How to bring your pet to Qatar
There are a lot of pet owners in Qatar, not to mention expatriates, so it's not surprising that many animals are brought into the country when their owners move here. If you're about to move to Qatar, and/or wish to bring your animal friend to the country, here are the steps and requirements to make it happen.
1. Your pet must be microchipped
Your pet should be microchipped with a 15 digit ISO 11784 compliant pet microchip. You may bring your own microchip scanner in the event that your pet's microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant.
2. These health requirements must be met
Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months before entering Qatar, though the rabies titer test is not required to enter Qatar from any country. Puppies and kittens must be four months old and fully vaccinated for rabies before entering Qatar.
Health Certificate
A licensed veterinarian must complete a Veterinary Health Certificate for Qatar confirming that your pet is healthy and parasite-free, as well as free of diseases that may be passed on to humans.
If you are traveling to Qatar from abroad, then the Governing Authority of the country that is responsible for the import and export of animals should endorse the forms for you.
A ticks and tapeworm treatment is recommended before entering Qatar. However, this is not a requirement.
3. You must have an import permit
You must have an Import Permit from the Department of Animal Resources before bringing your pet to Qatar. The permit is valid for thirty days. Your pet's health certificate and rabies vaccination must be included in the application.
4. Pets must enter Qatar by air
Pets can only enter Qatar via Hamad International Airport in Doha. Pets may enter as checked baggage or air cargo, but you will need a pet crate.
Two dogs are permitted per adult entering Qatar. There are no current limits on cats)
It is always a good idea to carry some form of identification that indicates ownership of your pet.
5. Keep CITES in mind
CITES stands for the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. If your pet is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under CITES. You will need to apply for additional permits if it is protected by this. More than 180 countries enforce CITES regulations.
Reptiles, birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but they may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Qatar.
6. Don't bring in these banned dog breeds
These canine breeds are not allowed to be brought into Qatar:
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Boerboel
• Boston Terrier
• Boxer
• Bull Terrier
• Bulldog
• Chinese Shar-Pei
• Doberman
• Great Dane
• Japanese Akita
• Neapolitan Mastiff
• Afghan Hound
• Rottweiler
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
If you intend to bring your pet to Qatar, you must be planning to reside in the country or returning to it, or have a valid work visa.
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Can you tell if there is a ban on pets (dogs namely) import? As of Nov 2023 please.
Hi,
I'm Yigit from Turkey.
My dog is in Turkey / Istanbul and I want bring my dog to Qatar.
He is 3 years old and he is a dobermann.
But I saw it dobermann is not allowed to come to Qatar because of he is in the banned dog breeds list.
I'm thinking to write his breed beauceron on the documents, because beauceron breed looks like a dobermann.
But I want to ask all prodecure. What should I do? Do I need to get any paper from Goverment office?
Sms: in the case of elephants, its the elephant that will have to bring you in as a pet and he's the one who'll have to complete all the paperwork and have a valid work visa; you can be brought in as checked baggage or as cargo in a crate or as carry on in the elephant's trunk. You must have all vaccinations and be microchipped. The elephant must also have a permit for importing endangered humans since there's just one left like you :-)
How to bring elephant as pet