Pet Relocation
Moving on or moving in?
Shifting house is stressful let alone countries. We can take the worry away, and provide a door to door service, or parts thereof. From full service, to procuring an export/import permit, to simple advice, we are here to make your pets relocation smooth and safe.
Please email us describing your plans and contact details, and we will get back to you promptly.
Be Prepared!
Some countries enforce strict waiting periods, blood tests and even quarantine prior to entry of pets.
Pets must be at least 4 months old and have had their rabies and second booster for RCP (cats) and dhlppi (dogs) at 3 months of age. This is to protect less mature and unvaccinated pets from the stress of travel. Vaccinations in older pets must be current, ie. more than one month and less than 12 months old.
Easier destinations include USA and Canada, less so South East Asia and the EU, with South Africa, Australia, the UK and New Zealand amongst the more commonly requested destinations that are difficult to enter.
Please email us for solutions to your pet relocation needs and what preparatory steps you can take to ensure your pets readiness to travel with you.
NZ and Australia
A rabies antibody blood test is the first step for both countries.
For New Zealand, six months must elapse after passing the test before a pet can enter. The test is valid for six months, only after six months has elapsed. To maintain continuous elligibility to enter, a rabies antibody blood test must be done every six months. Quarantine is one month. There are numerous other requirments, especially for dogs.
Australia has a sliding scale for quarantine. Entry can occur 65 days after the first blood test but with a 115 day quarantine. Where blood sampling is more than 150 days prior to entry, quarantine is 30 days. The blood test is valid for a year. Test yearly to maintain continuous elligibility.
If you know you may be going to Aus/NZ, ask the vet NOT to include Leptospirosis in the annual vaccination boosters for dogs. Pets must travel as manifest cargo.
EU
Entry to the majority of the EU requires that a rabies blood test be done at least 3 months prior to arrival. Additionally, it is required that the test be drawn at least one month after the last rabies vaccination.
The rabies blood test is valid for life so long as rabies vaccinations are boostered on or prior to the date they are due. Microchipping is mandatory and should pre-date the rabies vaccination given prior to blood testing.
Pets can travel as accompanied/excess baggage or manifest cargo for the EU. Pets must travel as manifest cargo to the UK..
Ireland, Malta, Sweden and the UK have different rules.
The UK and Ireland require six months of quarantine. Sweden also enforces quarantine.
North America
NEW: Dogs entering the USA must be examined within five days of departure by a veterinarian and a veterinary certificate issued attesting that the dog was inspected for screw-worm and found free thereof.
USA and Canada are two of the easiest countries to shift pets to. With vaccinations current—meaning less than 12 months old and more than 1 month—all that is required is an export permit/health certificate which is valid for 15 days.
Copy of your Qatar ID or passport, completed export/import authorisation form and original or copy of vaccination history are the documents we need along with having recently examined your pet to be sure it is healthy enough to travel.
Pets can travel as either accompanied/excess baggage or manifest cargo.
South Africa
Cats require an import permit, South African government health certificate completed within 10 days and Qatar government endorsed and Qatar government health certificate/export permit. It can take a couple of weeks to obtain the import permit depending on how it is procured as the original must accompany the pet.
Dogs require more lead time as quarantine must be booked 6-8 weeks in advance.
Both dogs and cats must travel as manifest cargo and be microchipped with vaccinations current.
India
All pets entering into India require an import permit. They must be fully vaccinated and microchipped. Please note that pets are not permitted as import into all ports of entry in India.
As per Indian laws, all pets entering into India can be duty-able.
For export there are not many formalities if the pet is traveling as accompanied baggage. However, to import pets in to Qatar, an import permit is required.
Importing Pets
Vaccinations up to date including rabies, and for dogs distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and leptospirosis, and for cats, calicivirus, rhinotracheitis, panleukopaenia are required.
A copy of proof thereof and your passport signature page or Qatari ID and the completed export/import authorisation form will enable us to get an import permit for you.