Taking your dog or cat from Lebanon to Ireland comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Around 20-26 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Administered after microchip. …
Rabies titre testRequired. Ireland is an EU member state. …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant …
Import permitNot required, but pre-arrival …
Health certificateEU-format non-commercial health …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Lebanon to Ireland
typically takes around 20-26 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Vet in Lebanon
2
After the microchip is confirmed by scanner
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Official vet in Lebanon
3
At least 30 days after vaccination
Blood drawn for FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: Vet and laboratory
4
Counted from the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the date of the blood draw
Responsible: Owner
5
Ahead of travel, alongside the health certificate
TRACES pre-notification submitted
Responsible: Vet or pet transport agent, on behalf of the owner
6
Within 10 days of travel; allow 2 to 4 weeks for Lebanese endorsement
EU-format health certificate issued and endorsed
Responsible: Vet and Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture
7
After the 90-day wait, TRACES notification and valid certificate
Travel day: BEY to DUB via chosen routing
Responsible: Airline cargo handling
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785. Before or same day as first rabies vaccination. Chip number must match all documentation exactly.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered after microchip. If primary, at least 21 days before entry.
Rabies titre test
Required. Ireland is an EU member state. Pets from unlisted countries including Lebanon require an FAVN titre test at an EU-approved lab. Blood at least 30 days after vaccination. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from blood draw. Source: DAFM (Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine), gov.ie/agriculture.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals. Penalty quarantine or return applies for non-compliant documentation. Ireland does not waive non-compliance.
Import permit
Not required, but pre-arrival notification via TRACES (EU Trade Control and Expert System) is required.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial health certificate. Endorsed by origin authority. Valid 10 days. Must accompany the TRACES pre-notification.
Export permit
Export permit from Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture required
Health certificate
Official export health certificate from official vet, endorsed by Ministry of Agriculture, completed in EU format for entry into Ireland
"
We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Lebanon to Ireland move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Emirates SkyCargo
Beirut (BEY) to Dublin (DUB) via Dubai (DXB). Emirates SkyCargo runs a well-established live animal service on this connection, though the DXB leg adds transit hours compared with a European hub.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines Cargo
BEY to DUB via Istanbul (IST). Turkish Cargo's IST network reaches Dublin reliably and is often the quickest way out of Beirut for a Western European destination.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
BEY to DUB via Frankfurt (FRA). Uses the Frankfurt Animal Lounge for the connection, a purpose-built facility many owners prefer for pets on a longer journey.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways Cargo
BEY to DUB via Doha (DOH). A dependable Gulf alternative. Note that Doha can apply summer heat embargoes on live animal cargo, which can affect scheduling.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: USD 150-250
Cargo fee, Beirut to Dublin via Istanbul, Frankfurt or Dubai: USD 750-1,150 depending on crate size and routing
Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture export permit and endorsement: USD 100-200
EU-format health certificate and vet examination fee: USD 80-150
TRACES pre-notification administration: usually bundled into agent or vet fees, no separate government charge
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 150-400
Critical points
Ireland requires TRACES pre-notification before arrival, on top of the standard EU documentation. Most other EU states in this batch don't ask for this. Miss it and entry can be delayed or refused.
The 90-day wait is counted from the blood draw date, not the result date. Plan the whole schedule around the draw, not the paperwork.
Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. If the order is reversed, Irish authorities can treat the vaccination as invalid for the sequence.
Ireland does not waive non-compliance. Incomplete paperwork can mean penalty quarantine or the pet being returned to origin at the owner's cost.
Meeting Ireland's entry requirements
Bringing a pet into Ireland involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Advice worth following
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
TRACES is the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System, used for pre-arrival notification of animal movements. Ireland requires this notification ahead of a pet’s arrival, in addition to the standard EU health certificate. Most other EU states in this region don’t ask for it.
Realistically 20 to 26 weeks. The titre test sequence needs at least 120 days on its own (30 days after vaccination, then 90 days after the blood draw), plus Lebanese export endorsement time and time to arrange the TRACES notification.
Ireland does not informally waive non-compliance. Incomplete documentation can lead to penalty quarantine at the owner’s expense or the animal being returned to its country of origin.
Yes. The TRACES requirement applies to all non-commercial pet movements into Ireland, cats and dogs alike, regardless of country of origin.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Ireland.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.