Agility

Competing Abroad from Belgium: Paperwork, Vaccinations and Practicalities

Pet passport, rabies vaccination timing, tapeworm treatment for Great Britain and Finland, competition documents for VOE, DSAB and KKUSH handlers, and practical tips for taking your agility dog to events abroad.

Giovanni Vandewaetere

— 6 min leestijd
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Two dogs waiting in the open boot of an estate car
Photo: Rafaëlla Waasdorp / Unsplash

From Belgium, a lot of good agility is a short drive away: the Netherlands, France, Germany and Luxembourg are all within reach. Belgian teams also travel much further, to the World Agility Open in Ermelo, the IFCS World Agility Championships in southern Europe, IMCA in England and the FCI championships wherever they are held. Competing abroad is very doable, but your paperwork has to be right. A dog with the wrong documents can be refused entry or sent into quarantine.

This guide covers the animal health rules, the competition paperwork for VOE, DSAB and KKUSH handlers, and the practical side of travelling with an agility dog. Rules change, so always check the official sources linked here, and talk to your vet well before you travel.

The EU basics: passport, microchip and rabies

For private (non-commercial) travel between EU countries, your dog needs three things (Your Europe; FPS Public Health, page updated March 2026):

  1. A microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination. A clearly readable tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is also accepted.
  2. A valid rabies vaccination. The first vaccination can only be given from 12 weeks of age. After a first (primary) vaccination you must wait at least 21 days before travelling.
  3. A European pet passport, issued by an authorised vet and recording the microchip and the rabies vaccination. It stays valid for the dog's life as long as the rabies vaccination is kept up to date.

Don't let the rabies booster lapse

This catches people out. If your dog's booster is given after the previous vaccination has expired, it counts as a new primary vaccination, and the 21-day wait starts again. For an agility dog with a busy season, that could mean missing a championship. Put the booster due date in your calendar and plan it well ahead of any trip.

Rabies vaccination for competitions in Belgium

The FCI regulations, which the KKUSH applies, state that dogs coming from or going to a region with rabies must have a valid rabies vaccination certificate. VOE's recreational class also requires all vaccinations to be up to date (VOE). If you're likely to compete abroad, a dog with a current rabies vaccination and passport is ready for both home and away events.

Destination-specific rules

Tapeworm treatment: Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland

Dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland must be treated against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) before arrival. The vet records the treatment in the passport (Your Europe). This was relevant in 2026, when the FCI Agility World Championship was held in Turku, Finland.

Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales)

Great Britain is outside the EU and has its own rules, which matter for events such as IMCA, held in England in 2026. According to GOV.UK:

  • Pet passport. A pet passport issued in an EU country is accepted (GOV.UK pet passports).
  • Microchip and rabies. The microchip must come first, and you must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination.
  • Tapeworm treatment for every trip. A vet must give a praziquantel-based (or equivalent) treatment no less than 24 hours and no more than 5 days (120 hours) before you arrive in Great Britain, and record the product, date, time, stamp and signature in the passport (tapeworm rules). Plan your ferry or Eurotunnel crossing with this window in mind, and leave yourself room for delays.
  • Approved routes. You must travel on an approved route and with an approved company. Check with the operator before booking.
  • Declaration. You must fill in a declaration that you won't sell or transfer the pet.
  • Getting it wrong is costly. A pet that doesn't meet the rules can be put into quarantine for up to four months, or refused entry if you came by sea, at your expense.

You also need to get back into the EU. Your dog's EU pet passport normally covers the return, but check the current requirements with your vet before you go.

Switzerland, Norway and other non-EU European countries

Switzerland and several other non-EU European countries issue pet passports and follow equivalent rules (Your Europe). Remember that Norway requires the tapeworm treatment.

Outside Europe

Travelling further afield, for example to a world championship on another continent, is much more complex. Your dog may need a rabies antibody titration test before you leave. If the blood sample is taken while the dog is already outside the EU, there's a three-month wait before it can return to Belgium (FPS Public Health). Start planning months in advance, and check the destination country's own rules through its embassy.

Travelling with more than five dogs

Agility teams often share a van. Normally, travelling with more than five dogs means following the stricter commercial rules. There's an exception for competitions, exhibitions and sporting events, as long as:

  • every dog is more than six months old, and
  • you can show written proof of registration for the event, such as an entry confirmation.

This exception exists under EU rules (Your Europe; FPS Public Health) and in Great Britain, where you also sign a declaration (GOV.UK). Print your entry confirmations and keep them with the passports.

Competition paperwork by organisation

Animal health documents get your dog across the border. Your competition documents get you into the ring.

VOE handlers

  • VOE sends teams to the IFCS World Agility Championships and IMCA, and some VOE competitions are held just over the Dutch border.
  • Carry your dog's VOE werkcertificaat (work certificate) and know your membership details.
  • For events organised by foreign federations, check their entry conditions in advance. Ask the VOE secretariat whether you need any extra documents.
  • VOE's insurance, through Dierenhobby's vzw, describes its policies for members as providing worldwide cover for organised dog sport. Check the exact conditions on the VOE insurance page before you rely on it abroad.

DSAB handlers

  • DSAB's main international event is the World Agility Open in Ermelo. The Belgian team is selected through DSAB's try-outs (selection rules).
  • Team members must attend the WAO vet check, which is normally on the Tuesday of event week, without exception.
  • The WAO publishes travel information for competitors with dogs. Read it alongside the official government rules.

KKUSH handlers (FCI competitions)

To compete abroad under the FCI system, your dog must have passed the TAP, be at least 18 months old and have already competed in official competitions in Belgium (Section 4C, results abroad). Handlers who aren't allowed to compete in Belgium risk disciplinary action if they compete abroad.

If you want results from abroad to count towards promotion:

  • The competition must be official, open to all breeds, and run by a club affiliated to an FCI-recognised kennel club.
  • Results must be achieved at the same jump height your dog runs in Belgium. Open courses mixing all grades don't count.
  • Submit results within one month of the competition. This deadline was introduced in an update dated 13 May 2026. Approvals now arrive by email through SmarterAgility, a step Section 4C announced in September 2026.
  • Foreign results are never written into the workbook as promotion results. They also don't count towards qualification for the Belgian Cup and Grand Prix.

FCI international competitions abroad (CACIAg) need a dog over 24 months with an FCI-recognised pedigree, plus your workbook (FCI Agility Rules Explained).

Practical tips for the road

  • Pack a document wallet. Include the pet passport, competition booklet or work certificate, entry confirmations, insurance details and your vet's phone number.
  • Know the height rules. The FCI uses four categories, while the WAO and WAC use different height divisions. Your dog may jump a different height abroad than at home.
  • Plan for heat. Summer events can be very hot. Some Belgian events were cancelled in June 2026 because of the heat (VOE calendar). Bring shade, cooling mats and plenty of water. Never leave dogs in a parked vehicle.
  • Keep your routine. Bring your dog's usual food and water from home, which helps avoid stomach upsets. Plan rest stops on long drives.
  • Warm up properly after the journey. Long car journeys stiffen muscles. Allow time for a walk and a proper warm-up before your first run (Fitness, Warm-Up and Injury Prevention).
  • Check accommodation. Many championships offer camping. Book early and check the dog rules.

For when the big events take place, see The Belgian Agility Year and Belgium on the International Agility Stage.

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