Moving your dog or cat from United States to United Arab Emirates
Short answer: start at least 52 days before your flight. Rules last checked against official sources on 2026-10-30.
This page and the planner are generated automatically from official government sources. Planning tool only — not veterinary, legal or professional advice; no human expert reviews your plan. Always confirm with your vet, the official authority and your airline.
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United States → United Arab Emirates pet import requirements
| Requirement | Status | Details | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Microchip | required | Permanent microchip; number must match the health certificate. | official |
| Rabies vaccine | required | Rabies vaccine at 12+ weeks old, at least 21 days before travel. Also: dogs — distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis; cats — panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus (name, maker, batch, date recorded). | official |
| Rabies titer test (RNATT) | required | The US is not on the UAE low-risk list: rabies titer ≥0.5 IU/ml, sample ≤12 months before travel and ≥21 days after a first/lapsed vaccination (same day allowed after a valid booster). | official |
| Health certificate / endorsement | required | Health certificate by a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA; valid 10 days after issuance. Records parasite treatments and titer result. | official |
| Import permit / pre-notification | required | MOCCAE import permit before travel (MOCCAE: valid 90 days; APHIS: 30 days — so get it within 30 days of arrival). Max 2 cats/dogs per person per year. | official |
| Quarantine | conditional | Inspected on arrival and released if compliant; non-compliant pets are rejected at the owner's expense or confiscated. | official |
| Approved routes / airports | required | Must travel as manifested cargo; transit without contact with other animals (signed attestation). | official |
| Breed restrictions | required | Banned: Pit Bull types (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully), mastiffs (Fila, Dogo Argentino, Tibetan, Neapolitan, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Presa Canario), Japanese Tosa, and their mixes. Bengal/Serval cats need a 5th-generation pedigree. | official |
| Other | required | Pet must be at least 15 weeks old at import. Release fee at the port (dog AED 500, cat AED 250); permit AED 200. | official |
Order of steps
- Microchip your pet — at least 52 days before the flight. Before vaccinations so the number appears on every record.
- Rabies vaccination (12+ weeks old) — at least 51 days before the flight. At least 21 days before the titer sample (if first or lapsed) and before travel.
- Core vaccinations — at least 21 days before the flight. Dogs: distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis. Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calicivirus. Recommended: done at least 3 weeks ahead.
- Rabies titer blood sample — between 365 and 30 days before the flight. ≤12 months before travel; result must be ≥0.5 IU/ml. Recommended: allow ~4 weeks for results.
- Apply for the MOCCAE import permit — between 30 and 3 days before the flight. Within 30 days before arrival (stricter of MOCCAE 90 / APHIS 30 days). Usually issued in 1 working day.
- Internal + external parasite treatment — between 14 and 2 days before the flight. Within 14 days before travel; recorded on the health certificate.
- USDA-accredited vet issues health certificate; USDA endorses — between 10 and 2 days before the flight. Valid 10 days after issuance; original ink-signed, embossed copy travels with the pet.
- Fly as manifested cargo; present documents to port officials — at least 0 days before the flight. Health certificate, vaccination records, titer result, permit copy.
Items marked “verify” could not be fully confirmed; check the official source and your vet.