Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
4–8 weeks
Estimated DIY prep costs: $185 – $590+ (documentation, microchip, vaccine, crate) + $135 airline cabin fee (confirmed) or cargo hold fee (not published) — excludes professional relocation services
None required (US mainland)
Because Belgium is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form rather than a full CDC health certificate — Belgium’s own export documentation is a separate national requirement, not a CDC one.
The EU pet passport is Belgium's baseline export document. A destination-specific certificate may also be required, but Belgium does not itself specify a fixed validity window — timing depends on the destination country and airline. The CDC does not require a separate health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like Belgium.
Authorized Veterinarian / FASFC Local Control Unit
An authorized veterinarian issues the EU pet passport. If a destination-specific certificate is required, FASFC’s local control unit reviews and certifies it in advance.
Not Required
The US does not require USDA involvement for standard Belgian pet exports. Always confirm your specific destination state’s rules separately.
Not Fixed by Belgium — Confirm With Destination/Airline
Unlike some neighboring EU countries, Belgium’s own guidance does not specify a fixed certificate validity window. Confirm timing directly with your airline and, if needed, FASFC’s local control unit.
Required
Bring the original EU pet passport and any destination-specific certificate — copies are not accepted.
→ Implanting the microchip before the rabies vaccination is general best practice
→ Minimum age to administer the rabies vaccine is 12 weeks; it’s valid for travel 21 days later (confirmed Belgian requirement)
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form
→ Belgium’s guidance does not specify a fixed certificate validity window — confirm timing with your airline and FASFC
→ The CDC does not restrict entry airports for Belgium’s low-risk pathway — any city-specific restriction comes from the airline, not the CDC
→ Using an inbound-direction Belgian source for export requirements
→ Assuming Belgium specifies a fixed certificate deadline
→ Assuming a Belgian rabies vaccination certificate’s stated validity applies everywhere
→ Mistaking Brussels Airlines’ city list for a CDC restriction
→ Relying on tattoo identification instead of a microchip
→ Confusing the 12-week minimum vaccination age with the 15-week minimum travel-eligibility age
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
Belgium's own export guidance does not set a fixed validity window for the destination-specific certificate, unlike some neighboring EU countries.
The airline's current list of accepted US destination cities for dog cargo bookings is its own operational choice, not a CDC rule.
Varies
No
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Estimated DIY prep costs: $185 – $590+ (documentation, microchip, vaccine, crate) + $135 airline cabin fee (confirmed) or cargo hold fee (not published) — excludes professional relocation services
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ Microchip implant record
→ Rabies vaccination record (min. age 12 weeks; valid for travel 21 days later)
→ EU Pet Passport
→ Destination-specific certificate, if required
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Belgium is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies.
→ Quarantine applies only to moves to Hawaii or Guam, which this guide does not cover.
→ No — unlike some neighboring EU countries, Belgium’s own guidance doesn’t set a fixed certificate timing rule.
→ It defers to what the destination country and your airline require instead.
→ Confirm timing directly with your vet, FASFC, and your airline.
→ No, not for a low-risk country like Belgium.
→ The CDC’s low-risk pathway allows entry at any US airport, seaport, or land border crossing.
→ Brussels Airlines currently has its own separate list of US cities it accepts new dog cargo bookings to — that’s an airline limitation, not a CDC rule.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the US.
→ Introduced in August 2024; valid for 6 months from completion.
→ Applies to dogs from low-risk countries like Belgium.
→ No CDC or USDA requirements apply to cats entering the US from any country.
→ Your cat still needs an EU pet passport to leave Belgium.
→ Check with your airline for its own cat travel requirements.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Belgium to the United States is one of the more accommodating routes covered on this site — Belgium is CDC low-risk for dog rabies, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around.
Some EU countries specify their own fixed export certificate window, commonly around 10 days. Belgium’s FASFC guidance does not specify a fixed certificate validity window for this route — it explicitly defers to whatever the destination country and your airline require instead. Since the CDC doesn’t itself require a formal health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like Belgium, the practical timing to plan around is your airline’s requirement, not a Belgian government deadline.
Brussels Airlines currently limits new dog cargo bookings to a specific list of US cities. This mirrors the same restricted-city framing used by other Lufthansa Group carriers — it’s the airline’s own operational choice, not a CDC restriction. Belgium’s low-risk status means the CDC itself doesn’t restrict which US airport your dog can enter through.
Brussels Airlines publishes a clear cabin fee for pets under 8kg traveling to the US East Coast, but its cargo hold fee isn’t shown on the same pages — confirm directly if your pet needs the hold instead.
This is one of the more straightforward routes covered on this site. Many pet owners manage it themselves, while others prefer the convenience of a professional relocation service. The main task is confirming certificate timing directly with your vet, FASFC, and the airline, since Belgium’s own guidance does not set a fixed deadline the way some neighboring countries’ processes do. Either way, it’s worth taking a look to compare vetted international pet relocation services.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
