination must be valid on the health certificate.
Details and the official words
“La vacuna de Rabia es obligatoria para ambas mascotas a partir de los 3 meses de edad”
Vaccination
Valid core vaccinations on the certificate
The export certificate must list current vaccines: for dogs canine parvovirus, distemper, canine hepatitis, leptospirosis and rabies; for cats feline panleukopenia and rabies.
Details and the official words
“(en perros: Parvovirus canino, Distemper canino, Hepatitis canina, Leptospirosis y Rabia; y en gatos: Panleucopenia felina y Rabia).”
Treatment
Internal and external parasite treatment before travel
Your pet is treated against internal and external parasites shortly before travel and the certificate says so. We plan for within 15 days (SENASA's 2024 note says 30 days, its 2020 page 15).
The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.
Details and the official words
SENASA's two pages give different windows (30 and 15 days): the stricter is shown. Ask SENASA.
“además de la desparasitación interna y externa realizada dentro de los 30 días previos al viaje.”
“Desparasitación (interna y externa) realizada dentro de los 15 días previos del viaje.”
Paperwork
Original export health certificate from the official authority of the country you come from
Bring the original export health certificate issued by the official authority of the country of origin. It must give the pet's current vaccines, the parasite treatment and its state of health. SENASA's notes give no deadline for how recent it must be: ask SENASA.
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.
“Certificado sanitario de exportación original emitido por la Autoridad Oficial del país de procedencia que consigne la siguiente información”
“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.”
On arrival
Present the documents to SENASA on arrival and pass the clinical inspection
The owner or an agent takes an application with their details and the pet's, and the certificate, to the SENASA office at Jorge Chávez airport (or another international airport or land border post). A SENASA vet then examines the pet for signs of infectious or parasitic disease and decides whether it can continue with the entry procedure.
Details and the official words
“El propietario o apoderado de la mascota debe presentar en la oficina de SENASA, ubicada en el aeropuerto Jorge Chávez y otros terminales aéreos internacionales del interior del país, así como en puestos de control fronterizos (vía terrestre), los siguientes documentos:”
“Posteriormente, se realiza la inspección clínica a la mascota para detectar la presencia de algún signo de enfermedad infectocontagiosa o parasitaria.”
Official stamp
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
- SENASA's 2024 note asks for the parasite treatment within 30 days before travel; its 2020 page says within 15 days. We plan for 15 days, which satisfies both: confirm with SENASA.
- 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.
Common questions
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from the Netherlands to Peru?
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 Peru?
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 Peru?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog or cat need a microchip?
The official rules we have verified for this route don't list a microchip requirement.