Pet Travel from UK to Israel: Dog & Cat Import Requirements

Step 1 — Check Your Pet’s Age, Ownership & Breed Eligibility

Before starting the export process, make sure your pet meets Israel’s basic entry requirements.

Minimum age

Pets travelling from the UK may enter Israel from 3 months of age.

Ownership

You must have owned your pet for at least 90 days before entry into Israel.

Restricted or controlled breeds

Certain dog breeds are subject to additional restrictions and may require an import licence, including:

• American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Amstaff)

• Bull Terrier

• Pit Bull Terrier

• Staffordshire Bull Terrier

• Dogo Argentino

• Japanese Tosa

• Brazilian Fila

• Rottweiler

Bengal, Savannah and other wild-hybrid cats may also be subject to additional import requirements.

If your pet falls into one of these categories, additional licensing and airline requirements may apply.

Step 2 — Microchip Identification

Your pet must be identified with a microchip.

The microchip should:

• Be ISO compliant (ISO 11784/11785)

• Be readable at the time of certification and entry

• Match the microchip number recorded on all supporting documentation

If your pet has a non-ISO microchip, you may need to provide a compatible scanner when entering Israel.

Step 3 — Decide Which Rabies Route Applies to Your Pet

This is the most important part of preparing your pet for travel to Israel from the UK.

Because the UK is recognised as a rabies-free country, there are essentially two routes:

Route A — Your pet HAS received a rabies vaccination within the last 12 months

If your pet has been vaccinated against rabies during the 12 months before travel, the vaccination must meet Israel’s requirements.

The rabies vaccination must have been:

• Given when your pet was at least 3 months old

• Administered at least 30 days before arrival in Israel

• Administered no more than 12 months before arrival

If your pet travels using this rabies vaccination, a rabies antibody blood test is mandatory.

The blood test must demonstrate a rabies antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml and must meet the applicable timing and laboratory requirements.

Therefore:

Rabies vaccination within the last 12 months → rabies blood test required.

Do not assume that having a valid rabies vaccination alone is sufficient for travel to Israel.

Route B — Your pet HAS NOT received a rabies vaccination within the last 12 months

If your pet is travelling directly from the UK and has not received a rabies vaccination within the 12 months before travel, the rabies vaccination and rabies antibody blood test are not required before departure under the rabies-free country exemption.

Therefore:

No rabies vaccination within the last 12 months → no pre-travel rabies vaccination or rabies blood test required.

The Israeli authorities may, however, require your pet to receive a rabies vaccination within 5 days after arrival in Israel.

This distinction is particularly important. Giving a rabies vaccination shortly before travelling can change the requirements for your pet and mean that a rabies blood test is then required.

Step 4 — Rabies Antibody Blood Test, Where Required

This step only applies if your pet is travelling under Route A above and has received a qualifying rabies vaccination within the previous 12 months.

The rabies antibody titre must:

• Be performed following the qualifying rabies vaccination

• Be tested by an approved laboratory

• Show an antibody level of at least 0.5 IU/ml

• Meet the required timing for certification and travel

Rabies titre results can take several weeks to return, so owners travelling with a rabies-vaccinated pet should contact us well in advance of their planned journey.

If your pet qualifies for Route B and is travelling from the UK without a rabies vaccination within the previous 12 months, this blood test is not required.

Step 5 — Owner Declaration

The owner/exporter must sign a declaration confirming that:

• The pet has been in their possession for at least 90 days before export

• The pet will be at least 3 months old on the date of export

This declaration is retained by the Official Veterinarian as part of the certification process.

Step 6 — Check Whether You Need an Import Licence

Many owners travelling with their own pets can enter Israel without obtaining a separate import licence.

An import licence exemption generally applies where all of the following conditions are met:

• The owner is over 18 years old

• No more than two pets are being imported

• The pets travel with the owner on the same flight

• The owner has possessed the pets for at least 90 days

• All applicable health requirements are met

• The pet is not a restricted breed

• The pets are not being imported for sale or transfer to another person

If all of these conditions are met, an import licence is generally not required.

If they are not met, an import licence will need to be arranged with the Israeli Veterinary Services before travel.

Import licence applications should be made sufficiently in advance of travel, ideally at least 10 days before departure.

Step 7 — Apply for Your Export Health Certificate

Pets travelling from Great Britain to Israel require an Export Health Certificate (EHC 4058).

The application is made through the UK Government's Export Health Certificate Online service and nominates an Official Veterinarian to complete the certificate.

We can advise you on when to submit the application so that it corresponds correctly with your travel date and final veterinary examination.

Step 8 — Final Clinical Examination & Export Health Certificate

Your pet will need a final examination by an Official Veterinarian before departure.

For the UK Export Health Certificate, this examination must be completed within 5 days of export.

During the appointment, the Official Veterinarian will:

• Scan and verify your pet's microchip

• Perform a clinical examination

• Check the relevant vaccination and rabies titre documentation, where applicable

• Review the owner declaration and supporting documents

• Complete, sign and stamp the Export Health Certificate

The Israeli health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue, but the UK EHC examination requirement means the appointment must still be appropriately timed in relation to departure.

Step 9 — Prepare & Submit Your Documents Before Travel

Before travelling, make sure you have the complete documentation required for your pet.

Depending on the route applicable to your pet, this may include:

• Completed vaccination record/booklet

• Rabies antibody titre certificate, if required

• Completed Export Health Certificate

• Required Israeli arrival notification forms (Annex B and Annex C)

• Import licence, if applicable

The required documents must be sent to the relevant Israeli Veterinary Service at the port of entry at least 2 working days before departure.

For Ben Gurion Airport, the documents should be submitted to the Veterinary Services at the airport.

Different contact details apply when entering through Ashdod, Haifa or Eilat.

Do not travel until you have received the necessary confirmation or approval from the Israeli authorities.

Step 10 — Arrival in Israel

When you arrive in Israel:

• Use the red customs channel

• Declare your pet

• Have the original health and travel documentation available for inspection

• Present the rabies titre report if your pet travelled under the vaccinated route

Provided your pet is clinically healthy and all entry requirements have been met, quarantine is not normally required.

Dogs will also need to be registered and licensed locally following arrival.

Ready to Start Your Pet’s Israel Travel Paperwork?

If you’re planning to travel from the UK to Israel with your dog or cat, we can help make the process clear, organised, and stress-free.

Complete our enquiry form and we’ll review your pet’s details, travel dates, vaccination history, and certification requirements so we can guide you through the next steps.

Ready to get started? Click below to begin your Israel pet travel enquiry.

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