Dog or cat to Belize: a BAHA permit, a two-week certificate and the blood test for the way back
A dog or cat may enter Belize with an import permit from BAHA, the agricultural health authority, and a veterinary certificate issued no more than two weeks before travel. A first rabies vaccination must be at least four weeks old. Belize is not on the EU list of countries without a blood test: have that test done in the Netherlands before you leave, otherwise you wait 90 days on return.
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Your dog or cat may come with you to Belize. You apply in advance for an import permit from BAHA, the Belize Agricultural Health Authority. The animal travels with a veterinary certificate issued no more than two weeks before travel, and a valid rabies vaccination. On arrival a BAHA vet inspects the animal. If you ever want to return to the Netherlands, have the rabies blood test done before you leave.
What does BAHA require?
| Requirement | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Veterinary certificate from a registered vet | issued within two weeks before the travel date |
| Rabies vaccination, with date, manufacturer, trade name, lot number and expiry date on the certificate | first vaccination at least four weeks before departure |
| No rabies vaccination for puppies and kittens under three months | age or date of birth on the certificate |
| Treatment against internal and external parasites | within 30 days before departure |
| Notice of date, time and flight to BAHA | two working days before arrival |
| Import permit | apply at least seven days in advance |
On the certificate the vet also declares that the animal is healthy, free of contagious diseases and of fleas and ticks, and without fresh wounds. A dog or cat of 15 months or older may travel within four weeks after a booster, if the vaccination history shows an earlier vaccination after the age of three months.
How do you apply for the permit?
With BAHA's form "Application to import animals", ticking "Pet Animal". BAHA asks for at least seven days for processing and does not guarantee a permit. The fee list gives $ 50 for an Animal Health Permit and $ 200 for a Pet Passport. With the permit you hear whether an inspection is needed and what it costs; the costs are yours. Questions go to animalhealth@baha.org.bz.
An animal that does not meet the requirements will not be allowed into Belize. Count the two weeks of the certificate back from your flight date, not from the day you get the permit. And report the arrival two working days in advance, otherwise no vet will be waiting when you land.
If your animal travels through a country with foot-and-mouth disease or screwworm, an inspection follows on arrival. For other animals, such as birds or a snake, you first apply for a CITES permit from the Forest Department. Medicines for your animal may come along if they are registered in Belize.
The customs list of common goods gives an import duty of 40% for "Live Animals (Pets)". Whether customs charges that on your own pet is not stated. Ask before you leave.
What do you arrange in the Netherlands?
Your dog or cat needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport, writes the NVWA. Make sure the animal is chipped before the vaccination, otherwise the vaccination is not valid. Check the NVWA's Export Assistant for a binding certificate for Belize; if it is not listed, email the NVWA for the requirements. Preparation can take weeks to more than half a year.
Why the blood test before you leave?
Belize is not on the list of non-EU countries for which no blood test is needed on return (Annex II to Implementing Regulation 2026/636). For the NVWA, Belize is therefore a high-risk country for rabies.
The blood test measures the antibodies against rabies. You have the blood taken at least 30 days after the vaccination. The result must be 0.5 IU/ml or higher, from an approved laboratory. If you have the test done outside the EU, you wait 90 days after a good result before your animal may travel to the Netherlands. If you do the test in the Netherlands before you leave, that waiting time does not apply. The test remains valid for the animal's whole life, as long as you repeat the rabies vaccination on time.
What do you watch out for in Belize?
Pets are not allowed in a hurricane shelter, writes NEMO. Anyone who has to leave during the hurricane season arranges a safe place for their animal themselves: with friends, family or in a hotel. See renting in Belize for choosing where to live, and household goods to Belize for what else can come along.
In Vertrekklaar this is phase 4 of 5 of the journey, step 4.4: the same steps, but for your situation — in your order, tickable, and with the deadlines watched. See the whole journey to Belize or go straight to step 4.4 in the open plan.
What is due when?
Enter your departure date and see day by day what your dog or cat needs for Belize, from microchip to certificate.
What this rests on
The facts in this article come from these official pages. Rules change. When in doubt, go by the source, not this article.
- BAHA — the import conditions for dogs and cats (September 2023) — baha.org.bz
- BAHA — the application form for an import permit, with at least seven days of processing — baha.org.bz
- BAHA — the fees of the animal health department — baha.org.bz
- BAHA — the animal health department, with contact, CITES and medicines — baha.org.bz
- NVWA — taking your dog or cat to a country outside the EU — nvwa.nl
- NVWA — the rabies blood test on return from a high-risk country — nvwa.nl
- European Commission — the non-EU countries without a blood test requirement (Implementing Regulation 2026/636, Annex II); Belize is not among them — food.ec.europa.eu
- NEMO — pets are not allowed in a hurricane shelter — site.nemo.org.bz
- Customs and Excise Department — the rates for common goods, with live animals — customs.gov.bz
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