Dog or cat from Serbia to Qatar: official requirements

Dogs

1. Get ready

   1. 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”

   2. 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”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. 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.”

   2. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   3. PaperworkSerbia and 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'.

      Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      “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”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

   4. 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.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

   2. 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;”

Cats

1. Get ready

   1. 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”

   2. 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”

2. In the days before you travel

   1. 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.”

   2. Vet examLeaving Serbia

      Health confirmation from your vet, no more than 48 hours old

      A veterinary station or practice confirms your pet's health (уверење о здравственом стању). For a pet, this confirmation must be no more than 48 hours old when the veterinary inspection issues the export certificate.

      Details and the official words

      “Уверење о здравственом стању животиња”

      “Документ стар не више од 10 дана, а за кућне љубимце потврда не старија од 48 часова”

   3. PaperworkSerbia and 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'.

      Export certificate from a Serbian veterinary inspector: Send the request for an export certificate for live animals to the Veterinary Directorate's veterinary inspection (also by email to vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs) with the vet's health confirmation, the pet passport, the antibody test report and the import permit if your destination asks for them, and proof that you paid the two administrative taxes (420 + 9,160 = 9,580 dinars, one payment possible). As a pet owner you don't need an approved export establishment or a disinfection certificate for the vehicle. A Serbian veterinary inspector issues the certificate.

      The form gives the inspection up to 30 days from the request to decide, and treats a request as incomplete if missing documents aren't sent within 8 days. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply: ask the veterinary inspection, and allow for the 48-hour limit on the vet's health confirmation.

      “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”

      “За некомерцијално кретање кућних љубимаца неопходан је ветеринарски сертификат који издаје надлежни ветеринарски инспектор Републике Србије.”

      “ЗАХТЕВ ЗА ИЗДАВАЊЕ СЕРТИФИКАТA ЗА ИЗВОЗ ЖИВИХ ЖИВОТИЊА”

      “Не достављају држаоци спортских коња, голубова, паса, мачака, птица кућних љубимаца, зечева и пчела”

      “Није потребно за извоз кућних љубимаца”

      “Само када је то захтев земље у коју се отпремају животиње”

      “vetinspekcija@minpolj.gov.rs”

      “Рок за решавање поднетог захтева 30 дана од покретања поступка”

      “420,00 РСД”

      “Такса се плаћа заједно и за захтев и за издавање сертификата”

   4. 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.”

3. Travel day and arrival

   1. CheckLeaving Serbia

      Pet passport (original)

      Bring your dog's or cat's original pet passport, issued by a veterinary station, with the request. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination remain required for travel to the EU.

      Details and the official words

      “Пасош за животиње”

      “За говеда, коње, псе и мачке”

      “Животиња мора бити трајно обележена микрочипом који испуњава прописане стандарде.”

   2. 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;”

The trip back asks for 7 steps: microchip, before the rabies vaccination, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, 21 days before entry, unlisted countries: rabies antibody test, 3 months before and serbian model health certificate, valid 10 days and more.