A move from Italy to Lebanon with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect about 8-12 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. No routine quarantine applies as long as every …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Italy to Lebanon
typically takes around 8-12 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Italy to Lebanon pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Apply for Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit
Responsible: Owner or agent
8-10 weeks before travel. Contact agriculture.gov.lb with pet details and travel date.
2
Confirm ISO microchip predates the rabies vaccination
Responsible: ASL-authorised vet in Italy
6+ weeks before travel.
3
Verify rabies vaccination is current
Responsible: ASL-authorised vet in Italy
6+ weeks before travel.
4
Book cargo from FCO or MXP to BEY via MEA direct or Turkish via IST
Responsible: Owner or agent
6-8 weeks before travel. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance.
5
ASL health certificate issued and endorsed within 10 days of travel
Responsible: Veterinario ufficiale at local ASL
Within 10 days of departure.
6
Travel day: Lebanese DGA inspection at BEY on arrival
Responsible: Airline cargo, then Lebanese DGA at BEY
FCO to BEY direct on MEA: approximately 3-4 hours. Via IST: 4-6 hours.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Lebanon
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals from Italy at Beirut.
Import permit
Import permit required from the Directorate General of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon. Apply at agriculture.gov.lb.
Health certificate
ASL-endorsed health certificate from Italy, presented at Beirut Rafic Hariri International (BEY) on arrival.
Export permit (Italy)
No separate export permit required. ASL-endorsed certificate is the key export document.
Costs
What this route typically costs
ASL health certificate and official vet fee: EUR 80-200
Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit fee: confirm with agriculture.gov.lb
Cargo FCO or MXP to BEY: EUR 500-1,500 depending on pet size and routing
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-280 if needed
Pet transport agent: EUR 300-900
Total typical range: EUR 1,000-3,200
Critical points to read before you book
Apply for the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit 8-10 weeks before travel. Lebanon's administrative environment adds uncertainty to processing times. Follow up after submitting.
Middle East Airlines (MEA) may offer a direct FCO-BEY service. Confirm with MEA Cargo whether they accept live animal freight on this route before planning around the direct option.
The EU pet passport is not valid for Lebanon. The ASL export certificate is the correct document for this journey.
Lebanon's Directorate General of Agriculture checks the import permit and health certificate at BEY. Both must be present, correctly formatted, and within their validity period.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
MIDDLE EAST
Middle East Airlines (MEA)
MEA, Lebanon's national carrier, operates services between Rome Fiumicino (FCO) and Beirut Rafic Hariri International (BEY). MEA Cargo handles live animal freight on select routes. A direct FCO-BEY option when MEA cargo services are available. Confirm with MEA Cargo before booking.
Cargo Only
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
FCO or Milan Malpensa (MXP) to Istanbul (IST), then IST to Beirut (BEY) on Turkish Airlines. Turkish Cargo handles live animals and IST-BEY is a short connection. Well-established on this corridor.
Cargo Only
ITA AIRWAYS
ITA Airways via Rome connecting
ITA Airways from FCO to IST with connections to BEY. Confirm ITA Airways cargo live animal acceptance before planning around this option.
Cargo Only
What Lebanon requires
Getting a pet into Lebanon is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
FAQ
Common questions about Italy to Lebanon pet transport
Middle East Airlines operates FCO-BEY. Whether they currently accept live animal cargo freight on this service should be confirmed directly with MEA Cargo. If they do, this is one of the more direct options from Italy to Lebanon. If not, Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is the standard alternative.
Lebanon does not apply EU-style FAVN titre test requirements. Current rabies vaccination, ISO microchip, ASL export health certificate, and the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit are the required documents. Confirm current requirements when applying for the permit at agriculture.gov.lb.
Apply 8-10 weeks before travel at agriculture.gov.lb. Processing times vary. Given Lebanon’s current administrative environment, early application and follow-up are strongly recommended. Do not finalise cargo bookings until the permit is confirmed.
The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit and the ASL-endorsed health certificate from Italy. Both must be correctly formatted and within their validity periods. The DGA inspection team at BEY checks these documents on arrival.
Airline guides
Middle East Airlines (MEA)
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
ITA Airways via Rome connecting
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.