Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Iceland to Qatar: official requirements
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination, import permit from the Department of Animal Resources, official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin and tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival.
Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 3 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- On this route: import permit needed, tell the authority in advance and arrive at a set entry point.
- No rabies blood test or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
- Coming back to Iceland? One step has to happen before your pet leaves.
Limited official guidance. The authority for entering Qatar publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Qatar's pets page is a short summary dated 2020, and the general Veterinary Quarantine Law adds only broad rules. Neither mentions a rabies blood test, a quarantine period or which origin countries are allowed, and the veterinary authority may require tests or vaccinations, so ask the Department of Animal Resources what applies to your route before you travel.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (at least 30 days before travel)
3 days
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival (at least 72 hours before arrival)
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
- Tell the authority in advance
- Arrive at a set entry point
How early to start (cats)
4 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies vaccination (at least 30 days before travel)
3 days
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival (at least 72 hours before arrival)
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
- Tell the authority in advance
- Arrive at a set entry point
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Iceland → Qatar
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Iceland (leaving) or Qatar (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
Age ruleEntering Qatar
More than four months old
To get approval your pet must be older than four months.
Details and the official words
“the age of pets must be above four months”
VaccinationEntering Qatar
Rabies vaccination
A rabies certificate is required, and vaccinations must have been given at least 30 days before the travel date.
Details and the official words
The page says 'its vaccinations' without naming which ones; only the rabies certificate is named as required.
“A copy of the animal's current vaccination record (rabies certificate is required).”
“has been given its vaccinations at least 30 days before the date of travel”
In the days before you travel
PermitEntering Qatar
Import permit from the Department of Animal Resources
Visit a Department of Animal Resources veterinary clinic (Al Matar Street in Al Rayyan, or Al Shamal), fill in the import request form and bring a copy of your ID card and your pet's current vaccination record. The permit is valid for one month, so it must be used within a month of issue. The law says importing animals is prohibited unless the permit was obtained beforehand.
Details and the official words
“To obtain an import license, visit one of the Department of Animal Resources' veterinary clinics on Al Matar Street in Al Rayyan area or Al Shamal to fill out an import request form”
“The import permit is valid for one month.”
“shall be prohibited unless the necessary permit has been previously obtained from the competent veterinary authority.”
PaperworkEntering Qatar
Official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin
The law says animals arriving in Qatar must come with an official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin. It must show the official stamps, the animal's origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of the epidemic and infectious diseases the Qatari veterinary authority specifies. You present the documents on arrival, before the animal is unloaded.
Details and the official words
The law covers 'animal consignments' and lists cats and dogs among domestic animals. The government pets page doesn't mention a certificate, so ask the Department of Animal Resources what it wants for a pet. The law gives no number of days for 'immediately before shipping'.
“Official veterinary health certificate certified as valid by the country of origin and showing the official stamps of the consignment, its origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of epidemic and infectious diseases specified by the competent veterinary authority.”
“The documents shall be presented to the appointee of the quarantine upon the arrival, and before the unloading, of the animal consignment.”
“means animals used for the purpose of domestic keeping, such as cats and dogs”
NoticeEntering Qatar
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival.
Details and the official words
“The owners of the animal consignments shall inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival or exit from the country.”
Travel day and arrival
RouteEntering Qatar
Enter through a designated port
The law names Doha Sea Port, Doha International Airport and Abou Samara land port as the ports animals may enter through (the minister may add others). The government's pets page describes pets arriving at Hamad International Airport, where they are kept in a special facility until customs clearance is complete.
Details and the official words
“except through the following ports: 1- Doha Sea Port; 2- Doha International Airport; 3- Abou Samara land port;”
Good to know
- The veterinary authority can run tests on animals before it lets them enter or leave Qatar. The government pages don't say which tests apply to a pet, so ask the Department of Animal Resources.
- The general rules below come from an English translation of Qatar's Veterinary Quarantine Law (the copy on FAO's FAOLEX database), not from the official Arabic text, and the law still names the old ministry (Municipal Affairs and Agriculture): check the current requirements with the Department of Animal Resources.
- The health certificate must be written in Arabic or English, or translated into one of them by a certified translation attested by the embassy of the country of export.
- Banned in Qatar: American Staffordshire Terrier, Boerboel, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Doberman, Great Dane, Japanese Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Afghan Hound, Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.
- Incoming pets are kept at a special facility at Hamad International Airport until customs clearance is complete. Approved pets may come as cargo or excess baggage.
- MAST publishes its own procedure only for trips to EU/EEA countries and Great Britain. For other countries, follow the destination's import rules; some destinations need the documents officially endorsed by MAST, so contact petimport@mast.is in good time.
Cats
Get ready
Age ruleEntering Qatar
More than four months old
To get approval your pet must be older than four months.
Details and the official words
“the age of pets must be above four months”
VaccinationEntering Qatar
Rabies vaccination
A rabies certificate is required, and vaccinations must have been given at least 30 days before the travel date.
Details and the official words
The page says 'its vaccinations' without naming which ones; only the rabies certificate is named as required.
“A copy of the animal's current vaccination record (rabies certificate is required).”
“has been given its vaccinations at least 30 days before the date of travel”
In the days before you travel
PermitEntering Qatar
Import permit from the Department of Animal Resources
Visit a Department of Animal Resources veterinary clinic (Al Matar Street in Al Rayyan, or Al Shamal), fill in the import request form and bring a copy of your ID card and your pet's current vaccination record. The permit is valid for one month, so it must be used within a month of issue. The law says importing animals is prohibited unless the permit was obtained beforehand.
Details and the official words
“To obtain an import license, visit one of the Department of Animal Resources' veterinary clinics on Al Matar Street in Al Rayyan area or Al Shamal to fill out an import request form”
“The import permit is valid for one month.”
“shall be prohibited unless the necessary permit has been previously obtained from the competent veterinary authority.”
PaperworkEntering Qatar
Official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin
The law says animals arriving in Qatar must come with an official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin. It must show the official stamps, the animal's origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of the epidemic and infectious diseases the Qatari veterinary authority specifies. You present the documents on arrival, before the animal is unloaded.
Details and the official words
The law covers 'animal consignments' and lists cats and dogs among domestic animals. The government pets page doesn't mention a certificate, so ask the Department of Animal Resources what it wants for a pet. The law gives no number of days for 'immediately before shipping'.
“Official veterinary health certificate certified as valid by the country of origin and showing the official stamps of the consignment, its origin, its testing immediately before shipping, and that it is free of epidemic and infectious diseases specified by the competent veterinary authority.”
“The documents shall be presented to the appointee of the quarantine upon the arrival, and before the unloading, of the animal consignment.”
“means animals used for the purpose of domestic keeping, such as cats and dogs”
NoticeEntering Qatar
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival.
Details and the official words
“The owners of the animal consignments shall inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of arrival or exit from the country.”
Travel day and arrival
RouteEntering Qatar
Enter through a designated port
The law names Doha Sea Port, Doha International Airport and Abou Samara land port as the ports animals may enter through (the minister may add others). The government's pets page describes pets arriving at Hamad International Airport, where they are kept in a special facility until customs clearance is complete.
Details and the official words
“except through the following ports: 1- Doha Sea Port; 2- Doha International Airport; 3- Abou Samara land port;”
Good to know
- The veterinary authority can run tests on animals before it lets them enter or leave Qatar. The government pages don't say which tests apply to a pet, so ask the Department of Animal Resources.
- The general rules below come from an English translation of Qatar's Veterinary Quarantine Law (the copy on FAO's FAOLEX database), not from the official Arabic text, and the law still names the old ministry (Municipal Affairs and Agriculture): check the current requirements with the Department of Animal Resources.
- The health certificate must be written in Arabic or English, or translated into one of them by a certified translation attested by the embassy of the country of export.
- Incoming pets are kept at a special facility at Hamad International Airport until customs clearance is complete. Approved pets may come as cargo or excess baggage.
- MAST publishes its own procedure only for trips to EU/EEA countries and Great Britain. For other countries, follow the destination's import rules; some destinations need the documents officially endorsed by MAST, so contact petimport@mast.is in good time.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Iceland publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
No fee applies to every trip; these may, depending on your case
MAST endorsement of the pet health certificateLeaving Iceland6,606 ISK
“The endorsement fee is ISK 6.606.”
Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST) · as of 2026-10-05
MAST clinical examination and export certificate (unaccompanied pet to the EU)Leaving Iceland13,211 ISK
“The endorsement fee is ISK 13.211”
Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST) · as of 2026-10-05
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Iceland 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 Iceland
Do before your pet leaves Iceland (dogs)
- Rabies vaccination
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 19 steps: coming from a country that isn't approved: MAST's authorisation, import permit from MAST, book 14 days at a quarantine station and ISO microchip and more.
Do before your pet leaves Iceland (cats)
- Rabies vaccination
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 17 steps: coming from a country that isn't approved: MAST's authorisation, import permit from MAST, book 14 days at a quarantine station and ISO microchip and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Pets and Animal Control (Hukoomi)
- Law No. 14 of 2003 on Veterinary Quarantine (English text, FAOLEX)
- Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Iceland to Qatar?
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 Qatar?
Yes: Visit a Department of Animal Resources veterinary clinic (Al Matar Street in Al Rayyan, or Al Shamal), fill in the import request form and bring a copy of your ID card and your pet's current vaccination record.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in Qatar?
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 Iceland to Qatar?
With nothing done yet, start at least 4 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: rabies vaccination, import permit from the Department of Animal Resources, official veterinary health certificate from the country of origin and tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before arrival.
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.