Bahrain Pet Import Requirements

Every requirement below is taken from an official government page, and each one links to the page it comes from. The rules were last checked on 2 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked page again before you book.

Who is in charge

• Pets accompanying travellers are controlled by the ministry's Veterinary Quarantine (Bahrain Customs names it under its former title, Ministry of Municipalities Affairs, Works and Urban Planning). The current ministry is the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, which provides the personal live animal import permit e-service.
  Personal Pets, checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  UK APHA guidance notes 3889NFG (revised 24 November 2023, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bc5ba61e5274a360bba79a5/3889NFG.pdf) still name the Department of Commerce and Agriculture, Farmer Services Directorate, Veterinary Services Section, an older department name.
• The bahrain.bh e-service 'Live animals import permit (personal)' (تصريح استيراد حيوانات حية (شخصي)) lets individuals apply for an import licence for live animals and birds, with the required documents. Its listed provider is the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture (وزارة شؤون البلديات والزراعة).
  تصريح استيراد حيوانات حية (شخصي) (Live animals import permit, personal), checked 2 October 2026

Where your pet travels from

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11, Third (dogs and cats): two groups. Origins free of rabies: rabies vaccination within 6 months of shipment. Origins where rabies is endemic: vaccination certificate 1 to 6 months before shipment, or vaccination on arrival at the owner's cost with up to one month's quarantine. No country list is given.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026

Import permit

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 6: import of all animals requires a licence from the competent veterinary authority, through the port of entry.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 7(b): the veterinary authority decides on a permit application within 15 days of submission. Apply online through the bahrain.bh personal live animal import permit e-service (esID 2177).
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 7(c): the import permit is valid for 30 days from receipt and may be extended by up to 15 days at a time.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Per UK APHA guidance notes for certificate 3889 (revised 24 November 2023): no dog or cat may enter Bahrain except under an import permit. Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889NFG guidance notes, checked 2 October 2026

Microchip

• Bahrain's regulation (Ministerial Decision 7 of 2004) and the Customs page do not address pet microchips. Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate (page updated 20 August 2026): the veterinarian verifies the microchip numbers listed on the certificate. No ISO standard is stated. Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026

Rabies vaccination

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11, Third (1): from rabies-free origins, rabies vaccination no more than 6 months before shipment. Applies to dogs and cats from rabies-free origins.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  The USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate (page updated 20 August 2026, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bahrain-dog-cat.pdf) certifies only that animals are at least 3 months old and 'fully vaccinated against rabies virus', with no time window. Bahrain's own regulation wins; the US certificate does not contradict the 6 month limit.
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11, Third (2): from rabies-endemic origins, a certificate of rabies vaccination given not less than 1 month and not more than 6 months before shipment, or vaccination on arrival at the owner's cost. Applies to dogs and cats from rabies-endemic origins.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Per UK APHA certificate 3889: rabies vaccination not less than 30 days and not more than 6 months before export (consistent with Bahrain's regulation). Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889EHC version 3 specimen certificate, checked 2 October 2026
• Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate (page updated 20 August 2026): animals must be at least 3 months old and fully vaccinated against rabies. Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026

Rabies titre test

• Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate (page updated 20 August 2026): a rabies titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an accredited US laboratory is certified, in addition to rabies vaccination. No waiting period after the blood test is stated. Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026
• Not required under Bahrain's own regulation: Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11 sets the conditions for incoming consignments, and its section for dogs and cats (Third) covering both rabies-free and rabies-endemic origins lists rabies vaccination and, for animals under 30 days, other vaccinations only, with no titre test. US-origin pets still need the titre test that the USDA APHIS certificate requires (see the US requirement).
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
  Official sources differ

  The USDA APHIS Bahrain dog and cat certificate (page last modified 20 August 2026, https://www.aphis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/bahrain-dog-cat.pdf) certifies a rabies titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an accredited US laboratory. Bahrain's own regulation is preferred as the importing authority; UK certificate 3889 and guidance 3889NFG (revised 24 November 2023) also have no titre test. Bahrain may set extra conditions in the import permit, which the bahrain.bh e-service does not publish, so check the permit.

Health certificate

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 10(e)(1): live animal consignments must be accompanied by a valid, approved veterinary health certificate stating the vaccinations, tests and other health measures carried out before export. Article 10(b) also requires every incoming consignment to carry the veterinary import permit and a government certificate from the country of origin stating that the consignment is free of any substances harmful to people, animals or the environment. No validity period is set.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Per UK APHA certificate 3889: clinical examination not more than 48 hours before the proposed date of export; the certificate states it is valid for 7 days. Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889EHC version 3 specimen certificate, checked 2 October 2026
• Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate: valid for 30 days after issuance; it records the Bahrain Veterinary Quarantine import permit number and expiry date. USDA endorsement (original ink) is required per the APHIS Bahrain page (last modified 20 August 2026). Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026

Other vaccines and tests

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11, Third (3): dogs under 30 days old must be vaccinated against distemper, leptospirosis, hepatitis and 'typhus' (as written); cats under 30 days against feline enteritis, feline tracheitis and feline calicivirus.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Per UK APHA certificate 3889: dogs vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis and parvovirus, and cats against feline enteritis, in each case not less than 30 days and not more than 6 months before export. Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889EHC version 3 specimen certificate, checked 2 October 2026
• Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate: dogs vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis (adenovirus), parainfluenza, parvovirus and leptospirosis; cats against herpesvirus, calicivirus and panleukopenia; first dose before 2 months of age, booster 2 weeks to 1 month later, and one month elapsed since the booster before export. Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026

Parasite treatment

• Bahrain's own sources found do not address parasite treatment. Per UK APHA certificate 3889: freedom from external parasites at examination is certified; no treatment with timing is specified. Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889EHC version 3 specimen certificate, checked 2 October 2026

Quarantine

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 11, Third (2): pets from rabies-endemic origins without a valid vaccination certificate may be vaccinated on arrival at the owner's cost and are then held for up to one month. Article 9: the veterinary authority carries out quarantine checks and tests before release. Applies to dogs and cats from rabies-endemic origins without a valid rabies certificate.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004, Article 3: live animals from a country or area free of epidemic diseases that arrive without the required original documents and health certificates are quarantined; the veterinary authority sets the period and place, and releases them only once the documents are provided. Applies to dogs and cats from countries or areas considered free of epidemic diseases under OIE standards, arriving without the original documents.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026

Arrival points and notice

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 (executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law), Article 7(d): the importer must notify the veterinary quarantine at the port of entry at least 48 hours before the animals arrive.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Customs: travellers or importers must coordinate in advance with the veterinary authority and tell it the date and time of arrival; otherwise Customs calls the authority and the traveller waits for its representative.
  Personal Pets, checked 2 October 2026

Minimum age

• Bahrain's own sources found set no minimum age. Per the USDA APHIS Bahrain certificate: animals must be at least 3 months old. Applies to dogs and cats from the US.
  Bahrain dog and cat health certificate, checked 2 October 2026

How many pets

• No official page states a rule on this. We confirm it with you for each move.

Banned and restricted breeds

• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 100 of 2023 (Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture, Official Gazette 3695, 24 August 2023), Article 1: import of the predatory and dangerous animals in Schedules A and B is banned. Schedule B (dangerous dogs) lists under 'Pit Bulls' the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully and any mixed breed or hybrid of them; under 'Mastiff Dogs' the Brazilian Mastiff, Argentinian Mastiff and their crosses; the Japanese Tosa or hybrid; and the Presa Canario. The ban does not apply to security and military bodies; zoos, circuses, animal parks and scientific institutions may be exempted with the ministry's approval.
  Official Gazette issue 3695 (24 August 2023), Ministerial Decision No. 100 of 2023 banning import of some predatory and dangerous animals, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Law No. 23 of 2026 on regulating the possession and handling of dangerous animals (issued 3 June 2026, Official Gazette 3887 of 4 June 2026, in force the day after publication), Article 4: no person may possess, handle or breed any dangerous animal. 'Handling' (التداول) is defined to include import and export. Dangerous animals (predatory and semi-dangerous) are to be listed by a decision of the minister after Council of Ministers approval; the law itself names no dog breeds, and Article 15 gives those affected up to six months from entry into force to comply. Treat the breeds in Ministerial Decision 100 of 2023 as banned and check whether a new list has been issued under this law before any dog move.
  Law No. 23 of 2026 on regulating the possession and handling of dangerous animals, checked 2 October 2026

How your pet may travel

• Bahrain Customs: domestic animals may enter accompanying the traveller, under the control of the ministry's Veterinary Quarantine. No Bahraini source found sets a cabin or hold rule; airline rules apply.
  Personal Pets, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004, Article 7(a): the import permit application must state the expected arrival date, the means of transport used and the port of entry.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004, Article 10(e)(2): live animal consignments must also be accompanied by a report from the ship's captain, the aircraft commander or the person in charge of the means of transport, handed to the supervising veterinarian on arrival, stating that no animals died on the journey, that they did not mix with animals carrying an epidemic disease and that they did not pass through infected areas. The regulation does not distinguish accompanied pets from cargo.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026
• Per UK APHA guidance notes 3889NFG (revised 24 November 2023): animals travelling by air should be carried in line with IATA standards. Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
  3889NFG guidance notes, checked 2 October 2026

Official fees

• No official page states a rule on this. We confirm it with you for each move.

Other conditions

• Bahrain Customs: after veterinary clearance, a simplified customs declaration is prepared to complete customs procedures.
  Personal Pets, checked 2 October 2026
• Bahrain Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004, Article 10(d): all accompanying documents must be written in Arabic or English.
  Ministerial Decision No. 7 of 2004 issuing the executive regulations of the GCC Veterinary Quarantine Law, checked 2 October 2026