Bringing a dog or cat to Egypt: official requirements

Entering Egypt

What your pet needs

In the order you do them. Rules marked “Applies when” are only for some pets, origins or routes.

1. Get ready

   Weeks or months ahead: the steps with waiting periods, so start here.

   1. Vaccination

      Rabies vaccination record

      Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies, with separate proof: an up-to-date pet passport or a document from the vet practice showing the date(s), the vaccine's name and supplier, the batch number and the expiry date.

      Details and the official words

      “Egypt require separate evidence that the dog or cat has been vaccinated against rabies.”

      “This can either be in an up to date Pet Passport or a document provided by the veterinary practice.”

      “Passport & Proof of Vaccinations for rabies”

   2. Vaccination

      From the US: arrive no later than 11 months after the rabies vaccination

      Applies when: you travel from the United States or Hawaii (US)

      The rabies vaccination must have been given within the last 12 months, and your pet must arrive in Egypt at least 30 days before its first anniversary, that is no later than 11 months after it was given. If your pet's last shot will be older than that on arrival day, give a booster before you leave.

      Details and the official words

      Add the date of your pet's most recent rabies shot to check this.

      “The rabies vaccination must have been administered within the last 12 months, and the pet must arrive in Egypt at least 30 days prior to the twelve month anniversary of vaccine administration.”

      “the pet can arrive no later than 11 months after rabies vaccine was administered”

   3. Blood test

      From the UK: rabies blood test (ask when to do it)

      Applies when: you travel from the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland (UK)

      The Egyptian consulate in London lists a blood test showing rabies antibodies among the documents, and asks you to check with your vet when to do it. Neither the consulate nor the UK's export guidance gives the pass level or a deadline; 0.5 IU/ml is the usual international standard. Ask the consulate whether your pet needs it.

      The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

      Details and the official words

      The UK's export guidance for Egypt (3900NFG, October 2025) asks only for proof of the rabies vaccination and doesn't mention a blood test; the consulate's FAQ does. Until the consulate confirms, plan for the test.

      “Passport & Proof of Vaccinations for rabies, blood test (to show rabies antibodies, please ask your Vet when to administer the test.”

2. In the days before you travel

   Paperwork, treatments and stamps that must be recent when your pet travels.

   1. Paperwork

      Official export health certificate

      Your pet needs an official export health certificate from your country's veterinary authority.

      Details and the official words

      “3900EHC may be used to accompany dogs and cats, not intended for sale, exported to Egypt accompanied by their owners”

      “The clinical examination should be carried out no more than 96 hours prior to export.”

      “This certificate is valid for 14 days after issuance.”

      “I certify that the animals described in box 21 have been inspected by me on this date and appear to be free of any infectious or contagious diseases”

   2. Official stamp

      From the UK: legalise the certificate at the FCDO, then at the Egyptian consulate

      Applies when: you travel from the United Kingdom or Northern Ireland (UK)

      Have the export health certificate legalised by the UK government's Legalisation Office (FCDO), then by the Egyptian Consulate General in London (GBP 20). The consulate legalises it the same day if you bring it in person and pay in cash; by post, send a postal order and a prepaid return envelope.

      Details and the official words

      The certificate can only be signed within 96 hours of export, so plan the legalisations in advance: the UK guidance gives UrgentLegalisation@fcdo.gov.uk for short deadlines.

      The consulate's FAQ still names the old Foreign and Commonwealth Office; the UK guidance points to the current Legalisation Office.

      “An Official Export Health Certificate from your Vet and legalised by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and then legalised at our Consulate office.”

      “Send all documents to our Consulate together with a postal order in respect of our fee (GBP20)”

      “If you choose to bring it in person, please pay our fee in cash and the legalisation can be done the same day.”

      “For the purposes of legalising the above certificates, exporters should apply to the Legalisation Office”

Worked out from the rules

How long it takes from each country

For a pet coming from each country: the group Egypt’s rules put it in, and the least time the official waiting periods allow. Tap a country for the full route.

Money

What it costs to enter Egypt

Egypt’s government fees, exactly as the official pages state them, and what the rules make you pay for.

Check first

When this doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet

  When you do not travel from the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland (UK), the United States or Hawaii (US).

  Egypt's veterinary authority doesn't publish its pet import requirements anywhere we could read. We only have what the UK and US governments certify for Egypt, so we can't tell you what applies from other countries. Ask the Egyptian embassy or consulate in your country and your own veterinary authority.

• Not covered by us yet

  When the pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed.

  We cover pets travelling with their owners. According to the UK's guidance, animals imported by dealers for commercial purposes spend 15 days in quarantine in Egypt; we don't cover them.

Notes

Good to know

• Egypt doesn't require a microchip: the UK guidance accepts a tattoo, a microchip or a full description of your pet, and the US certificate says microchips are not required. A microchip is still the easiest way to match your pet to its papers, and you'll need one to come back to most countries.

Where this comes from

Official sources

Questions owners ask