Pet Movement Legislation
Country of Departure
Pet Transport from Serbia to the UAE – Rules and Official Requirements
Required Documents
Import Permit
Pet owners must obtain an Import Permit from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) in the UAE.
- The application must be submitted online via the MOCCAE official portal.
- The permit is valid for 90 days, and the pet must arrive within this period.
- A maximum of two pets per owner can be imported per year, except for UAE-resident pets returning to the country.
- The facility handling the pet import must have a valid license for animal care, including import and export operations.
Microchipping
All pets must be microchipped before travel.
- The microchip must comply with ISO 11784/11785 standards.
- The microchip must be implanted before rabies vaccination.
- The chip number in the Health Certificate must match the implanted microchip.
Rabies Vaccination
Dogs and cats must be vaccinated against rabies.
- The first rabies vaccine must be given at least 21 days before entry.
- If the pet has a valid booster, the 21-day waiting period is not required.
- Vaccination records must include: vaccine name, manufacturer, batch number, date, and validity period.
Rabies Antibody Titer Test
Required for all pets, regardless of the country of origin.
- The test must be performed in a government-approved lab.
- For first-time rabies vaccinations or vaccination gaps, the test must be taken at least 21 days after vaccination.
- The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml and remains valid for 365 days.
Additional Required Vaccinations
- For Dogs: Distemper, Parvovirus, Infectious Hepatitis, Leptospirosis (or a test if not vaccinated).
- For Cats: Panleukopenia, Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus.
Health Certificate
Issued by a licensed veterinarian in Serbia no earlier than 10 days before departure and officially endorsed.
Parasite Treatment
Internal and external parasite treatment must be administered within 14 days before departure and recorded in the Health Certificate.
Transport Conditions
All pets must be transported as manifested cargo, following IATA Live Animal Regulations.
Additional Restrictions for Certain Cat Breeds
Importing Bengal cats and Servals as pets requires a pedigree certificate proving at least five generations of ancestry.
Breed Restrictions
The following breeds are prohibited from import, except for service animals with special permits:
- ❌ American Pit Bull Terrier
- ❌ American Staffordshire Terrier
- ❌ American Bully
- ❌ Bullmastiff
- ❌ Cane Corso
- ❌ Dogo Argentino
- ❌ Japanese Tosa
- ❌ Neapolitan Mastiff
- ❌ Perro de Presa Canario
- ❌ Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- ❌ Tibetan Mastiff
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Pets failing to meet UAE import requirements may be rejected at the owner’s expense or confiscated by UAE authorities.