Bringing Your Pet to Saudi Arabia: Rules & Process

Moving to Saudi Arabia with your cat or dog is entirely possible, but it involves clear steps that you should start well before your travel date. The Kingdom allows live animals to be imported only with prior approval and a valid veterinary health certificate confirming the animal is free of epidemic diseases. In this Saudi Living guide, we walk you through exactly how the process works, what documents you need, and how to avoid the most common delays.

Who issues the permit

All import and export permits for pets (cats and dogs) are handled by the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA). Applications are submitted electronically through MEWA’s unified services platform, Naama.sa (also branded AgriServ / Anaam). You log in using your Nafath digital identity, then complete an online application with the required attachments. There is no way around the permit: importing a pet without prior MEWA approval is not allowed.

The core requirements before you travel

Two things must be sorted out well ahead of your trip, because both have timing rules:

• Microchip identification. Your pet must be identified by an electronic chip (or another approved identification method). The chip number is mandatory and must match the number recorded in the vaccination booklet and the health certificate.
• Rabies vaccination. A valid rabies vaccination is required for cats and dogs over three months of age. Based on current 2026 guidance, it is typically given at least 30 days before travel and not more than around 12 months before travel, so plan the timing carefully. The vaccination must still be valid on your actual travel date.

For dogs, also confirm in advance that your dog’s breed is among those allowed to be imported into the Kingdom before you make any travel bookings.

Documents you’ll need to attach

When you submit your import application on Naama, have these ready to upload:

• A copy of your national ID, Iqama, or passport.
• A veterinary health certificate issued in the exporting country.
• A clear, recent photo of your pet.
• The vaccination booklet or pet passport showing all vaccinations and their expiry dates, including rabies.
• The microchip (electronic chip) number.

Keep the vaccination booklet or passport handy in your travel documents too, because it must be presented for inspection when you arrive.

Step by step: applying for an import permit

• Register and log in to the Naama electronic platform using Nafath.
• Accept the terms of use.
• Fill in the application details: species, breed, country of origin, entry point, and travel date.
• Attach all the required documents listed above.
• Submit the application online and wait for approval before you travel.

Because approval must be in place before departure, start the application early rather than in the final days before your flight.

Taking your pet out of Saudi Arabia

If you later leave the Kingdom with your pet, MEWA also requires an export permit, submitted through the same Anaam/Naama platform. For export you will need:

• The import permit or approval from the destination country, along with that country’s veterinary health requirements.
• Your ID, Iqama, or passport (or a commercial registration for companies).
• A veterinary health certificate from a clinic accredited by MEWA, authenticated by the ministry branch.
• The pet passport or vaccination booklet showing the microchip number.
• Confirmation that the pet has been clinically and laboratory examined and is free of diseases, especially rabies and toxoplasmosis.

Note that the export permission is valid for 30 days, so time your application to your actual departure.

Practical tips to avoid delays

• Make sure the microchip number is identical across the chip, the vaccination booklet, and the health certificate — mismatches are a common cause of problems at the border.
• Check your destination or transit airlines’ own pet policies separately, as they may add crate and booking requirements.
• Because fees, timelines, and breed lists can change, always confirm the latest details and any specific figures directly on MEWA’s official Naama.sa platform before you commit to travel dates.

With the right documents, a valid rabies vaccination, a matching microchip, and an approved MEWA permit, bringing your pet to Saudi Arabia is a smooth, well-defined process — as long as you start early.

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