How to Fly a Pet From the UK to Qatar
Enjoying life in the desert.
How to Prepare Your Pet for Moving to Qatar
Travelling overseas with your beloved pet can be a daunting business, starting with the puzzle of trying to decipher the regulations for each country. When we first began moving around with our growing family of rescues, we mistakenly thought that the only way to travel with animals was via agents and expensive cargo flights.
Whilst this still remains an option for many, it is possible to undertake the process on your own at a more reasonable cost. This year marked a move to our fifth country (Qatar this time), and as always, our first consideration was how we would transport our two dogs with us.
A Few Important Notes
Before I get into details on the process we took, it is important to note that Qatar's pet import regulations are constantly changing. From time to time, they issue temporary embargoes on the import of pet dogs, so it is advisable to keep an eye on this when making preparations for your pet's move.
Qatar also requires that to import a pet, you have a valid work visa/or Qatar ID (QID). You are allowed to bring in one pet per passport. When we flew our dogs here in April 2023, there was an additional requirement that our QIDs were less than a year old, so it is important that if you are planning to bring in your pet, you do this within a year of being here. Finally, check if your dog is permitted to enter Qatar, certain breeds of dog are banned.
Early preparation to bring in your pet is crucial. There is no quarantine in Qatar, provided they meet the following requirements.
Microchip
To commence the export process, find a vet who is an expert in dealing with animal export. You can search for an approved vet on the Animal and Plant Health (APHA) website via the UK Government portal. The first stage is to have your animal microchipped. Ideally, it should be compliant with ISO 11784/11785 standards so it is easy to scan. One of our dogs has a Chinese microchip, which is non-standard. This is not a problem, but it is advisable to carry your own hand scanner with you in case of issues when reading the chip.
At the time of inserting the microchip, ask your vet to date, sign and stamp your pet's passport/vaccination card as confirmation.
Vaccinations
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies following the insertion of the microchip. This should be recorded in the passport/vaccination book and stamped and signed by the vet. In addition, dogs must have an up-to-date DHLPP vaccine, and cats should be up-to-date with their FVRCP vaccinations.
Vaccinations need to be done within 12 months and no later than 30 days before arrival.
Rabies Blood Test
This is the part of the process that takes the longest, and it can be the most frustrating if you go into the export process thinking it will be quick! Once your pet is vaccinated against rabies, you need to wait a minimum of 30 days, starting from the day after the rabies vaccine has been administered, before you can have the blood test.
A rabies blood test (officially known as a Rabies Neutralising Antibody Titre Test or RNATT) should be carried out by an approved laboratory. You can find details about companies on the UK government website. Following the blood test, your vet sends off the sample to the laboratory and then, all being well, gives you a certificate to show that your pet has built up the required level of antibodies against rabies. There is then a 90-day waiting period, which needs to be completed before your pets can fly to Qatar.
Import Certificate
The next part of the process is to obtain a veterinary import permit from the Ministry of Municipality in Qatar. You can do this online through their website, and it is free of charge. It is better to do this yourself rather than using an agent because their charges for this can be high.
You need to complete one application per person per pet. Each person needs their own QID and/or work visa. In the case of bringing in two dogs, my husband applied for one licence, and I applied for the second dog. You fill in the online form and need to attach scans of the vaccination certificates, rabies blood test certificates, passport copies and QIDs/a copy of your work visa if you have them.
After everything is checked and the vet health department is happy with the paperwork, they will issue an import permit, which is valid for 30 days.
Flights
The easiest and cheapest way to fly with your pet is to accompany them on the same flight and have them travel as 'excess baggage'. The other alternative is cargo, but this is considerably more expensive and would require the use of a specialist agent. Small pets that are able to go under the seat in their carriers may be able to travel in the cabin, but most larger animals travel in the cargo hold.
There are several airlines which allow pets to fly from the UK to Qatar as accompanied baggage. Once you have booked your flight, you can telephone the airline, or for some companies, you are able to use an online link on their website to reserve your pet's spot.
Before doing this, you must have the import permit, as they will ask to see a copy and will not confirm the booking without it. Our dogs were in kennels in the UK waiting to travel, and due to my work, my husband needed to fly back and accompany them to Qatar. It was not an issue booking our two dogs onto one ticket.
Flight Crate, Water Bottle and Other Essentials
Although listed as far down as it is, the flight crate is probably one of the most important steps for preparing your pet for their trip. Getting them used to it early will make for a smoother and calmer trip for everyone involved.
Flight crates must be IATA-compliant with metal bolts, and your pet must be able to comfortably stand up and turn around in it. In our experience, a crate with metal windows is sturdier (as we found out when one of our dogs chewed a hole in a plastic one!).
Purchase the travel crate as early as possible and get your pet used to spending time in it. We started by putting our dogs inside their crates for a short period of time each day, and when they became accustomed to them, they would often sleep in them at night.
In addition to the crate, you also need a good-sized water bottle to attach. A top-opening design is handy so that in the event of flight delays, staff can add water to the bottle without detaching.
A few final essentials are some live animal stickers (if they have not been included with your crate purchase) and some large plastic cable ties to secure the doors and corners of the crate during the flight.
Export Health Certificate
To complete the process, you need to apply for an Export Health Certificate (EHC) from the Animal and Plant Health Department of the UK Government within ten days of flying. Again, this can be done via the UK Government portal.
Once on the website, look for document 3920-Export Certificate for Qatar. You fill this out online, one per pet, and list the details of your approved vet. In our case, on the certificates, we listed my husband as the exporter of both dogs since he was the person flying with them. The importer details matched our Qatar Import Permits, with my husband listed as one and myself as the importer for our younger dog.
Once submitted, the document is sent directly to your nominated vet. Within ten days of flying, you will then need to take your pets for their final health check and appointment, where the vet will complete the certificate. Once you have undertaken all of the above, you have completed all of the official requirements and are good to go!
Enjoying the sea, sun and sand!
The Journey to the Desert!
After completing the paperwork, your journey begins. This is probably the most stressful part for all owners, so most importantly, try to stay as calm as you can! To keep your pet relaxed, it is advisable to put items of clothing or an object with your scent inside their crate as an emotional support.
Before going to the airport, make at least three copies of each document. Make one bundle for the top of the crate and add a page to the front with a photograph of your pet and details of their name, your name, flight number and contact details. Place these inside a plastic wallet and secure to the top of the crate. Keep the other two copy bundles with you in case the airline or customs need to keep them.
Retain the originals for yourself at all times. As my husband was travelling with both dogs on his ticket and the import paperwork for one dog was in my name, I also provided a signed letter of authority for him to carry our dog, with a copy of my passport and QID attached, to prevent any problems.
Departing Manchester Airport
Our dogs were travelling from Manchester, and the airline telephoned the night before to check everything was OK and to see if any assistance was required. They also took payment for the dogs' excess baggage charge over the telephone to smooth the process.
At Manchester, my husband proceeded to the airline check-in desk with the dogs in their crates and a representative checked through the paperwork thoroughly. Once they were satisfied that all was in order, a second representative escorted them all through the first security area and took them to a room where the dogs were required to come out of their kennels. The kennels were swabbed, and then it was time to put them back inside and secure the door, corners and water bottle with the cable ties. At this point, the dogs were taken off to prepare for boarding.
Arriving at Doha Hamad Airport
Upon arrival at Hamad Airport after passing through customs, head towards the luggage carousel and find a member of staff to let them know you are travelling with pets. They will arrange for them to be brought to you and it took around 20 minutes. Pass through the red customs channel, where your paperwork will be checked again, and copies of the import licences will be retained. Finally, your pet is officially a resident of Qatar!
A quick dip in the sea!
Some Parting Words...
Hopefully, this article has been useful in supporting you with bringing your precious pet to Qatar, but please remember that this is only our experience. Regulations can and do change frequently with countries and airlines, so be aware of current requirements before you begin the process.
Wishing you and your pets a safe journey and a warm welcome to Qatar!
A Few More Articles to Help You Out
© 2023 Jules
