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Pawhopper

Pet travel route

Dog or cat from Serbia to the United Arab Emirates

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

Limited official guidance. The authority for leaving Serbia publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. Serbia's Veterinary Directorate publishes its request form for an export certificate for live animals, with notes for pets, and answers on travelling to the EU. It doesn't say how long before departure to apply. Send the request early: the form gives the inspection up to 30 days to decide.

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
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel

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
  • No quarantine
  • Parasite treatment before travel

Which rules apply to you

The United Arab Emirates puts Serbia 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

Prefer a feed reader? Serbia rule changes · United Arab Emirates rule changes

Serbia → United Arab Emirates

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Each step says whether Serbia (leaving) or the United Arab Emirates (entering) asks for it.

Dogs

  1. Get ready

    1. 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”

    2. 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”

    3. 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”

    4. 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)”

    5. Blood testSerbia and 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.

      Antibody test at the Pasteur Institute, Novi Sad: If your destination asks for a rabies antibody test, Serbia's export form asks for the FAVN test report from the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad.

      “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”

      “Извештај о испитивању на антитела на беснило ФАВН тестом”

      “За псе и мачке када то земља увозница захтев”

      “Пастеров институт, Нови Сад”

    6. 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”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. 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
    2. 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”

    3. PaperworkSerbia 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

      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.

      “Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.”

      “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”

  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
    2. 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.

Cats

  1. Get ready

    1. 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”

    2. 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”

    3. 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”

    4. 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)”

    5. Blood testSerbia and 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.

      Antibody test at the Pasteur Institute, Novi Sad: If your destination asks for a rabies antibody test, Serbia's export form asks for the FAVN test report from the Pasteur Institute in Novi Sad.

      “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”

      “Извештај о испитивању на антитела на беснило ФАВН тестом”

      “За псе и мачке када то земља увозница захтев”

      “Пастеров институт, Нови Сад”

    6. 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”

  2. In the days before you travel

    1. 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
    2. 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”

    3. PaperworkSerbia 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

      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.

      “Authorized health certificate issued from the competent veterinary authorities.”

      “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”

  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
    2. 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.

Money

What it costs

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

Government fees on this route

Government fees in total: 9,580 RSD + 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

No published prices yet for Serbia: 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 Serbia

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

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

Every step from the United Arab Emirates to Serbia

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 Serbia 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?

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 Serbia 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.

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