Bringing Your Pet to Brussels, Step by Step
Relocating a pet to Brussels involves navigating the EU’s pet travel requirements, from microchipping and rabies vaccination to the right health certificate for entry into Belgium. Starwood Pet Travel handles every step of this process for you. We coordinate with airlines, ground handlers, and Belgian border officials to make sure your dog or cat arrives safely and on schedule.
Whether you’re moving to Brussels for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Belgium, our team manages the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Airports Serving Brussels
Recommended
BRU
Belgium’s main international gateway
- Distance from city center7 miles (12 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityes, a dedicated Animal Care & Inspection Centre with an on-site veterinary border post
- Direct flights from US hubsYes, from multiple major hubs
- Best forMost pet relocations to Brussels
CRL
South of the city
- Distance from city center25 miles (40 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityNot typically used for international pet arrivals
- Direct flights from US hubsNo
- Best forBudget flights within Europe
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Why airport choice matters
Brussels Airport has one of Europe’s most advanced live animal facilities. Its Animal Care & Inspection Centre opened in 2020 and includes climate-controlled holding areas. The offices of Belgium’s food safety agency, which carries out veterinary border checks, are in the same building. Charleroi mainly serves low-cost European airlines. Starwood routes most Brussels relocations directly into BRU, choosing a nonstop flight whenever the airline and schedule allow, or a connection through a major European hub when that’s the safer option for your pet.
Traveling to or from Brussels with Pets
What Are the Requirements to Bring My Pet to Brussels?
Belgium follows the European Union’s pet travel rules. Getting the steps in the right order is what lets pets enter without quarantine. For full country-level requirements, see our Belgium Pet Relocation Guide.
It starts with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785 standards. The chip must be implanted and scanned before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine won’t count for EU travel.
Your pet then needs a rabies vaccination, followed by a wait of at least 21 days. Some vaccine manufacturers require 30 days. For pets vaccinated in the US, the EU treats a first rabies shot as valid for only one year, even if it’s a three-year vaccine. Pets traveling from the United States don’t need a rabies antibody blood test, and Belgium doesn’t require tapeworm treatment for dogs.
The final piece is the EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues it, and the USDA endorses it. For Belgium, the USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate, so the original paper document has to travel with your pet. New EU non-commercial certificates took effect October 1, 2026, and new commercial certificates take effect October 17, 2026. Under the new non-commercial certificate:
- The document is valid for 30 days after your vet issues it.
- USDA endorsement must happen within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU.
- Once in the EU, the certificate can be used for travel within the EU for up to six months, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.
Once you’ve settled in, there are local rules to plan for. Belgium requires cats to be registered in CatID and dogs in DogID, its national pet databases. In the Brussels-Capital Region, cats must also be sterilised. The City of Brussels offers a sterilisation premium of €50 for male cats and €75 for female cats.
Commercial vs. non-commercial pet travel to Brussels
Your pet can travel under a non-commercial certificate if both of these apply:
- You’re on the same flight, or someone you authorize travels with your pet within five days of your own trip.
- You’re moving five or fewer pets.
A commercial certificate is required if no owner or authorized person can travel with the pet, if you’re moving six or more pets, or if the pet is changing owners. Commercial certificates require a veterinary exam within 48 hours of departure.
Here’s the reassuring part: when these steps are completed correctly and in sequence, quarantine is not required. Pets that arrive with missing or incorrect paperwork can be quarantined or refused entry at the owner’s expense. This is exactly why timing and sequencing matter, and it’s where working with a pet relocation specialist makes the most difference.
Which Airport Should I Fly My Pet Into, and What Happens on Arrival?
Brussels Airport (BRU), in Zaventem, is the right choice for nearly every Brussels relocation. It sits about 7 miles northeast of the city center, with nonstop US service and a purpose-built animal center at the BRUcargo cargo zone.
Brussels South Charleroi (CRL) is about 25 miles south and mostly serves low-cost European flights, so it isn’t a practical option for pets arriving from the US.
On arrival, your pet’s microchip and health certificate are checked. Pets flying as cargo must also clear customs before they can be collected. Starwood coordinates clearance through our handling partners, so your pet moves from the aircraft to your new home as quickly as possible.
What Airlines Fly Pets to Brussels, and How Should I Choose a Route?
Several airlines fly nonstop to Brussels from the US:
- Brussels Airlines, Belgium’s national carrier
- Delta, from Atlanta
Other options connect through European hubs such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, or Paris. Not every airline accepts pets as cargo.
The right route depends on your departure city, travel dates, your pet’s breed and size, and seasonal temperature restrictions. Snub-nosed breeds, for example, face extra airline limits. Starwood compares the options and books the safest, most direct routing available for your pet.
How Long Does the Process Take, and What Does It Cost?
For pets coming from the US, the minimum timeline is about 21 to 30 days after the rabies vaccination, depending on the vaccine. We recommend starting two to three months before your move. That leaves time for vet appointments, USDA endorsement within the 10-day window, mailing the original ink-endorsed certificate, airline bookings, and seasonal restrictions. Pets coming from countries the EU doesn’t list as low-risk need a rabies blood test and a three-month wait, so plan for at least four months.
Cost depends on your pet’s size, departure city, and routing. Use our cost calculator to get an estimate.
Why Choose Starwood for Pet Travel to Brussels?
Starwood Pet Travel is an IATA-certified international pet relocation company and part of IVC Evidensia. Moving a pet to Belgium comes with specific challenges:
- New EU health certificates
- Original ink USDA endorsement
- Airline-specific pet policies
- Local registration and sterilisation rules
Our team handles all of it, from vet coordination and USDA paperwork to airline booking, customs clearance, and delivery to your door.
Whether you’re moving to Brussels for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Belgium, we manage the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Ready to start your pet's journey to Brussels? Request a free quote.
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