Relocating a pet to Saudi Arabia involves strict veterinary, customs, and airline requirements. Petair can manage the process from start to finish, including permits, vaccinations, crate supply, and travel arrangements, ensuring your pet arrives safely and compliantly.
Vaccinations and Health Requirements
- Your pet must be microchipped with an ISO 11784 or ISO 11785 compliant chip. The microchip must be in place before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination is required at least 30 days before travel and no more than six months prior to entry.
- Other vaccinations are also mandatory:
- Dogs: Distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus, Bordetella.
- Cats: Feline viral rhinotracheitis, calicivirus, panleukopenia.
Paperwork and Import Permits
- An import permit from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture is required. Applications must include a pet photo, your passport copy, visa or residency details, and pet health records.
- A veterinary health certificate issued by your vet must confirm your pet is fit to travel, vaccinated, and healthy. This certificate must be authenticated by the relevant government authority in your country and then legalised by the Saudi Embassy.
- A certificate of origin from the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture or an authorised agent is also needed.
- Import permits are valid for 30 days and allow entry for up to two pets.
Breed Restrictions and Dog Categories
- Only dogs classed as such as hunting dogs, guard dogs, or seeing-eye dogs are allowed. The purpose must be stated on the veterinary certificate and supported by documents.
- Prohibited breeds include Rottweiler, Pit Bull, Boxer, Mastiff, Japanese Akita, Brussels Griffon, Hovawart, Staffordshire Terrier, Great Dane, Leonberger and several others. Dogs resembling banned breeds can also be refused entry.
- Exotic or wild animals are not permitted unless for official government use.
Airline and Crate Requirements
- The crate must be IATA compliant, strong, well-ventilated on all sides, lockable, and fitted with water and food bowls accessible from the outside.
- Your pet must be able to stand, lie down, and turn comfortably inside the crate.
- The crate must be clean and disinfected before travel.
- Avoid layovers in countries restricted by Saudi animal health rules.
Entry and Arrival Procedures
- Approved entry points are Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dammam airports.
- Customs and veterinary officials should be notified before arrival, especially if flights land outside normal business hours.
- One person may bring up to two dogs and two cats every six months.
- A letter to the Director of Customs in Saudi Arabia must accompany the shipment.
| Requirement | Rules |
| Microchip | ISO compliant, before rabies vaccine |
| Rabies Vaccination | 30 days to 6 months before travel |
| Additional Vaccines | Dogs and cats must have core vaccines |
| Import Permit | From Ministry of Agriculture, valid for 30 days |
| Health Certificate | Vet issued, government authenticated, legalised by Saudi Embassy |
| Certificate of Origin | Required from Saudi authority or agent |
| Allowed Dog Categories | Hunting, guard, seeing-eye |
| Banned Breeds | Includes Pit Bull, Rottweiler, Mastiff, Akita, and others |
| Crate Requirements | IATA compliant, ventilated, secure, with food and water access |
| Entry Ports | Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam |
| Pet Limit per Import | Two pets per person every six months |
Petair can take care of import permits, veterinary paperwork, crate preparation, airline booking, and customs coordination for relocation to Saudi Arabia. Contact us to ensure your pet’s journey is smooth, safe, and fully compliant.
