Last verified: 22 September 2026
How-to guide — not the service pageMOCCAE Pet Import Permit for Dubai & the UAE
UAE Pass login, form fields, 90-day validity, rejection reasons, and an honest DIY versus managed comparison. Confirm fees on the official portal.
General guidance is free in the guides. Bespoke document review and coordination are paid.
Direct answer
Do I need a MOCCAE import permit?
Yes. Every dog or cat entering the UAE needs a MOCCAE import permit before travel. Apply on the official portal with UAE Pass, or we review the file and submit with you. The permit is valid 90 days from issuance. Confirm current fees on the portal. Email support@dubai-pet-relocation.ae or WhatsApp +971 50 478 2999.
MOCCAE permit entities: UAE Pass, 90 days, RNATT, portal fees
- UAE Pass
- The official login for the MOCCAE portal. The Import Permit for Pets form will not open without it.
- MOCCAE portal
- Apply at moccae.gov.ae → Export and Import Services → Import Permit for Pets. Confirm live fees there.
- Validity
- MOCCAE import permits are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. The pet must enter the UAE within that window. It is not allowed to import pets with an expired import permit.
- RNATT (when required)
- High-risk origins need a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The certificate is valid for 365 days if the vaccine stays valid and continuous and no booster is given. Otherwise the test is repeated. A first vaccine, or a gap in vaccination, needs at least 21 days before the test. A valid booster does not. The permit is a separate document, valid 90 days from issuance.
On 22 September 2026 the MOCCAE page listed AED 200 to issue an import permit for one animal, AED 500 to release one dog, and AED 250 to release one cat. These are government charges, not a relocation package. Pay the amount shown when you apply. After clearance, the Dubai pet arrival guide covers cargo-village collection. Coordination is quoted after eligibility on Prices.
What Is MOCCAE and Why Does It Matter?
MOCCAE is the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment. It is the federal office that decides whether a dog or cat may enter any of the seven emirates — Dubai included. If you are planning a move, this is the permit that sits between a booked crate and a refused cargo desk.
You apply on the official portal with UAE Pass. The import permit is valid for 90 days from issuance. Confirm the current permit and arrival-release fees on that portal; amounts change and we do not assume a table here. Airlines will not board without the PDF, and the cargo village will not release the animal without it. This page is the how-to. The paid filing twin is MOCCAE permit assistance. When you also need crate, cargo and a Dubai door, open pet import services in Dubai or door-to-door pet relocation Dubai. The statutory list lives on UAE pet import requirements; the tick-box sequence is the pet import checklist. Quoted packages (no invented government fees) sit on Prices. After the PDF is issued, cargo-village collection and municipality registration live on the Dubai pet arrival guide.
Why the Permit Is Mandatory
- Prevents entry of unvaccinated or diseased animals
- Tracks banned and restricted breeds entering Dubai
- Ensures microchip identification for all imported pets
- Protects public health and local animal populations
Permit at a Glance
Cost
AED 200 / 500 / 250
On 22 September 2026 the MOCCAE page listed AED 200 to issue an import permit for one animal, AED 500 to release one dog, and AED 250 to release one cat. These are government charges, not a relocation package. Pay the amount shown when you apply.
Processing Time
1 working day
The published estimate is 1 working day, or 5 working days for a service, emotional support or medical dog. That is an estimate on the page, not a promise.
Validity
90 days from issuance
MOCCAE import permits are valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. The pet must enter the UAE within that window. It is not allowed to import pets with an expired import permit.
Login
UAE Pass on the MOCCAE portal
The Import Permit for Pets form will not open without UAE Pass. Confirm fees on that portal.
RNATT (when required)
0.5 IU/ml, 365-day certificate
High-risk origins need a rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The certificate is valid for 365 days if the vaccine stays valid and continuous and no booster is given. Otherwise the test is repeated. A first vaccine, or a gap in vaccination, needs at least 21 days before the test. A valid booster does not. The permit is a separate document, valid 90 days from issuance.
Penalty Without Permit
Rejection or confiscation
At the owner's expense if rejected. The page checked on 22 September 2026 does not publish a fine amount.
Last verified: 22 September 2026. Confirm current figures on the official MOCCAE portal before you apply.
Step-by-Step MOCCAE Import Permit Application
This is the folded-in application walkthrough — there is no separate walkthrough URL. Follow the order. If you want someone on the thread, use MOCCAE permit assistance.
Prepare Required Documents
Before starting the application, gather all required documents. Ensure they are clear, in English or Arabic, and up to date.
Sign in with UAE Pass
Open the official MOCCAE digital services portal and authenticate with UAE Pass. Then choose Services → Export and Import Services → Import Permit for Pets. If you do not have UAE Pass yet, create it first — the form will not open without it. A sponsor or household member with UAE Pass can sometimes complete the application for a newcomer; the applicant details must still match the person who will collect the pet.
Portal Access Tip
The MOCCAE portal sometimes has server maintenance or slow response times. Apply during UAE business hours (Sunday–Thursday, 8 AM–4 PM) for best results. Save your application reference number immediately.
Submit the Application
Fill pet details (species, breed spelling exactly as on the vet record, microchip number), origin country, and planned arrival. The import application itself lists no documents for ordinary dogs and cats. Service, emotional support and medical dogs are the exception and need the three certified papers named on the page. On 22 September 2026 the MOCCAE page listed AED 200 to issue an import permit for one animal, AED 500 to release one dog, and AED 250 to release one cat. These are government charges, not a relocation package. Pay the amount shown when you apply. A high-risk origin still needs the antibody certificate at release: at least 0.5 IU/ml, under the 365-day conditions.
Wait for Approval
The published estimate is 1 working day, or 5 working days for a service, emotional support or medical dog. That is an estimate on the page, not a promise. Monitor email and the portal. Keep the application reference. If the estimate slips, contact MOCCAE with that reference, or ask permit assistance to stay on the status with you.
Download and Print the Permit
Once approved, download the permit PDF and print at least two copies. One copy goes with your pet's travel documents, and one stays with you. The airline will check the permit at check-in, and Dubai customs will verify it on arrival. Do not rely on digital copies alone — printed permits are mandatory.
Permit ready - book the managed move?
This guide covers the general process. If you want Dubai Pet Relocation to review your route, pet, dates, and documents and coordinate the move, that is a paid relocation service. Send the details on WhatsApp for eligibility and scope.
This guide covers the MOCCAE import permit, valid 90 days from issuance. Stay here if you are filing yourself. When you also need crate, cargo and door delivery, open pet import to Dubai or WhatsApp if you are ready to book. Government fees checked on 22 September 2026 were AED 200, AED 500 and AED 250.
General guidance is free in the guides. Bespoke document review and coordination are paid.
Not ready to hire? Use the self-serve checklist below — no free human consultation is promised.
WhatsApp +971 50 478 2999 · Permit validity 90 days from issuance · Titer sample within 90 days before travel when required
Common Rejection Reasons & How to Fix Them
| Rejection Reason | How to Fix | Prevention Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong pet photo | Retake with neutral background, front face, no accessories | Shoot a front-face photo on a plain wall before you open the form |
| Expired rabies vaccine | Revaccinate and wait 21 days before reapplying | Check vaccine expiry date before applying |
| Incorrect microchip number | Verify with scanner and re-enter exactly as shown | Copy-paste from official certificate, never type manually |
| Wrong breed declaration | Correct breed name and provide documentation if mixed | Use official breed name from vet records or FCI/AKC |
| Incomplete vaccination records | Upload full vaccination history with clear dates | Ask your vet for a complete, stamped vaccination book |
| Passport mismatch | Ensure passport name matches application exactly | Use same spelling as your travel passport |
Resubmission Resets the Timeline
When you resubmit after a rejection, the processing estimate restarts. Two rejects can push a cargo date past the 90-day window. That is the practical reason to line-check the file — or to use MOCCAE permit assistance — before you pay the portal.
MOCCAE Export Permit (Leaving Dubai)
If you are relocating from Dubai to another country, you need a MOCCAE export permit. The process is similar to the import permit but with a few differences.
How Dubai Pet Relocation Handles Permits
MOCCAE permit assistance is the commercial twin of this guide: document collection, a line-check against the current requirements, portal submission support, and status tracking until the Ministry issues the PDF. We do not issue permits and we do not claim a volume badge.
Document Review
We check every document for completeness, format, and accuracy before submission.
Application Submission
We complete the MOCCAE portal application, upload documents, and pay fees.
Follow-Up & Monitoring
We track application status daily and contact MOCCAE if processing exceeds 5 days.
Error Correction & Resubmission
If rejected, we read the Ministry reason, fix the file, and you resubmit. Confirm any extra portal fee when you resubmit.
DIY on the portal versus managed permit assistance
The government fee does not change. You are choosing who watches the file. This comparison is honest, not a conversion trick.
| Question | DIY with this guide | Managed via the service page |
|---|---|---|
| Who logs into UAE Pass? | You | You — we do not assume a government login |
| Who line-checks chip numbers? | You, against the list above | We review, then you submit |
| Who pays MOCCAE? | You, live portal amount | You, same live portal amount |
| When a reject lands | You read the reason and resubmit | We interpret the reason and stay on the thread |
| Best when | Pack is already consistent and the date is flexible | A cargo slot would die if the estimate restarts |
Open the MOCCAE permit assistance service · Pet import to Dubai · Import checklist · Prices after eligibility
MOCCAE import permit questions
Common questions about MOCCAE import and export permits for pets.
Related Guides
MOCCAE permit assistance
Paid document review and tracking. We still do not issue the permit.
UAE Pet Import Requirements
Complete step-by-step guide to all documentation needed for importing pets into the UAE.
Rabies titer test (RNATT)
At least 0.5 IU/ml. Certificate valid 365 days if the vaccine stays valid and no booster is given.
Pet import service
When you need cargo and clearance as well as the permit.
Pet relocation Dubai
Door-to-door coordination after the permit window is understood.
Pet import checklist
Tick-list from microchip to cargo clearance, including the 90-day permit.
Dubai pet arrival guide
Cargo-village clearance and collection after the 90-day permit is issued.
Prices after eligibility
Coordination packages quoted after eligibility. Government fees stay confirm-on-portal.
Dog Relocation to Dubai
Complete guide for bringing dogs to Dubai, including breed rules and crate requirements.
Cat Relocation to Dubai
Everything you need to know about bringing cats to Dubai safely.
Ready to book a managed relocation?
This guide covers the general process. If you want Dubai Pet Relocation to review your route, pet, dates, and documents and coordinate the move, that is a paid relocation service. Send the details on WhatsApp for eligibility and scope.
Send chip number, rabies date and origin on WhatsApp only if you want a managed file. The permit is valid 90 days from issuance. A high-risk titre is at least 0.5 IU/ml under the 365-day certificate conditions. Government fees checked on 22 September 2026 were AED 200, AED 500 and AED 250.
General guidance is free in the guides. Bespoke document review and coordination are paid.
Not ready to hire? Use the self-serve checklist below — no free human consultation is promised.
WhatsApp +971 50 478 2999 · We confirm government fees on the official portal
Official Sources
We coordinate the paperwork, but the rules are set by government and industry authorities. Always confirm the current requirements directly with the official sources.
Last verified: 6 September 2026. Confirm current figures on the official MOCCAE portal before you apply.