Import of pets (cats / dogs)

To obtain import permission:

1. Fill out the electronic form
2. E - Payment
3. Issuing the permit electronically

To release the consignment:

1. Fill out the electronic form
2. E – Payment
3. Vision inspection
4. Issuing the release permit electronically

Import:

• No documents required for pet dogs and cats
• In case of importation of Service, emotional support or medical dogs only, the following documents should be provided:

1. A certified document from a training center stating that the dog has been trained for Emotional support, Service dog or Medical use, certified by the competent authority in the country of origin.
2. A medical report on the owner’s health status that supports the purpose of using the dog, certified by the competent authority in the country of origin.
3. A pledge by the dog owner not to transfer his ownership to others, to abandon it or to breed it, and to abide by the requirements stipulated in the relevant legislation.

Release:

1. A customs declaration or bill of lading showing the delivery data
2. A document of immunizations or a passport with the required data
3. A certified health certificate issued by the competent veterinary authorities
4. In the event of importation from a high-risk country only, a laboratory test certificate should be attached to the Antibody Titration Test for rabies issued by a laboratory approved by the competent authorities of the State of export, with the possibility of including the result of the laboratory test in the health certificate

• The establishment must have a License for Practicing Animal Care Activities that contains the activity of importing and exporting companion animals, or the activity of a breeding center - pets. 
• Individuals are allowed to import a maximum of 2 companion animals per person during the year, with the exception of resident companion animals returning back to the country.
• Issuance of Import permit prior to importation, issued through the MOCCAE web site (validity of permit is 90 days. It is not allowed to import pets with an expired import permit).
• Cats and dogs will be shipped according to IATA conditions for pet animal transport.
• The cats and dogs must be identified with a permanent microchip, and the chip number in the health certificate must conform with the chip No. which is implanted in the animal.
• The imported cats and dogs shall be accompanied with the following: 

1. Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.
2. Vaccination document or passport which must include the animal microchip number, animal full description (species – color – sex – date of birth) and fully meet all vaccinations in annex number (A) herein ,  and including vaccine name , manufacturing company , batch number , vaccination date .
3. In case of import from a high risk Country, Rabies Testing certificate from a laboratory accredited by the competent authorities in the country of export including data on the date of sampling, the date and method of examination - stating that the animals were subjected to the antibody titration test before shipping , according to For the following:

                i. In case that the pet is vaccinated for the first time or discontinuity of the vaccination: a period  not less than 21 days must pass from vaccination against Rabies.

               ii.In case that the animal has a valid booster vaccination, It does not require an interval of 21 days after vaccination, and the test can be done directly.

The test result should not be less than (0.5 IU / ml). This certificate can be replaced by recording the results of the examination in the health certificate mentioned in Paragraph (a) of this clause

The validity of the Rabies Testing certificate is 365 days, in a condition that the rabies vaccine is valid and continue and no booster dose was given, otherwise the test should be repeated in accordance to these clause 3i & 3ii.

• The minimum age of an imported animal from the low risk countries will be 12 while the minimum age for importing from the high risk countries is not less than 15 weeks.
• The vaccination should be done at age not less than 12 weeks and the validity of the vaccine well be  in accordance to the manufacturing company
• The animal was received preventive doses for internal and external parasites during the 14 days prior to shipment, and this is stated in the health certificate or the passport of the animal.
• Consignments of cats and dogs will be shipped directly from the exporting country and in case that the consignment will cross any other country, it must not mix with other pet animals during transit  
• Personal import is allowed for no more than 2 cats or 2 dogs or a dog and a cat annually, with the exception of the exit and entry of resident animals, provided that they are identified by a fixed microchip and the health requirements for import are fufilled.
• Animal welfare legislation and standards must be taken into consideration.

• To import Bengal and Serval cats as pets, a pedigree certificate (fifth generation) must be provided For individuals and commercial companies.

Cats and dogs residing in UAE

• They must comply with the following health and technical requirements:
• A. The animal must have obtained a veterinary health certificate from the ministry before leaving the country.
• b. Identified by microchip.
• c. accompanied with authorized veterinary certificate issued by the competent authorities in the exporting country.
• d. The animal had vaccinated against rabies before its departure from the UAE and this vaccination is valid until its return, and in case that the vaccination becomes not valid, the animal will be dealt with the conditions of first import of dogs and cats

Transit procedures

Transit shipments are subject to the following provisions:

• 1. In the case of air transit at the same airport or sea transit at the same port, a transit permit is not required, and the animals are required to be isolated from any other animals.
• 2. A prior transit permit must be obtained from the Ministry for cats and dogs that pass through the country’s territory as a transit consignment, and it must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate or vaccination document showing that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies and an import permit (no objection) from the importing country. Animals are treated the same as imported animals with regard to the classification of countries according to the degree of danger.
• 3. Animal welfare legislation and standards must be observed.

Ban on the following dog breeds to be imported into the United Arab Emirates:

Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier , American Bully, Brazilian Mastiff (Fila Brasiliero), Argentinian Mastiff (Dogo Argentino), Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, French Mastiff (Dogue de Bordeaux), Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso (Italian Mastiff), Bully Kutta (Alangu Mastiff, Indian Mastiff), Perro De Presa Canario (Canary Mastiff), Japaneese tosa, Presa Canario

(Except for those used as service animals, emotional support animals or for medical purposes and in accordance with the regulating requirements)

List of low risk countries:

Australia, Austria, Andorra, Bahrain, Barbados, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, French Polynesia, Falkland Islands, Germany, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malta, Caledonia. New Zealand, Portugal, Singapore, San Marino, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Netherlands, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Palau, Latvia, Albania, Croatia, Maldives, Spain (excluding Melilla (, Cyprus, Korea, Montenegro, Seychelles, Suriname, Micronesia, Greece, Marshall Islands, Bahamas, Lithuania, Macedonia.

Vaccinations for Dogs

1. Rabies, a valid vaccination applied according to instruction of vaccine manufacturer, initial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age.
2. Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
3. Canine Parvo Virus
4. Infectious Canine Hepatitis.
5. Leptospirosis  (Can be dispensed with and replaced by lab test in case that the exporting country does not apply vaccination)

Vaccinations for Cats

1. Rabies, a valid vaccination applied according to instruction of vaccine manufacturer, initial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age.
2. Feline Pan Leukcopenia.
3. Feline Rhinotracheitis.
4. Feline Calicivirus

For noncompliance of import requirements there will be:

• Pet will be rejected (on its owner expenses) or confiscated