Pet Transport from the United Arab Emirates to the Bahamas
Taking your dog or cat from United Arab Emirates to Bahamas comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Plan on roughly 8-12 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. No routine quarantine applies as long as every …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Arab Emirates to Bahamas
typically takes around 8-12 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Arab Emirates to Bahamas pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Register for a Click2Clear account by emailing BAHFSA.
Responsible: Owner
As early as possible; account activation can take a few working days on its own.
2
Apply for the BAHFSA ePermit through Click2Clear.
Responsible: Owner
Once the travel date is set.
3
Microchip checked and rabies vaccination timed to the one-year or three-year duration window.
Responsible: UAE-based vet
Well ahead of travel.
4
Apply for the MOCCAE export health certificate online, using a UAE Pass login.
Responsible: Owner
3-4 weeks before travel.
5
Attend the MOCCAE-approved clinic at DXB or AUH for the in-person inspection and endorsement.
Responsible: MOCCAE-approved vet
Within the certificate's 30-day validity.
6
Obtain the BAHFSA-format international veterinary certificate.
Responsible: UAE-based vet
Within 48 hours of departure, not earlier.
7
Book the routing via London (Emirates/Etihad plus British Airways) or Miami (American Airlines).
Responsible: Owner or relocation agent
Once the ePermit is approved and certificate dates confirmed.
8
ePermit and health certificate presented on arrival in Nassau.
Responsible: Owner
At the point of entry.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Bahamas
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
Microchip identification required before the rabies vaccination used for entry.
Rabies vaccination
The UAE is not recognised by WOAH as rabies-free, so the residency-based exemption some countries qualify for doesn't apply here. Instead, BAHFSA's standard vaccine-duration rule governs: a one-year vaccine given no more than 10 months and no less than 1 month before entry, or a three-year vaccine given no more than 34 months and no less than 1 month before entry. Source: BAHFSA Trade Facilitation Unit, bahfsabahamas.com, 2026.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The Bahamas doesn't ask for a rabies antibody titre test from pets arriving from any country, the UAE included.
Quarantine
None published for a pet arriving with a valid ePermit, current rabies vaccination and vet health certificate.
Import permit
ePermit required from BAHFSA before travel, applied for through the government's Click2Clear online system. Register first by emailing click2clear@bahamas.gov.bs for a username and password, then apply for the pet permit. Processing fee USD 10 plus 12% VAT, USD 11.20 total. Source: bahamas.gov.bs, 'Application for Permit to Import Domestic Animals,' 2026.
Health certificate
International veterinary health certificate dated within 48 hours of embarkation, confirming rabies immunity, freedom from internal parasites, and active immunisation against Distemper, Hepatitis, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus and Adenovirus.
Export permit (United Arab Emirates)
No separate export permit exists. MOCCAE's veterinary health certificate for export or re-export of live animals is itself the export clearance document, applied for through the MOCCAE portal, which requires a UAE Pass login.
Government endorsement
The MOCCAE-approved airport clinic vet endorses the certificate directly. No further government office visit is required.
Costs
What this route typically costs
MOCCAE export health certificate: AED 100 (about USD 27).
BAHFSA ePermit processing fee: USD 11.20.
UAE vet visits and health certificates: AED 300-700.
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90-300.
Cargo, Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Nassau via London or Miami: USD 1,600-3,200 depending on routing and crate size.
Total typical range: USD 2,000-4,300 over 8-12 weeks.
Critical points to read before you book
There is no nonstop flight from the UAE to Nassau on any carrier. Every routing adds a connection through London or Miami, so build the transfer time into the certificate timing, not just the departure date.
The Click2Clear registration step, emailing BAHFSA for a username and password, can take a few working days by itself. Starting it only once flights are booked is a common cause of last-minute delay.
The BAHFSA-format health certificate has a tight 48-hour validity window before embarkation, separate from and shorter than the MOCCAE certificate's own 30-day window. Time the final vet visit around the actual flight date, not the MOCCAE appointment.
Hurricane season, June to November, can disrupt Nassau arrivals with little warning. A rebooked connecting flight can mean the 48-hour BAHFSA certificate has lapsed by the time a new departure slot comes up.
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.
BRITISH
British Airways
Flies Heathrow to Nassau direct, seven days a week, but there is no equivalent nonstop from Dubai or Abu Dhabi. The practical routing pairs an Emirates or Etihad flight to London with this BA leg, moving the pet through IAG Cargo for the Nassau sector.
Cargo Only
AMERICAN
American Airlines
Via Miami, connecting onward to Nassau frequently. A shorter overall transit than the London routing for owners who can get a UAE-Miami connection to line up with the cargo booking.
Cargo Only
Bahamas entry requirements at a glance
Getting a pet into Bahamas is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Getting the details right
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions about United Arab Emirates to Bahamas pet transport
No. No airline flies nonstop from Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Nassau. The realistic routing pairs a UAE-to-London leg with British Airways’ direct Heathrow-Nassau service, or a UAE-to-Miami connection with American Airlines onward to Nassau.
No. The Bahamas doesn’t require a titre test from pets arriving from any country of origin. A current rabies vaccination meeting BAHFSA’s duration-based timing rule and a vet health certificate are what’s checked instead.
That exemption applies only to pets from countries the World Organisation for Animal Health recognises as rabies-free. The UAE isn’t on that list, since rabies is still present in its stray animal population, so the standard one-year or three-year vaccine-duration rule applies instead.
It’s a mandatory import permit for every dog or cat entering the Bahamas, applied for online through the Click2Clear system. Register for an account by email well before booking flights, since account activation alone can take a few working days, on top of the USD 11.20 processing fee.
Within 48 hours of embarkation, a tighter window than the MOCCAE export certificate’s 30-day validity. Time this appointment to the confirmed departure date rather than to when the UAE-side paperwork is finished.
Airline guides
British Airways
American Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for your United Arab Emirates to Bahamas pet move. Our specialists will map out the entire timeline and costs. No surprises.