What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Qatar pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination, titer test, and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
Animals Eligible for These Regulations
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of Wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.
The import of only one pet dog or cat per year is permitted. Import permits will be granted to those pet owners with Residency Permits only. Pet owners entering Qatar on a work visa must enter the country, establish residency, obtain a local mobile number before applying for a permit to import their pet.
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. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
Quarantine for Pets Entering Qatar
Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet if the following regulations are met. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.
Qatar Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Qatar must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.
Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Qatar. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
Step 2: Vaccinations
All dogs and cats over 3 months of age entering Qatar must be vaccinated with an inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine that that is approved for use in your country, was administered at the same time or after a microchip is implanted and has not expired to enter Qatar. The administering veterinarian should all record vaccination information and microchip number, apply stickers, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parvovirus and parainfluenza. Cats must be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
A rabies titer test (FAVN) administered between 3 months and 12 months before entering Qatar is required. Samples
must be processed at approved laboratories. Results must be over 0.5 IU/ml.
If your pet is not currently vaccinated for rabies, it must wait for 30 days after the rabies vaccination to get
the titer test, not counting the day when the rabies vaccination was administered.
Step 4: Import Permit
Qatar requires that pet owners obtain an Import Permit from the Department of Animal Resources. Your pet’s rabies certificate and titer test results must be included in the application. The permit is good for 30 days.
Step 5: Parasite Treatments
According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites should be administered prior to entering Qatar.
The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are recommended, but not required.
The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Step 6: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate within 14 days of entry.
Related: Pet Health Certificate for Qatar
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Qatar
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to 3 months of age. The minimum age for puppies and kittens to conform to Qatar pet import requirements is 7 months old. They must be fully vaccinated for rabies, and titer tested. All other requirements will apply.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned for Import to Qatar
The following dog breeds are not permitted entry to Qatar:
American Staffordshire Terrier, Boerboel, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Doberman Pinscher, Great Dane, Japanese Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Afghan Hound, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
Pet owners of restricted breeds must obtain a special dispensation from the Ministry of Interior to import the banned breeds as proven family pets. A local agent can assist you with this if you are planning to import one of these dog breeds.
Affenpinscher, Any breed of Pug, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bichon Frise, Boerboel, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bulldog, Bull Mastiff (English Mastiff), Cane Corso, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Chinese Shar-Pei, Chow Chow, Dogo Argentino, Dogue De Bordeaux (French Mastiff), English Mastiff, English Bulldog, English Toy Terrier, French Bulldog, Great Dane, Japanse Akita Lhasa Apso, Japanese Chin, Neapolitan Mastiff, Newfoundland, Maltese, Pekingese, Pitbull Terrier, Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, Valley Terrier, and Yorkshire Terrier.
Entering Qatar by Air
Pets must enter Qatar as checked baggage or air cargo via Hamad International Airport in Doha. Pets can enter as checked baggage or air cargo. Importers will need an IATA-compliant pet crate to transport any dog or cat. An agent in the origination country should arrange the booking if your pet is flying as air cargo.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights to Qatar should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Qatar, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the entry airport.
A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Qatar. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Qatar
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 a health certificate to enter Qatar. 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 crucial 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 this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for Qatar?
Visit PetTravelStore.com to find further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import requirements for Qatar. Unlimited email support is included.
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Qatar?
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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, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Qatar pet import requirements.
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