Your pet to Nigeria: import permit, and the blood test for the way back
A dog or cat may enter Nigeria with an import permit from the federal veterinary department and an international health certificate; the quarantine service checks this on arrival. Also arrange the way back before you leave: Nigeria is not on the EU list, so without a blood test in the Netherlands you wait 90 days when you return.
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Written and checked by Auke on , against the sources at the bottom. Is something no longer right? Report it below and I'll fix it.
A dog or cat may enter Nigeria, but not without papers. On arrival the Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service (NAQS) checks the import permit, issued by the director of the Federal Department of Livestock and Pest Control Services, and your animal's international health certificate. According to the NAQS, an import permit takes 5 working days from the application. Arrange the way back at the same time: Nigeria is not on the EU list of countries without a blood test requirement. If you only have the blood test done in Nigeria, your animal can only travel to the Netherlands 90 days later.
What do you need, and how long does it take?
| Step | What the source says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Microchip | chip first, then vaccinate; otherwise the vaccination is not valid | NVWA |
| Rabies vaccination and EU pet passport | at your vet in the Netherlands | NVWA |
| Nigeria's requirements | ask; for a country without a binding certificate the NVWA tries to answer within 2 working days | NVWA |
| Import permit | 5 working days from the application | NAQS |
| Health certificate | international veterinary certificate, checked on arrival | NAQS |
| Legalisation of papers | appointment at the NVWA in Utrecht, request it at least 14 working days in advance | NVWA |
| Blood test for the way back | at least 30 days after the vaccination, result 0.5 IU/ml or higher | NVWA |
| Waiting time with a blood test outside the EU | 90 days before you may enter the EU | NVWA |
| Whole preparation | weeks to more than half a year | NVWA |
What does Nigeria ask?
The NAQS names three things for importing animals: a health certificate, laboratory results for specific diseases, and an import permit. Its Animal Quarantine department inspects dogs and cats among others on arrival, checks the permit and the international veterinary certificate, and watches for contagious diseases.
Which tests and treatments Nigeria exactly wants to see, and how long before departure they may be done, is not on the NAQS pages we could open. So ask in writing: at the NAQS, at the Nigerian embassy in The Hague, or through the NVWA.
According to the NAQS, an animal suspected of being contagious or found to be illegally imported can be seized, quarantined for two to three weeks or destroyed. So only fly once the import permit is there and your papers match what Nigeria asks.
How do you arrange it in the Netherlands?
Start with the NVWA. According to the NVWA, your animal must be chipped before the rabies vaccination, and you need an EU pet passport from your own vet. For some countries there is a binding certificate with instructions in the NVWA's Export Assistant. If there isn't one for Nigeria, you email the NVWA. It tries to answer within 2 working days, with the country's requirements and how to meet them.
Often an NVWA vet comes by, checks whether your animal meets the requirements and issues a health certificate. If the pet passport or other papers need to be legalised, you go to the NVWA office in Utrecht. You request that appointment at least 14 working days in advance, and you don't bring your animal. The NVWA counts on weeks to more than half a year for the whole preparation.
Why the blood test before you leave?
Because otherwise the way back gets long. Nigeria is not on the European Commission's list of countries for which no rabies blood test is needed. If you come from Nigeria to the Netherlands with your dog or cat, your animal must have a good blood test: taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher, examined by an approved laboratory.
If you have that test done outside the EU, your animal can only travel to the Netherlands 90 days after a good result. If you do it in the Netherlands before you leave, that waiting time falls away. The test stays valid for your animal's whole life, as long as you keep vaccinating on time, so before the previous vaccination expires.
How the pet fits into the rest of the move is in household goods to Nigeria and in the plan for Nigeria.
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 Nigeria 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 Nigeria, 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.
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service — Animal Quarantine, checking dogs and cats and the import permit — naqs.gov.ng
- Nigeria Agricultural Quarantine Service — frequently asked questions, what you need for import and the 5-working-day term — naqs.gov.ng
- NVWA — with your dog or cat to a country outside the EU, the step-by-step plan — 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); Nigeria is not listed — food.ec.europa.eu
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