Pet travel route
Taking a dog or cat from Qatar → the United Kingdom
What the official rules ask for on this route, for a family pet travelling with its owner. Enter your travel date and your pet’s details to turn it into a dated checklist.
Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Qatar publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Qatar publishes no step-by-step guide for taking a pet out. These steps come from the general Veterinary Quarantine Law (an English translation), which sets the rules for exporting any animal, and from one sentence on the government's pets page. The destination decides what the certificate must say, and the veterinary authority may add tests or vaccinations, so ask the Department of Animal Resources early.
How early to start
about 4 months
if your pet has no microchip or rabies vaccination yet (the least time the official waiting periods allow)
about 3 months
if it is already microchipped and vaccinated
Counted only from the officially fixed waiting periods. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times are on top, so start earlier.
Which rules apply to you
Qatar is in the group “Not listed — rabies blood test needed” in Bringing a dog, cat or ferret into Great Britain’s published list.See every group
Headlines for the United Kingdom
- Rabies blood test for some origins
- Tapeworm treatment for some pets
What your dog needs
Dogs
Route
Use an approved travel route
Book an airline, ferry or rail route that is approved for pet travel into Great Britain.
Details and the official words
“Check your route is approved for pet travel.”
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped on or before the day of its rabies vaccination. An ISO 11784/11785 chip can be read at the border; otherwise bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: The rabies vaccination doesn't count and must be given again.
“You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Vaccinate against rabies (pet at least 12 weeks old). After a first (primary) vaccination you must wait at least 21 full days before arriving; no wait after a booster if the cover never lapsed.
Details and the official words
Some vaccines take longer to work (e.g. 30 days) — your vet will tell you.
“Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.”
“You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given.”
Blood test
Rabies blood test (titer)
Your vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to an EU-approved lab. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. You must then wait 3 months from the sample date before travelling.
Details and the official words
The test stays valid as long as the rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.
We count '3 months' as the longest possible 3 calendar months, so the date we show is always safe.
“Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.”
“You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.”
Paperwork
Great Britain pet health certificate
Get a Great Britain pet health certificate signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian in the country you travel from. Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of it being issued.
Details and the official words
Examination and health certificate from the supervising veterinarian: A supervising veterinarian competent to issue veterinary certificates examines the animal and gives you a health certificate confirming it is free of infectious disease. It records the number and type of animals, their distinguishing characteristics, the export date and the destination.
The destination country decides what else its certificate must say and how recent it must be.
“Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued.”
“Animal consignments intended for export shall be tested by a supervising veterinarian competent to issue veterinary certificates in accordance with the provisions of this law.”
“the exporting person shall be given a veterinary health certificate confirming that the animals are free of infectious disease, and indicating the number, type of animals, the distinguished characteristics regarding the animals”
Treatment
Tapeworm treatment (dogs)
A vet must treat your dog for tapeworm (praziquantel) and record it. It must be given no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before you arrive.
Details and the official words
The window is in hours: check the treatment time against your arrival time. If your journey is delayed past 120 hours, your dog needs a new treatment.
If this is missed: Your dog can be refused entry or put into quarantine.
“no less than 24 hours before you enter Great Britain”
“You do not need to treat your dog for tapeworm if you’re coming directly to Great Britain from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.”
Paperwork
Non-commercial declaration
Sign a declaration that you won't sell or transfer ownership of your pet.
Details and the official words
“You also need to fill in a declaration if you’re not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.”
On arrival
Checks on arrival
Your pet's microchip and documents are checked on arrival. Pets arriving from outside the EU must be taken through customs (an agent or the airline usually does this).
Details and the official words
If this is missed: Your pet could be put into quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if you travelled by sea — at your expense.
“When you arrive in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), your pet’s microchip and documents will be checked.”
Permit
Export permit from the veterinary authority
The law says exporting animals is prohibited unless the necessary permit was obtained beforehand from the competent veterinary authority. The application states the number and type of animals, the country the animals are going to, the means of transport and the date of shipment.
Details and the official words
The pages don't say where to apply for a pet's export permit or how long it takes: ask the Department of Animal Resources.
“shall be prohibited unless the necessary permit has been previously obtained from the competent veterinary authority.”
Notice
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before you leave
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of exit from Qatar.
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.”
Route
Leave through a designated port
The law names Doha Sea Port, Doha International Airport and Abou Samara land port as the ports animals may leave through (the minister may add others).
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
- Some dog breeds are banned in Great Britain and can only enter with a valid Certificate of Exemption.
- By plane, pets must travel as cargo into Great Britain unless you fly a chartered private plane or travel with a recognised assistance dog.
- Qatar's Department of Animal Resources issues import permits and oversees the exportation, transfer and transit of pets across borders.
- The veterinary authority may require any test, health condition or vaccination it considers necessary before it approves an export. The pages don't say which apply to a pet, so ask the Department of Animal Resources.
- These rules 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.
What your cat needs
Cats
Route
Use an approved travel route
Book an airline, ferry or rail route that is approved for pet travel into Great Britain.
Details and the official words
“Check your route is approved for pet travel.”
Identification
Microchip
Your pet must be microchipped on or before the day of its rabies vaccination. An ISO 11784/11785 chip can be read at the border; otherwise bring your own reader.
Details and the official words
If this is missed: The rabies vaccination doesn't count and must be given again.
“You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination.”
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Vaccinate against rabies (pet at least 12 weeks old). After a first (primary) vaccination you must wait at least 21 full days before arriving; no wait after a booster if the cover never lapsed.
Details and the official words
Some vaccines take longer to work (e.g. 30 days) — your vet will tell you.
“Your vet needs proof that your pet’s at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them.”
“You will have to wait at least 21 full days after the first rabies vaccination (or the last of the first course of rabies vaccinations) is given.”
Blood test
Rabies blood test (titer)
Your vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to an EU-approved lab. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. You must then wait 3 months from the sample date before travelling.
Details and the official words
The test stays valid as long as the rabies vaccinations are kept up to date.
We count '3 months' as the longest possible 3 calendar months, so the date we show is always safe.
“Your pet must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination.”
“You must wait 3 months from the date the blood sample was taken before you travel.”
Paperwork
Great Britain pet health certificate
Get a Great Britain pet health certificate signed, stamped and dated by an official veterinarian in the country you travel from. Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of it being issued.
Details and the official words
Examination and health certificate from the supervising veterinarian: A supervising veterinarian competent to issue veterinary certificates examines the animal and gives you a health certificate confirming it is free of infectious disease. It records the number and type of animals, their distinguishing characteristics, the export date and the destination.
The destination country decides what else its certificate must say and how recent it must be.
“Your pet must enter Great Britain within 10 days of the pet health certificate being issued.”
“Animal consignments intended for export shall be tested by a supervising veterinarian competent to issue veterinary certificates in accordance with the provisions of this law.”
“the exporting person shall be given a veterinary health certificate confirming that the animals are free of infectious disease, and indicating the number, type of animals, the distinguished characteristics regarding the animals”
Paperwork
Non-commercial declaration
Sign a declaration that you won't sell or transfer ownership of your pet.
Details and the official words
“You also need to fill in a declaration if you’re not going to sell or transfer the ownership of your pet.”
On arrival
Checks on arrival
Your pet's microchip and documents are checked on arrival. Pets arriving from outside the EU must be taken through customs (an agent or the airline usually does this).
Details and the official words
If this is missed: Your pet could be put into quarantine for up to 4 months, or refused entry if you travelled by sea — at your expense.
“When you arrive in Great Britain (England, Wales and Scotland), your pet’s microchip and documents will be checked.”
Permit
Export permit from the veterinary authority
The law says exporting animals is prohibited unless the necessary permit was obtained beforehand from the competent veterinary authority. The application states the number and type of animals, the country the animals are going to, the means of transport and the date of shipment.
Details and the official words
The pages don't say where to apply for a pet's export permit or how long it takes: ask the Department of Animal Resources.
“shall be prohibited unless the necessary permit has been previously obtained from the competent veterinary authority.”
Notice
Tell the veterinary authority at least 72 hours before you leave
The law requires the owner of an animal to inform the competent veterinary authority at least seventy-two hours before the date of exit from Qatar.
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.”
Route
Leave through a designated port
The law names Doha Sea Port, Doha International Airport and Abou Samara land port as the ports animals may leave through (the minister may add others).
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
- By plane, pets must travel as cargo into Great Britain unless you fly a chartered private plane or travel with a recognised assistance dog.
- Qatar's Department of Animal Resources issues import permits and oversees the exportation, transfer and transit of pets across borders.
- The veterinary authority may require any test, health condition or vaccination it considers necessary before it approves an export. The pages don't say which apply to a pet, so ask the Department of Animal Resources.
- These rules 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.
Common questions
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to go from Qatar to the United Kingdom?
Yes: Your vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and sends it to an EU-approved lab.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog into the United Kingdom?
Yes: The law says exporting animals is prohibited unless the necessary permit was obtained beforehand from the competent veterinary authority.
Will my dog be quarantined in the United Kingdom?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
Does my dog need a microchip?
Yes: Your pet must be microchipped on or before the day of its rabies vaccination.