Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Kenya to the United Arab Emirates: the rules
Possible. With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: permanent microchip, rabies vaccination and core vaccinations and 5 more.
Rules checked up to 13 October 2026From 3 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- The United Arab Emirates puts Kenya in the group “Country not on the UAE’s low-risk list”, which decides part of the rules.
- On this route: rabies blood test needed, import permit needed and parasite treatment before travel.
- Coming back to Kenya? 2 steps have to happen before your pet leaves.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Kenya publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Kenya's Directorate of Veterinary Services doesn't publish its export procedure for pets on its own website. We use KenTrade's InfoTrade description of the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), last updated in 2022. It gives no processing time, doesn't say how long before departure to apply, and lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. Confirm with the Directorate (infodvs@kilimo.go.ke) before you travel.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies blood test (titer) (before shipping)
1 day
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: UAE import permit (issued in 1 working day)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (dogs)
- Rabies blood test needed
- Import permit needed
- Parasite treatment before travel
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
How early to start (cats)
3 weeks
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet
Set by: Rabies blood test (titer) (before shipping)
1 day
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Set by: UAE import permit (issued in 1 working day)
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- Rabies blood test needed
- Import permit needed
- Parasite treatment before travel
Part of this route is still under review, so we don’t say what it doesn’t need.
Which rules apply to you
The United Arab Emirates puts Kenya in the group “Country not on the UAE’s low-risk list”. See every group
Official name: Not on the low-risk list — rabies titer test needed
Rule-change alertsChecked daily
Know the moment the rules change from Kenya to the United Arab Emirates
We check the official sources every day. If a rule changes, you get a notification on this device.
- Free
- No email or account
- Turn off any time
- 1Tap Share in Safari
- 2Choose Add to Home Screen
- 3Open Pawhopper from your Home Screen, then tap Turn on alerts here
Alerts are on
We’ll notify this device when a rule changes from Kenya to the United Arab Emirates.
New pet travel guides are on for this browser.
Pawhopper · now
Rule change for pets travelling from Kenya to the United Arab Emirates
Leaving rules: China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa and Kenya (short summaries, under review). Tap to see what changed.
Prefer a feed reader? Kenya rule changes · United Arab Emirates rule changes
We keep only this browser’s push address and the countries, until you turn alerts off. Privacy
Kenya → United Arab Emirates
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Kenya (leaving) or the United Arab Emirates (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
Age ruleEntering the United Arab Emirates
Minimum age
From a low-risk country your pet must be at least 12 weeks old; from a high-risk country at least 15 weeks old.
Details and the official words
“the minimum age for importing from the high risk countries is not less than 15 weeks”
IdentificationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Permanent microchip
Your pet needs a permanent microchip, and the number on the health certificate must match it.
Details and the official words
“The cats and dogs must be identified with a permanent microchip”
VaccinationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Rabies vaccination
A valid rabies vaccination (per the vaccine maker's instructions), with the first dose given at 12 weeks old or older, recorded with vaccine name, maker, batch number and date.
Details and the official words
“initial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age”
VaccinationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Core vaccinations
Dogs: distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis (or a lab test if your country doesn't vaccinate for it). Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus.
Details and the official words
“Leptospirosis (Can be dispensed with and replaced by lab test in case that the exporting country does not apply vaccination)”
Blood testEntering the United Arab Emirates
Rabies blood test (titer)
Because your pet comes from a country the UAE treats as high-risk, it needs a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) at a lab approved in the exporting country, done before shipping. After a first vaccination (or a lapse) wait at least 21 days before the test; after a valid booster it can be done straight away. The result is valid for 365 days — but a new booster means repeating the test. There's no waiting period after the test.
Details and the official words
Allow time for the lab result before you fly — the certificate (or the result on the health certificate) must travel with your pet.
“a period not less than 21 days must pass from vaccination against Rabies”
“The test result should not be less than (0.5 IU / ml)”
“The validity of the Rabies Testing certificate is 365 days, in a condition that the rabies vaccine is valid and continue and no booster dose was given”
PermitEntering the United Arab Emirates
UAE import permit
Apply online on the MOCCAE website before your pet travels (AED 200 per animal). It's issued in 1 working day and is valid for 90 days — your pet can't enter on an expired permit.
Details and the official words
“validity of permit is 90 days. It is not allowed to import pets with an expired import permit”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Kenya
Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board
A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”
TreatmentEntering the United Arab Emirates
Internal and external parasite treatment
Treat your pet for internal and external parasites within the 14 days before it's shipped, and have it recorded on the health certificate or passport.
Details and the official words
“The animal was received preventive doses for internal and external parasites during the 14 days prior to shipment”
PaperworkKenya and the United Arab Emirates
Health certificate from your country's veterinary authority
An authorised health certificate issued by the competent veterinary authority of the country you're travelling from, with the microchip number.
Details and the official words
International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.
Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.
InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.
“Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.”
“The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”
“Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”
“From the country of destination.”
“EU export health certificate (copy)”
“For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”
“KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering the United Arab Emirates
Release on arrival (dog)
On arrival, apply for release with the customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record, health certificate (and titer certificate if needed). Your dog is inspected; the release fee is AED 500 per dog.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: Pets that don't meet the requirements are rejected at the owner's expense or confiscated.
“A customs declaration or bill of lading showing the delivery data”
Good to know
- Banned in the UAE: Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Tibetan Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeaux, Boerboel, Bullmastiff, Cane Corso, Bully Kutta, Presa Canario and Japanese Tosa (service, support and medical dogs excepted under the rules).
- The UAE only lists low-risk countries; everywhere else — including the USA, Canada, Germany, France and Italy — counts as high-risk, so a rabies blood test is needed.
- The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.
Cats
Taking a dog or cat out of Kenya (DVS international veterinary certificate): we summarised this from a short or older official page and it is still under review, so it may be incomplete.
Get ready
Age ruleEntering the United Arab Emirates
Minimum age
From a low-risk country your pet must be at least 12 weeks old; from a high-risk country at least 15 weeks old.
Details and the official words
“the minimum age for importing from the high risk countries is not less than 15 weeks”
IdentificationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Permanent microchip
Your pet needs a permanent microchip, and the number on the health certificate must match it.
Details and the official words
“The cats and dogs must be identified with a permanent microchip”
VaccinationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Rabies vaccination
A valid rabies vaccination (per the vaccine maker's instructions), with the first dose given at 12 weeks old or older, recorded with vaccine name, maker, batch number and date.
Details and the official words
“initial dose should not be applied before 12 weeks of animal age”
VaccinationEntering the United Arab Emirates
Core vaccinations
Dogs: distemper, parvovirus, infectious hepatitis and leptospirosis (or a lab test if your country doesn't vaccinate for it). Cats: panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis and calicivirus.
Details and the official words
“Leptospirosis (Can be dispensed with and replaced by lab test in case that the exporting country does not apply vaccination)”
Blood testEntering the United Arab Emirates
Rabies blood test (titer)
Because your pet comes from a country the UAE treats as high-risk, it needs a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) at a lab approved in the exporting country, done before shipping. After a first vaccination (or a lapse) wait at least 21 days before the test; after a valid booster it can be done straight away. The result is valid for 365 days — but a new booster means repeating the test. There's no waiting period after the test.
Details and the official words
Allow time for the lab result before you fly — the certificate (or the result on the health certificate) must travel with your pet.
“a period not less than 21 days must pass from vaccination against Rabies”
“The test result should not be less than (0.5 IU / ml)”
“The validity of the Rabies Testing certificate is 365 days, in a condition that the rabies vaccine is valid and continue and no booster dose was given”
PermitEntering the United Arab Emirates
UAE import permit
Apply online on the MOCCAE website before your pet travels (AED 200 per animal). It's issued in 1 working day and is valid for 90 days — your pet can't enter on an expired permit.
Details and the official words
“validity of permit is 90 days. It is not allowed to import pets with an expired import permit”
In the days before you travel
Vet examLeaving Kenya
Health certificate from a vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board
A vet registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board examines your pet and issues a veterinary health certificate. You upload a copy of it, with a copy of your pet's vaccination certificate, when you apply for the export certificate.
Details and the official words
“Issued by registered veterinarians with Kenya Veterinary Board.”
TreatmentEntering the United Arab Emirates
Internal and external parasite treatment
Treat your pet for internal and external parasites within the 14 days before it's shipped, and have it recorded on the health certificate or passport.
Details and the official words
“The animal was received preventive doses for internal and external parasites during the 14 days prior to shipment”
PaperworkKenya and the United Arab Emirates
Health certificate from your country's veterinary authority
An authorised health certificate issued by the competent veterinary authority of the country you're travelling from, with the microchip number.
Details and the official words
International veterinary certificate (VS16) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services: Apply online on KenTrade's Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP) for the international veterinary certificate for dogs and cats (VS16), issued per consignment. You need a Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and copies of the vet's health certificate, the vaccination certificate and the import permit from the destination country; for the European Union, also a copy of the EU health certificate. Pay the processing fee (up to KES 500 per pet) by M-PESA or at the bank, then receive the certificate on the platform.
Processing fee: KES 0 to 500 per pet (KenTrade's estimate). M-PESA paybill 522522, account 1106972791.
InfoTrade lists a copy of the destination's import permit for every export. If your destination doesn't issue one (EU countries and the UK, for example), ask DVS what to upload instead.
“Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.”
“The certificate is processed through the Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP), and is issued per consignment.”
“Unique consignment reference (UCR) number”
“From the country of destination.”
“EU export health certificate (copy)”
“For MPESA payments, the paybill number is 522522 and the account number is 1106972791.”
“KES 0 - KES 500 per pet”
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering the United Arab Emirates
Release on arrival (cat)
On arrival, apply for release with the customs declaration or bill of lading, vaccination record, health certificate (and titer certificate if needed). Your cat is inspected; the release fee is AED 250 per cat.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: Pets that don't meet the requirements are rejected at the owner's expense or confiscated.
“A customs declaration or bill of lading showing the delivery data”
Good to know
- The UAE only lists low-risk countries; everywhere else — including the USA, Canada, Germany, France and Italy — counts as high-risk, so a rabies blood test is needed.
- The Directorate of Veterinary Services issues the certificate only once the destination's conditions are met and your pet is healthy and free of disease, so find out your destination's requirements first.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Kenya publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
MOCCAE import permitEntering United Arab Emirates · 200 AED for each extra pet200 AED
“For import permit for cats & dogs per one head 200”
Import of pets (cats / dogs) · as of 2026-10-08
MOCCAE release (dog)Entering United Arab Emirates · 500 AED for each extra pet500 AED
“For the release permit for of one dog 500”
Import of pets (cats / dogs) · as of 2026-10-08
Government fees in total: 700 AED (each currency separately)
May also apply, depending on your case
MOCCAE release (cat)Entering United Arab Emirates · 250 AED for each extra pet250 AED
“For the release permit for of one cat 250”
Import of pets (cats / dogs) · as of 2026-10-08
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
Rabies blood test: the lab’s own pricean approved laboratory; your vet adds the blood draw and the courier · for: rabies blood test (titer)Prices from 8 countries
Austria: 1 published price
- AGES (Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety), Institute for Veterinary Investigations Mödling: Lab price for the rabies antibody titre test for pets (EU-recognised lab), samples sent from EU countries, 20% VAT included; transport to the lab paid by the sender97.26 EUR · per sample · read 2026-10-13
France: 2 published prices
- Laboratoire départemental de la Haute-Garonne (LD31 EVA): Lab price for the FAVN (WOAH/OMSA method) rabies antibody test, VAT included, price guaranteed until 31/12/2026 (from the lab's order form)99 EUR · per test · read 2026-10-13
- Inovalys (laboratory): Lab price only: rabies antibody titration (COFRAC accredited), ordered online by the owner; the page says the blood sample is taken by your vet and sending it to the lab is the owner's responsibility (no amounts given for those)99.18 EUR · per test · read 2026-10-13
the United Kingdom: 2 published prices
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge: Lab price for the FAVN rabies antibody test for dogs and cats for pet travel (test code TC0712), single sample, excluding VAT72.30 GBP · per test · read 2026-10-13
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Weybridge: Lab price for the FAVN rabies antibody test for dogs and cats, extended method (test code TC0570), single sample, excluding VAT106 GBP · per test · read 2026-10-13
Japan: 1 published price
- Research Institute for Animal Science in Biochemistry and Toxicology (RIAS, 一般財団法人生物科学安全研究所): Lab fee only: rabies antibody test at RIAS (a MAFF-designated lab), tax included, paid in advance by bank transfer; vet's blood draw and shipping not included15,000 JPY · per sample · read 2026-10-13
Poland: 1 published price
- National Veterinary Research Institute (PIWet-PIB), Puławy: Lab price for the FAVN rabies antibody test, standard service (max 21 calendar days), electronic report only, gross (VAT included)280 PLN · per test · read 2026-10-13
Sweden: 1 published price
- Swedish Veterinary Agency (SVA): Lab price for the FAVN rabies vaccination-check antibody test (article D142410), excluding VAT (exkl. moms)1,365 SEK · per test · read 2026-10-13
the United States: 1 published price
- University of Missouri Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory: Lab price for the FAVN rabies antibody test for pet travel/export (University of Missouri VMDL One Health-Rabies Laboratory); shipping not stated79 USD · per test · read 2026-10-13
South Africa: 1 published price
- Agricultural Research Council – Onderstepoort Veterinary Research (ARC-OVR): Lab price for the rabies neutralization (antibody) test per clear serum sample, VAT included; the price list does not name FAVN or RFFIT (ARC-Onderstepoort diagnostic price list, PDF created May 2026)2,030 ZAR · per clear serum sample · read 2026-10-13
No published prices yet for Kenya: microchip, rabies vaccination, other vaccinations, parasite treatment, health certificate (vet’s fee), vet examination.
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 Kenya
Do before your pet leaves Kenya
- Rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment
- Rabies blood test, 3 to 24 months before shipment
Their timing rules put them before the outbound trip, for a three-month stay.
The trip back asks for 8 steps: import permit (VS01) from the Directorate of Veterinary Services, microchip (or other permanent identification), rabies vaccination: first one at 3 months or older, at least 6 months before shipment and rabies vaccination within the last year and more.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Import of pets (cats / dogs)
- International veterinary certificate for dogs & cats (VS16): export procedure (InfoTrade Kenya, KenTrade)
- International veterinary certificate for dogs & cats (VS16), step 1: apply, generate an e-slip and pay (InfoTrade Kenya, last modified 15/03/2022)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-13.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Kenya to the United Arab Emirates?
Yes: Because your pet comes from a country the UAE treats as high-risk, it needs a rabies antibody test (at least 0.5 IU/ml) at a lab approved in the exporting country, done before shipping.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into the United Arab Emirates?
Yes: Apply online on the MOCCAE website before your pet travels (AED 200 per animal).
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in the United Arab Emirates?
We couldn't find this in our summary of the rules, but that summary is short and still under review. Ask the official authority before you rely on it.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Kenya to the United Arab Emirates?
With nothing done yet, start at least 3 weeks ahead for a dog. The main steps: permanent microchip, rabies vaccination and core vaccinations and 5 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.