Updated June 2026
Pet Relocation ServiceMOCCAE Import and Export Permit Assistance
Need a MOCCAE pet permit for Dubai?
MOCCAE Import and Export Permit Services
A MOCCAE pet permit is the official government approval that lets a dog or cat legally enter or leave the UAE. Getting it wrong is the single most common reason pets are delayed at the airport or held in quarantine — so we make sure your application is complete, consistent and submitted correctly.
MOCCAE stands for the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, the federal authority that regulates the movement of live animals in and out of the country. Every pet imported to Dubai needs a MOCCAE import permit, and every pet leaving Dubai needs a MOCCAE export health certificate. Both are applied for online through the official MOCCAE portal using a UAE Pass account.
We are a coordination service, not a government department. We are not MOCCAE-licensed and we do not issue permits — only the Ministry can do that. What we do is guide and support you through the application: we review your microchip, vaccination and health-certificate details against the current requirements, prepare the portal submission with you, flag anything that could trigger a rejection, and track the application until the permit is approved.
- Document review — microchip number, rabies vaccination and health certificate checked for consistency before you submit
- Import permit guidance — step-by-step support applying through the MOCCAE online portal
- Export health certificate guidance — including the in-person airport inspection requirement
- UAE Pass and portal support — help navigating the government login and the correct service path
- Approval tracking — we follow the application and keep you updated on WhatsApp until it is issued
- Error prevention — we catch mismatched microchip numbers, expired vaccinations and timing problems before they cost you a rejection
Whether you are importing a pet to Dubai or exporting one out of the UAE, the permit sits at the centre of the process. Booking flights or a crate before the permit is approved is a common and expensive mistake — we sequence everything in the right order.
How to Apply for a MOCCAE Import Permit
The MOCCAE import permit is applied for online before your pet travels to Dubai. Here is the process we guide you through, end to end. For the full step-by-step walkthrough, see our detailed guide at /guides/moccae-import-permit/.
Log in to the MOCCAE portal with UAE Pass
The import permit is requested at moccae.gov.ae under Services then Export and Import Services then Import Permit for Pets. You need a UAE Pass account to access the portal — we help you set this up or log in if you are unsure.
Prepare your documents
Have your pet microchip number, rabies vaccination record, health certificate details, owner passport copy and a clear photo of your pet ready. We review every document first so the numbers and dates all match.
Complete the application form
Enter your pet and owner details, the country of origin and the planned arrival date. We help you select the correct options — the country risk classification determines whether a rabies titer test is required.
Pay the permit fee and submit
The import permit fee is AED 200 per pet, paid online through the portal. We check the full application one final time before you submit.
Track approval and download the permit
MOCCAE reviews the application and, once approved, issues the permit digitally. We track the status and notify you on WhatsApp as soon as it is ready so you can confirm your flight booking.
A few things to know before you apply: rabies vaccination must be done at least 21 days before travel, the microchip must be implanted before the vaccination to be valid, and pets must travel into the UAE as manifested cargo. We confirm all of this fits your timeline before you submit.
How to Apply for a MOCCAE Export Permit
Leaving Dubai with your pet requires a MOCCAE export health certificate rather than an import permit. The application is also made through the MOCCAE portal, but it includes a mandatory in-person inspection.
- Confirm destination requirements first — the destination country, not the UAE, decides whether a rabies titer test or specific certificate format (such as the EU or UK model) is needed
- Get a Fit to Fly certificate from a veterinary clinic, typically valid 5 to 10 days depending on the destination
- Apply for the MOCCAE export health certificate online through the portal with your UAE Pass login
- Attend the in-person inspection — a MOCCAE government veterinarian scans the microchip and reviews all documents at the airport cargo terminal (Cargo Village at DXB or the Abu Dhabi cargo terminal)
- Receive the export permit, issued after a successful inspection
Because the destination country sets many of the rules, export timelines vary widely. If the destination requires a rabies titer test, you should allow several extra weeks. We check the destination requirements at the very start so nothing is missed. See our export permit guide for destination-specific checklists.
MOCCAE Permit Requirements
Before MOCCAE will approve a permit, your pet and paperwork must meet a clear set of requirements. We verify each one before you apply.
- UAE Pass account — required to access the MOCCAE online portal and submit any permit application
- ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip — must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, and the same number must appear on every document
- Valid rabies vaccination — administered at least 21 days before travel and not more than 12 months prior, with the pet at least 12 weeks old
- Government health certificate — issued by an official veterinarian in the country of origin (for imports) and endorsed by the relevant authority
- Residency or accommodation proof — owner passport copy and, where applicable, UAE visa or residency details to confirm who the pet is travelling to
- Rabies titer test — required only for pets arriving from high-risk countries, showing a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml
The most important rule to remember is consistency: the microchip number on the vaccination record, the health certificate and the permit application must all match exactly. A single mismatched digit can cause a rejection. Our document review exists to catch exactly this.
Processing Time and Validity
Once a complete application is submitted, a MOCCAE import permit is typically issued within about 3 to 5 business days. Incomplete or inconsistent applications take longer because they are returned for correction — which is exactly the delay our document review is designed to prevent. Apply early rather than leaving it to the last week before travel.
A MOCCAE import permit is valid for 90 days from the date of issuance. Your pet must arrive in the UAE within that window, so we time the application to line up with your confirmed travel date. If your plans change and the permit expires before your pet travels, a new application and fee are required.
| Detail | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Processing time | Around 3 to 5 business days for a complete application |
| Import permit validity | 90 days from the date of issuance |
| Where to apply | MOCCAE online portal (moccae.gov.ae) via UAE Pass |
| Best time to apply | Once your travel date is confirmed and documents are ready |
MOCCAE Permit Cost
The government fees for a MOCCAE pet permit are predictable and the same whoever applies. The figures below are the official MOCCAE charges — our guidance and coordination fee is quoted separately and confirmed up front.
The import permit itself costs AED 200 per pet. On arrival, a veterinary release and inspection fee also applies: AED 500 per dog or AED 250 per cat. Adding these together, the typical government total comes to roughly AED 700 per dog and around AED 450 per cat. These are the Ministry and clearance fees only — they do not include veterinary work, the crate, flights or our coordination.
| Government fee | Dog | Cat |
|---|---|---|
| MOCCAE import permit (per pet) | AED 200 | AED 200 |
| Veterinary release / inspection | AED 500 | AED 250 |
| Typical government total | ~AED 700 | ~AED 450 |
These figures are a guide and can change, so we confirm the current fees with you before you pay. The cost is the same whether you apply yourself or have us guide you — what we add is the document review and approval tracking that stops a rejected application from costing you far more in missed flights and re-bookings.
Common Application Mistakes
Most permit problems are avoidable. These are the mistakes we see most often and exactly what we check for before you submit.
- Mismatched microchip numbers — the chip number on the vaccination record, health certificate and permit must match exactly, or the application is rejected
- Microchip implanted after vaccination — the chip must be in place before the rabies shot, or the vaccination is not legally recognised by MOCCAE
- Expired or mistimed rabies vaccination — the vaccine must be at least 21 days old and less than 12 months old at the time of travel
- Missing titer test for high-risk countries — applying without the required rabies antibody test means the pet can be held or refused entry
- Booking flights before the permit is approved — committing to a flight date before the permit is issued risks costly re-booking if approval is delayed
- Leaving the application too late — a permit returned for correction can push past your travel date, so we always build in a buffer
Every one of these is caught by our document review. We check the paperwork before it ever reaches MOCCAE, so the application goes in clean and comes back approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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