Bringing a dog or cat into Qatar

The short version

• Import permit needed
• Advance notice to authority
• Designated entry point

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Age rule

   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. Vaccination

   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”

3. Paperwork

   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'.

   “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”

4. Permit

   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.”

5. Notice

   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.”

6. Route

   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;”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed

  The government page describes pets imported by their owners. Imports for sale or rehoming aren't described and we don't cover them yet.

Restricted breeds

Banned in Qatar: American Staffordshire Terrier, Boerboel, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Doberman, Great Dane, Japanese Akita, Neapolitan Mastiff, Afghan Hound, Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Good to know

• The veterinary authority can run tests on animals before it lets them enter or leave Qatar. The government pages don't say which tests apply to a pet, so ask the Department of Animal Resources.
• The general rules below 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.
• The health certificate must be written in Arabic or English, or translated into one of them by a certified translation attested by the embassy of the country of export.
• Incoming pets are kept at a special facility at Hamad International Airport until customs clearance is complete. Approved pets may come as cargo or excess baggage.