Pet Travel From the United States to United Arab Emirates

Last Modified: March 26, 2024

Welcome! This page will guide you through the rules and requirements for traveling internationally with your pet.

Before You Start the Process

Find a USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

With help from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, you can learn more about your destination country's entry requirements for pets, including any needed vaccinations, tests, or treatments. We recommend creating a schedule to make sure you meet all requirements within the specified timeframe.

Gather This Information for Your USDA-Accredited Veterinarian

  • The type of pet traveling
  • The destination country
  • If applicable, countries where your pet will stop (for customs clearance or upon leaving the airport or seaport) on the way to the destination country
  • The date of departure from the United States
  • Whether the pet will be traveling alone, as cargo, or with a person in the cabin of the plane
  • Note: If you're traveling with a pet bird or exotic animal, you may need to work with additional agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1.41 MB) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Read These Resources

Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type

  • Before traveling with your pet, you must obtain an import permit from the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment.
    • This import permit is valid for 30 days. Your pet will not be allowed to enter the UAE with an expired import permit.
  • Only 2 cats, or 2 dogs, or 1 cat and 1 dog are allowed annually.
  • Your pet must travel to the UAE as manifested cargo.
  • Cats and dogs must be identified with a microchip.
  • The pet must be at least 15 weeks old at the time of import.
  • Upon arrival into the UAE, you need to provide the following documents to Port Officials:
    • Valid health certificate issued by your USDA accredited veterinarian and endorsed by USDA. The health certificate is valid for 10 days after issuance.
    • Vaccination certificate for all of the vaccines your pet has received. The vaccine name, manufacturer, batch number, vaccination date, vaccine labels, and any treatments given to the animal should be included on the vaccination certificate.
      • Dogs:
        • Rabies vaccine (at least 21 days must elapse from vaccination before travel; the dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination)
        • Canine distemper virus
        • Canine parvovirus
        • Infectious canine hepatitis
        • Leptospirosis (icterohaemorrhagiae and canicola)
      • Cats:
        • Rabies vaccine (at least 21 days must elapse from vaccination before travel; the cat must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination)
        • Feline panleukopenia
        • Feline rhinotracheitis
        • Feline calicivirus
    • Documentation (on health certificate) of parasite treatments during the 14 days prior to travel.
      • External parasite treatment (recommend Fipronil or Permethrin)
      • Internal parasite treatment (recommend Praziquantel)
    • Documentation (on health certificate) of your pet’s rabies titer test results which must be ≥ 0.5 I. 
      • The blood sample for rabies titer test must be collected not more than 12 months prior to travel. 
      • In the case of an animal vaccinated for the first time, or if the period of validity since last vaccinated has lapsed, the blood sample should not be collected until at least 21 days after vaccination. 
      • In the case of an animal with a valid rabies booster, the blood sample can be collected on the same day as, or any day after, the most recent rabies vaccination.
      • Copy of the UAE import permit.
      • If your pet is transiting through other countries before arrival in UAE, you (or the carrier representative or holder of the animal) must sign an attestation (13.28 KB) that the animal(s) did not have contact with any other animals while in transit.
  • For pets residing in the UAE that are returning to the UAE, they must comply with the above requirements except rabies titer testing if they were vaccinated against rabies prior to exiting the UAE and the vaccination is still valid upon return to the UAE. If their rabies vaccination is no longer valid, they will need to be re-vaccinated and undergo rabies titer testing as described above. Pets returning to the UAE must be accompanied with a copy of the veterinary health certificate issued by the MOCCAE while exiting.

For pets transiting the UAE, you must obtain a transit permit from the UAE’s Ministry of Climate Change and Environment

Dog breeds not allowed entry into the UAE:

  • Pit Bulls (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully)
  • Mastiff Dogs (Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasiliero), Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino), Any Mastiff or Hybrid)
  • Tosa (Japanese Tosa or Hybrid)
  • Rottweilers or Hybrid
  • Doberman Pinschers
  • Canario Presa
  • Boxer
  • Any mixed breed of above breeds or their hybrid

Dogs:

International Health Certificate (175.08 KB) 

Cats:

International Health Certificate (262.51 KB)

The requirements for traveling with your pet are described in the health certificate.

Veterinary Health Certificate for Birds (270.1 KB)

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommend that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of Destination Contact Information

World Organisation for Animal Health: Members

U.S. Department of State: Foreign Embassies and Consulates

Important Travel Considerations

If you are transiting (passing through) the European Union:

If your pet is traveling through (transiting) a country in the European Union (EU) on the way to a third, non-EU country, you will also need a transit health certificate for your pet for the EU. The transit health certificate will be the same as if your pet’s final destination was the EU country. Use the information and steps above under “Travel Requirements Based on Pet Type” to determine which health certificate should be used. View a list of EU countries.

Considerations for airline travel:

Airlines and shipping lines have their own policies and requirements for transporting pets. Check with your airline or shipping representative to determine what requirements they may have.

View additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates.


Will you be returning to the United States with your pet?

View the Requirements

ALERT: Read the CDC Notice of Temporary Suspension of Dogs Entering the United States From Countries Classified as High Risk for Dog Rabies.

 

Information for Accredited Veterinarians

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For Accredited Veterinarians: Electronic signature ACCEPTED

For APHIS VMO: Original ink endorsement REQUIRED

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Save Time and Money With VEHCS!

USDA-accredited veterinarians can submit health certificates for electronic signature through VEHCS (Veterinary Export Health Certification System).