Bahrain Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Bahrain pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Bahrain will include import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test and an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO BAHRAIN below.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for pets entering Bahrain

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Bahrain if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

Bahrain Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to Bahrain pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

All dogs and cats entering Bahrain must be identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit, pet microchip which is compliant with ISO 11784 or Annex A of ISO 11785. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

A licensed veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer or your government’s database.

If your pet does not have a registered microchip, pets should wear tags that identify them and have contact information for the owner.

Step 2: Vaccinations

All cats and dogs over 2 months** of age must be vaccinated for rabies between 21 days and 12 months prior to entering Bahrain for primary vaccinations. Booster vaccinations must be administered prior to the expiration of the previous vaccination.

**Note that, even though Bahrain’s regulations permit a rabies vaccination at 2 months, the recommended age for rabies vaccination is no sooner than 3 months.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign and stamp either:

• a rabies certificate or
• a government-issued vaccination booklet or
• an EU Pet Passport

Other Vaccinations

Dogs over two months of age must have had at least one dose of DHLP (distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus) according to intervals prescribed by a licensed veterinarian.

Cats over two months of age must have had at least one dose of Tri-cat (feline rhinotracheitis, calicivirus & panleukopenia) according to intervals prescribed by a licensed veterinarian.

All vaccinations should be recorded on the pet health certificate (step 5).

Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

Dogs and cats entering Bahrain from a country considered by the World Organization of Animal Health to be rabies-free will not need a rabies titer test. The determination for the rabies classification of the origination country will be made at the time of import permit application (step 6).

If a pet is entering Bahrain from any other country, then a licensed veterinarian in the origination country will need to administer a rabies titer test no sooner than 21 days after the rabies vaccination to avoid quarantine.

Even with an acceptable rabies titer test, your pet will be taken to a quarantine center where it will undergo inspection after clearing customs. Note that there are countries where no more than a 2-hour quarantine will be applied. The affected countries can change, so it is recommended to have the rabies titer test done regardless, so there is no
question as to whether quarantine is imposed on your pet upon entry.

Blood samples must be processed at approved laboratories. The test is valid for the life of the pet if rabies boosters are consistently administered prior to the expiration date of the previous vaccine.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

Parasite treatments for internal and external parasites are strongly recommended prior to entering Bahrain with products approved in the origination country. Dogs should have proof of treatment against Tenia Echinococcus.

The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue a record of treatment. Pets should always be inspected for parasites prior to any international travel.

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate including:

A licensed veterinarian in your country must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Bahrain within 10 days of entry.

The form must be endorsed by the governmental agency responsible for the import and export of animals. The rabies certificate(s) and rabies titer test should also be submitted for endorsement.

Step 6: Import Permit

A No Objection Certificate (import permit) is required when entering Bahrain with a personal pet, and it is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. It must be obtained by an agent in Bahrain.

More Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Bahrain

Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies before 3 months of age. Unless entering Bahrain from a country classified by the World Organization for Animal Health as rabies-free, all puppies and kittens must conform to import regulations listed here. Puppies less than 3 months of age are not permitted entry into Bahrain from any country.

Related: More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by Bahrain

Bahrain does not publish a list of banned breeds. Pet owners are always responsible for their pet’s behavior.

Entering Bahrain by Air

All live animals must enter Bahrain at the Bahrain International Airport in Muharraq as air cargo according to airline pet policies. Pets must travel in a crate in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?

All live animals should enter Bahrain directly or transit through a rabies-controlled country, if possible*. If transiting, pets should stay on the same airline to avoid entering the layover country.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

Importers should inform veterinary officials in advance as they will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing. Border officials will inspect your pet and confirm that its pet passport documentation is correct.

All dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at the importer’s expense.

Importing Other Animals to Bahrain

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have an import permit and health certificate to enter Bahrain. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is important if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If so, you will have to submit additional permit applications.

Over 180 nations participate and enforce CITES rules and protections.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Bahrain?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Bahrain at minimal cost.

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Current information

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to:

• make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense or
• return your pet to the country of origin, or
• euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Bahrain pet import requirements.