Do I need a permit to get a dog or cat in Wallonia?
In short
It depends. In Wallonia, everyone automatically has a permit to keep animals. But when you get an animal from a shelter, breeder or shop, you must bring a certificate from the central register, which you get from your municipality. For cats and dogs, there is no exception, even if you get them from a private individual.
Video transcript
You want to adopt a dog from a shelter in Wallonia. It depends: Everyone has the permit to keep animals automatically. But to get one from a shelter, breeder or shop, you need a central register extract from the municipality. The right way: Get the certificate at the municipality with your ID card; it is valid for 30 days. Then get the animal. Outcome: For the buyer: No fine, no animal; Seller without cert.: 150 € – 200.000 €; Permit withdrawn: 8 days – 3 years prison.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In Wallonia, you need a permit to keep animals (permis de détention). Everyone has this permit automatically; you do not need to apply for it. The animal's owner must be an adult.
- The permit can be withdrawn by a court or administrative decision because of an animal welfare offence. If it has been withdrawn, you may not keep animals.
- Since 1 July 2022, shops, shelters and breeders have had to ask the buyer for an extract from the central register (extrait du fichier central).
- You get the certificate from your municipality by showing your identity card. It is valid for 30 days. The municipality decides whether to charge for it.
- If you do not live in Wallonia, you do not need the certificate. Nor do you need it when one private individual sells or gives another an animal other than a dog or cat.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- A fine of 150 € – 200.000 € for a seller, shelter or breeder who hands over an animal without recording the certificate
Legal basis:Wallonie – Extrait du fichier central
- Court / prison
- You cannot get the animal without the certificate. Keeping an animal after your permit has been withdrawn is a serious offence (8 days – 3 years in prison).
Legal basis:Code wallon BEA, art. D.105 §1, 2° + C.env. Livre Ier, art. D.178bienetreanimal.wallonie.be
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- A judge can withdraw the permit for at least 3 months or permanently
Legal basis:C.env. Livre Ier
- The Walloon government plans to replace this system with a digital 'trust certificate'; ask your municipality about the current situation
Legal basis:wallonie.be – Révision du Code wallon du Bien-être animal
- For questions, call the free Walloon helpline: 1718
Legal basis:SPW – Extrait du fichier central
Why does this rule exist?
The rule prevents people who have already been convicted of animal cruelty from getting new animals, so that animals do not end up in the wrong hands again.
Where can you go?
- Regional nature agenciesFlanders: Natuur en Bos · Wallonia: DNF · Brussels: Bruxelles Environnement
- MunicipalityMunicipal forests, animal registration and places for sacrificial slaughter
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 14 / 14 statements in an official source
- Checked: 22.10.2026
- Last checked
- 22.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Hayvan bulundurmak için izin gerekir; herkes izne kendiliğinden sahiptir; kişi reşit olmalı
Code wallon BEA, art. D.6 §1 - Found in an official source
İzin hayvan refahı ihlali nedeniyle yargı/idari kararla geri alınabilir
Code wallon BEA, art. D.6 §1 - Found in an official source
1 Temmuz 2022'den beri sicil belgesi gerekiyor (kullanıcı '2024' demişti; doğru tarih 2022)
Wallonie – Demander un extrait du fichier central (güncelleme 27.05.2026) - Found in an official source
Dükkân, barınak ve üreticiler 30 günden yeni belge ister
Code wallon BEA (art. D.46) - Found in an official source
Belediyeden kimlikle alınır; 30 gün geçerli; ücret belediyeye bağlı
Wallonie – Extrait du fichier central - Found in an official source
Valonya'da ikamet yoksa gerekmez
Wallonie – Extrait du fichier central - Found in an official source
Özel kişiler arası satış/hediye muaf, köpek ve kedi hariç
Wallonie – Extrait du fichier central - Found in an official source
Belgeyi kaydetmeyen satıcıya 150–200.000 €
Wallonie – Extrait du fichier central - Found in an official source
İzni geri alınmışken hayvan bulundurmak 2. kategori ihlal (8 gün–3 yıl)
Code wallon BEA, art. D.105 §1, 2° + C.env. Livre Ier, art. D.178 - Found in an official source
Hâkim izni belirli süre (en az 3 ay) veya kalıcı geri alabilir
C.env. Livre Ier - Found in an official source
Dijital güven belgesi planı (Mart 2026 ilk okuma), henüz yürürlükte değil
wallonie.be – Révision du Code wallon du Bien-être animal - Found in an official source
Ücretsiz hat 1718
SPW – Extrait du fichier central - Found in an official source
Valonya hükümeti bu sistemi dijital bir 'güven belgesi' ile değiştirmeyi planlıyor; güncel durumu belediyenize sorun
wallonie.be – Révision du Code wallon du Bien-être animal - Found in an official source
Abartı taraması (2026-10-22): Kaynak yalnız satıcı/barınak/üretici için cezadan söz ediyor; alıcı için 'ceza yok' diye mutlak bir şey söylemiyor. Bu 'X için ceza yok' tipi, kaynağı olmayan bir mutlaklık.
Kaynak alıntısıyla karşılaştırma (abartı taraması)
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?