Pet travel from Dubai to USADocuments & vet certificate
Planning pet travel from Dubai to USA? This page gives the USA pet import requirements from the UAE for dogs and cats, the steps, and our prices. Our vets in JVC do the fit to fly certificate (the dog and cat travel certificate), the pet passport and the blood tests, and guide you on the MOCCAE pet export certificate. Dogs: CDC Dog Import Form, rabies titre test (or 28 days quarantine) and a CDC-registered facility on arrival. Cats: our vet confirms.
Titre testLast updated
The UAE is on the CDC list of high-risk countries for dog rabies. Dogs from the UAE have extra rules.
USA pet import requirements from the UAE
The rules for a pet dog or cat that travels from the UAE to USA, in plain words. When the official rules are not clear, we say so: our vet confirms that point at your first visit.
Import permitNo
No import permit. Dogs: the CDC Dog Import Form (online, free, one for each dog).
MicrochipYes
Dogs: yes, readable by a universal scanner, before the rabies vaccine.
The rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Rabies vaccineYes
Dogs: the first vaccine at 12 weeks (84 days) or older, and at least 28 days before entry. The dog must be at least 6 months old.
The rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Rabies titre test (blood test)Yes
Dogs: yes, from a CDC-approved laboratory. The blood sample is at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. The result is valid for life if there is no gap in the rabies vaccines. A dog with no titre test must stay 28 days in quarantine in the USA.
The rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Other vaccines, tests and treatmentsYes
Dogs: the CDC form "Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip". The vet completes it and an official government vet endorses it. It is valid for 30 days. You also book a CDC-registered animal care facility: it examines your dog and gives a new US rabies vaccine. Your dog must arrive at the airport of that facility.
QuarantineYes
Dogs with a titre test: an examination at the animal care facility. Dogs with no titre test: 28 days at the facility. You pay the facility in the USA.
Dog breeds
Airlines often have breed rules.
Our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Health certificateYes
Dogs: the CDC form above.
Other health certificates, and all the rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Step-by-step timeline: Dubai to USA
- 1
First visit
Our vet checks that the microchip was put in before the rabies vaccine, and that your dog is at least 12 weeks old at the first vaccine.
- 2
At least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine
We take the blood sample for the rabies titre test at a CDC-approved laboratory.
- 3
About 2 to 3 weeks after the sample
The titre test result arrives. You complete the CDC Dog Import Form online and book a CDC-registered animal care facility.
- 4
In the 30 days before travel
We complete the CDC vaccination and microchip form. An official government vet endorses it.
- 5
At least 28 days after the sample
Your dog can enter the USA at the airport of the animal care facility. Your dog must be at least 6 months old.
Pet relocation Dubai to USA: what Pet Avenue does
- We check your pet's microchip, vaccines and documents against the rules for USA.
- A vet examines your pet and issues the clinic health certificate (fit to travel) in the correct time window.
- We take the blood sample for the rabies titre test and send it to an approved external laboratory. The result takes about 2 to 3 weeks.
- We complete the CDC vaccination and microchip form for your dog.
- We guide you on the UAE export certificate. You apply for it yourself on the MOCCAE website.
We do the vet part of your pet's move. Your airline or a pet relocation company books the flight or the cargo.
Dogs and cats: the differences
- The CDC rules on this page are for dogs only.
- Cats: the CDC dog rules do not apply. Our vet confirms the rules for cats at your first visit.
- Dogs with no titre test must stay 28 days in quarantine at the animal care facility.
Cost estimate: pet travel documents for USA
Our clinic items only, in AED incl. VAT, for 1, 2 or 3 pets. Fees of the government, the airline and USA are not included.
| Clinic item | 1 pet | 2 pets | 3 pets |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fit-to-travel examination and health certificate | AED 278 | AED 556 | AED 834 |
| Rabies titre (FAVN) blood test | AED 1,250 | AED 2,500 | AED 3,750 |
| CDC vaccination and microchip form | Vet confirms | Vet confirms | Vet confirms |
| Total (incl. VAT) | From AED 1,528 | From AED 3,056 | From AED 4,584 |
Cats: our vet confirms the rules and the price at your first visit.
Only if necessary
- Microchip (ISO)If your pet has no ISO microchip.
- AED 157.50 per pet
- Rabies vaccineIf the vaccine is not valid for travel. The annual vaccine package (consultation, rabies and core vaccine) is AED 255.
- Our vet tells you the price
- New pet passportIf your pet has no passport.
- AED 100 per pet
Not included in our prices
- The MOCCAE export certificate fee: AED 100 for up to 2 pets, valid 30 days. You apply and pay on the MOCCAE website. We guide you.
- Airline, cargo and pet relocation costs.
- The import permit and the fees of the destination country.
- Quarantine costs in the destination country, if quarantine applies.
- The CDC-registered animal care facility in the USA.
Earliest travel
Dogs with a valid rabies vaccine: about 5 to 6 weeks (blood sample, a result in about 2 to 3 weeks, and the sample at least 28 days before entry). Cats: our vet confirms the date.
The rabies titre test result takes about 2 to 3 weeks. The UAE export certificate from MOCCAE is valid 30 days.
Airline and cargo notes
- Your dog must arrive at the airport of the CDC-registered animal care facility that you booked.
- The animal care facility examines your dog and gives a new US rabies vaccine. You pay the facility in the USA.
- Each airline has its own rules: cabin, checked baggage or cargo, the crate size and the breeds that it accepts. Ask your airline before you book.
- In the UAE summer (about May to September), many airlines limit pets in the hold because of the heat. Plan early.
- Check the rules of each transit country too. A transit can change the documents that your pet needs.
Common mistakes
- The blood sample is less than 28 days before entry.
- No booking at an animal care facility, or a flight to a different airport.
- The CDC vaccination and microchip form is older than 30 days.
- The MOCCAE export certificate is applied for too late. It is valid 30 days: apply in time for your flight.
- The flight is booked before the permit, the titre result or the waiting time is complete.
Questions: pet travel to USA
Does my dog or cat need a rabies titre test to fly from Dubai to USA?
Yes. Dogs: yes, from a CDC-approved laboratory. The blood sample is at least 30 days after the first valid rabies vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. The result is valid for life if there is no gap in the rabies vaccines. A dog with no titre test must stay 28 days in quarantine in the USA. The rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
Do I need an import permit to take my pet from the UAE to USA?
No import permit. Dogs: the CDC Dog Import Form (online, free, one for each dog).
Does my pet go into quarantine in USA?
Yes. Dogs with a titre test: an examination at the animal care facility. Dogs with no titre test: 28 days at the facility. You pay the facility in the USA.
Which health certificate does my pet need for USA?
Dogs: the CDC form above. Other health certificates, and all the rules for cats: our vet confirms this at your first visit.
How early should I start to prepare my pet for USA?
Dogs with a valid rabies vaccine: about 5 to 6 weeks (blood sample, a result in about 2 to 3 weeks, and the sample at least 28 days before entry). Cats: our vet confirms the date.
How much do the vet documents for USA cost at Pet Avenue?
Our clinic items are From AED 1,528 for 1 dog, incl. VAT. A microchip (AED 157.50), a rabies vaccine or a pet passport (AED 100) are added only if your pet does not have them. Not included: the MOCCAE fee, the airline or cargo cost, the import permit and fees of USA, and quarantine.
Who applies for the MOCCAE pet export certificate for USA?
You do. At this time, you apply on the MOCCAE website and pay the government fee: AED 100 for up to 2 pets, valid 30 days. MOCCAE can inspect your pet. We give you the clinic documents and guide you.
Official sources
- CDC: High-risk countries for dog rabies(opens in a new tab)
- CDC: Dogs vaccinated outside the US (high-risk countries)(opens in a new tab)
- CDC: Approved laboratories(opens in a new tab)
- CDC: Dog import FAQs(opens in a new tab)
- MOCCAE: Animal health certificate for export of live animals(opens in a new tab)
Last checked 27 Oct 2026. Rules can change; our vet confirms everything at your first visit.
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