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Pawhopper

Pet travel route

Dog or cat from the Dominican Republic to Saudi Arabia

Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 2 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip or other approved identification, rabies vaccination and entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform) and 2 more.

Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 3 official pages

In short

Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving the Dominican Republic publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. DIGEGA's page lists the steps and documents but gives no deadline before departure and doesn't say when the Dominican veterinary college (COLVET) stamp or the VUCE single-window process is needed. Start early and ask DIGEGA (809-535-9689, ext. 307) what applies to your destination.

Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Saudi Arabia publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. MEWA's permit page lists only the conditions below. It does not mention a rabies blood test, quarantine or which origin countries are allowed, and MEWA's older printed pet-import guide is no longer online. Those rules may still exist, so ask MEWA (call 939) what applies to your route before you travel.

At a glance

How early to start (dogs)

2 weeks

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform) (apply at least 15 days before shipping)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (dogs)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine

How early to start (cats)

2 weeks

whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated

Set by: Entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform) (apply at least 15 days before shipping)

The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.

On this route (cats)

  • No rabies blood test
  • Import permit needed
  • No quarantine

Prefer a feed reader? Dominican Republic rule changes · Saudi Arabia rule changes

Dominican Republic → Saudi Arabia

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether the Dominican Republic (leaving) or Saudi Arabia (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Saudi Arabia

      At least 4 months old

      Your pet must be at least four months old.

      Details and the official words

      The page doesn't say on which date the age is counted; we count it on the day your pet leaves.

      “The pet must be at least 4 months old”

    2. IdentificationEntering Saudi Arabia

      Microchip or other approved identification

      Your pet must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved method.

      Details and the official words

      “Pets must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved identification method.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Saudi Arabia

      Rabies vaccination

      A rabies vaccination certificate must travel with your pet. The vaccination must still have at least 6 months of validity left.

      Details and the official words

      The page doesn't say on which date the 6 months are counted; we count them from the arrival date. It also doesn't say how long after the shot your pet may travel.

      “The remaining validity period of the rabies vaccination must not be less than 6 months.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PermitEntering Saudi Arabia

      Entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform)

      Apply online on the Naama platform at least 15 days before the shipping date (it takes 5–7 days and is free). The permit is valid for 30 days from issue, and your pet must enter through the port named in it.

      Details and the official words

      “The request must be submitted at least 15 days before the shipping date”

      “The permit is valid for 30 days from the issuance date”

    2. Vet examLeaving the Dominican Republic

      Health certificate from a vet, with an up-to-date vaccination record

      Take your pet to a vet for a health certificate. Bring an up-to-date vaccination record with a current rabies vaccination and a current parasite treatment, a microchip where your destination requires one, and any extra document your destination asks for (such as a rabies blood test). Get the Dominican veterinary college (COLVET) signature and stamp when it is required.

      Details and the official words

      “Certificado de salud emitido por médico veterinario.”

      “Récord o tarjeta de vacunación actualizado.”

      “Vacuna antirrábica vigente.”

      “Documentación adicional exigida por el país de destino (Serología vacuna de Rabia).”

      “Obtener firma/sello del COLVET cuando sea requerido.”

    3. PaperworkThe Dominican Republic and Saudi Arabia

      Original veterinary health certificate

      Your pet must travel with the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities in your country, plus the rabies vaccination certificate. You upload copies of both (and the vaccination record) with the permit application.

      Details and the official words

      The page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be.

      DIGEGA validates the documents; official inspection at the port of exit: Present the documents to DIGEGA (Ciudad Ganadera, Santo Domingo, Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm) to be signed and stamped (RD$ 500), and complete the VUCE single-window process where it applies. DIGEGA answers within 1 to 24 hours. Then go to the port of exit, where an official vet inspects your pet and issues the zoosanitary certificate.

      “The pet must be accompanied by the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities and a rabies vaccination certificate (or for any other required diseases).”

      “Presentar la documentación ante DIGEGA para validación (Firma y sellado).”

      “Realizar el proceso correspondiente en VUCE cuando aplique.”

      “Dirigirse al puerto de salida para la inspección veterinaria oficial y emisión del certificado zoosanitario correspondiente.”

      “Lunes a Viernes de 8:00 am – 4:00 pm”

      “1-24 Horas”

      “RD$ 500.00 pesos según el protocolo específico publicado por DIGEGA; conviene validar si existen costos adicionales asociados al trámite/VUCE o al destino.”

Good to know

  • The person applying for the permit must be at least 21 years old for a dog and at least 18 for a cat.
  • Banned in Saudi Arabia, pure or mixed: Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Boxer, Mastiff, Tosa, Bulldog and Perro de Presa Canario. Dogs must belong to a breed that is allowed.
  • Meeting DIGEGA's requirements doesn't replace your destination's entry requirements: check them before you start, as some countries ask for a microchip, a rabies blood test or other certificates. DIGEGA recommends starting well ahead of your travel date.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. Age ruleEntering Saudi Arabia

      At least 4 months old

      Your pet must be at least four months old.

      Details and the official words

      The page doesn't say on which date the age is counted; we count it on the day your pet leaves.

      “The pet must be at least 4 months old”

    2. IdentificationEntering Saudi Arabia

      Microchip or other approved identification

      Your pet must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved method.

      Details and the official words

      “Pets must be identified with an electronic microchip or another approved identification method.”

    3. VaccinationEntering Saudi Arabia

      Rabies vaccination

      A rabies vaccination certificate must travel with your pet. The vaccination must still have at least 6 months of validity left.

      Details and the official words

      The page doesn't say on which date the 6 months are counted; we count them from the arrival date. It also doesn't say how long after the shot your pet may travel.

      “The remaining validity period of the rabies vaccination must not be less than 6 months.”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. PermitEntering Saudi Arabia

      Entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform)

      Apply online on the Naama platform at least 15 days before the shipping date (it takes 5–7 days and is free). The permit is valid for 30 days from issue, and your pet must enter through the port named in it.

      Details and the official words

      “The request must be submitted at least 15 days before the shipping date”

      “The permit is valid for 30 days from the issuance date”

    2. Vet examLeaving the Dominican Republic

      Health certificate from a vet, with an up-to-date vaccination record

      Take your pet to a vet for a health certificate. Bring an up-to-date vaccination record with a current rabies vaccination and a current parasite treatment, a microchip where your destination requires one, and any extra document your destination asks for (such as a rabies blood test). Get the Dominican veterinary college (COLVET) signature and stamp when it is required.

      Details and the official words

      “Certificado de salud emitido por médico veterinario.”

      “Récord o tarjeta de vacunación actualizado.”

      “Vacuna antirrábica vigente.”

      “Documentación adicional exigida por el país de destino (Serología vacuna de Rabia).”

      “Obtener firma/sello del COLVET cuando sea requerido.”

    3. PaperworkThe Dominican Republic and Saudi Arabia

      Original veterinary health certificate

      Your pet must travel with the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities in your country, plus the rabies vaccination certificate. You upload copies of both (and the vaccination record) with the permit application.

      Details and the official words

      The page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be.

      DIGEGA validates the documents; official inspection at the port of exit: Present the documents to DIGEGA (Ciudad Ganadera, Santo Domingo, Monday to Friday 8 am to 4 pm) to be signed and stamped (RD$ 500), and complete the VUCE single-window process where it applies. DIGEGA answers within 1 to 24 hours. Then go to the port of exit, where an official vet inspects your pet and issues the zoosanitary certificate.

      “The pet must be accompanied by the original veterinary health certificate issued by the competent authorities and a rabies vaccination certificate (or for any other required diseases).”

      “Presentar la documentación ante DIGEGA para validación (Firma y sellado).”

      “Realizar el proceso correspondiente en VUCE cuando aplique.”

      “Dirigirse al puerto de salida para la inspección veterinaria oficial y emisión del certificado zoosanitario correspondiente.”

      “Lunes a Viernes de 8:00 am – 4:00 pm”

      “1-24 Horas”

      “RD$ 500.00 pesos según el protocolo específico publicado por DIGEGA; conviene validar si existen costos adicionales asociados al trámite/VUCE o al destino.”

Good to know

  • The person applying for the permit must be at least 21 years old for a dog and at least 18 for a cat.
  • Meeting DIGEGA's requirements doesn't replace your destination's entry requirements: check them before you start, as some countries ask for a microchip, a rabies blood test or other certificates. DIGEGA recommends starting well ahead of your travel date.

Money

What it costs

Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in the Dominican Republic publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 500 DOP (each currency separately)

What vets and labs charge Not official figures

We have no published vet or lab prices for the Dominican Republic yet.

Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices

Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.

Round trip

Coming back to the Dominican Republic

Nothing for the trip back has to happen before your pet leaves the Dominican Republic.

The trip back asks for 7 steps: vet examination within 72 hours before departure, internal and external parasite treatment before the vet examination, rabies vaccination (inactivated vaccine) from 90 days old, at least 30 days before departure and rabies vaccination within the 12 months before departure and more.

Every step from Saudi Arabia to the Dominican Republic

Nearby routes

Other routes

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask

Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from the Dominican Republic to Saudi Arabia?

No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.

Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into Saudi Arabia?

Yes: Apply online on the Naama platform at least 15 days before the shipping date (it takes 5–7 days and is free).

Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Saudi Arabia?

Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.

How early should I start preparing my pet for the Dominican Republic to Saudi Arabia?

With nothing done yet, start at least 2 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: microchip or other approved identification, rabies vaccination and entry permit from MEWA (Naama platform) and 2 more.

Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake

Read next

Turn this into dates for your pet

Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.

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