Pet Transport from the United Arab Emirates to Namibia
A move from United Arab Emirates to Namibia with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect about 6-10 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Arab Emirates to Namibia
typically takes around 6-10 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 Namibia import process
01
Timed so vaccination falls within Namibia's 30-day-to-12-month window on arrival.
Microchip confirmed and rabies vaccination given or booster administered.
Responsible: UAE vet
02
As early as practical; no published turnaround time.
Apply for the Namibian import permit through the Directorate of Veterinary Services.
Responsible: Owner or agent, N$150 fee
03
Within 7 days of the departure date.
Book the government vet inspection in the UAE and obtain the MOCCAE export health certificate.
Responsible: Owner / MOCCAE government vet
04
Once the import permit and export certificate are confirmed.
Cargo routing booked: Emirates SkyCargo to Johannesburg then Airlink to Windhoek, or Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa.
Responsible: Owner or cargo agent
05
On landing.
Arrival in Windhoek: present the import permit and export certificate, and confirm any additional parasite test results the permit required.
Responsible: Owner / receiving agent
Requirements
Namibia entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 15-digit microchip required, implanted before the import permit application is submitted.
Rabies vaccination
Required, administered between 30 days and 12 months before entry. A vaccination older than 12 months, or newer than 30 days, doesn't satisfy Namibia's window. Source: Namibia Directorate of Veterinary Services import permit application, mawf.gov.na.
Rabies titre test
Not required from any country of origin, including the UAE. Namibia is one of the more permissive destinations on this point.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for a pet meeting the import permit's conditions in full.
Import permit
Required from the Directorate of Veterinary Services before travel, N$150 fee (roughly USD 8, the Namibian dollar being pegged 1:1 to the South African rand). Processing time isn't published, so apply as early as practical.
Health certificate
Government-endorsed export health certificate from the country of departure, presented with the Namibian import permit on arrival.
Leaving United Arab Emirates
Export requirements
Export permit
Not a separate permit; the controlling document is the MOCCAE export health certificate below, mandatory for every pet leaving the UAE regardless of destination.
Veterinary inspection
In-person inspection by a government veterinarian, normally at the airport, within 7 days of the travel date.
Government endorsement
Certificate issued through MOCCAE's export/re-export service, following the in-person check.
Health certificate
MOCCAE veterinary health certificate for exporting cats and dogs, valid 30 days from the date of issue. Fee AED 400 generally, reduced to AED 100 for a personal consignment of up to 2 animals.
Costs
What this route typically costs
MOCCAE export health certificate: AED 100 for a single pet on a personal consignment, AED 400 otherwise
UAE vet visits and vaccination, if needed: AED 300-700
Namibian import permit: N$150 (roughly USD 8)
Any additional parasite testing the permit specifies: USD 80-200
IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 90-320
Cargo, Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Windhoek via Johannesburg or Addis Ababa: USD 1,300-2,900 depending on crate size and season
Total typical range: USD 1,600-4,000 over 6-10 weeks
Critical points
Namibia's rabies vaccination window runs both ways: not older than 12 months and not newer than 30 days at entry. A pet vaccinated too close to the flight date can fail the check just as easily as one that's lapsed.
The MOCCAE export certificate is valid 30 days from issue, but the government vet inspection has to happen within 7 days of departure. Book the appointment around the flight date, not the certificate's outer validity window.
The Namibian import permit can specify negative tests for diseases like Trypanosoma evansi or Leishmaniasis depending on the individual application. Confirm the exact list with the Directorate before the vet visit, since it isn't identical on every permit.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Emirates SkyCargo
Restored a fourth daily Dubai-Johannesburg service on 1 July 2026, the standard first leg for a pet leaving the UAE for Southern Africa, with strong belly-hold cargo capacity.
Cargo Only
Airlink
Regional connector from O.R. Tambo, Johannesburg (JNB) to Hosea Kutako International (WDH), the onward leg most bookings use to finish the journey into Namibia.
Cargo Only
Ethiopian Airlines
Single-carrier alternative via its Addis Ababa hub, which it serves from Dubai multiple times daily, connecting onward to Windhoek.
Cargo Only
What Namibia requires
Getting a pet into Namibia 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
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
No. Namibia doesn’t require a rabies antibody titre test from any country of origin, which is what makes this route quicker than the equivalent Namibia-to-UAE trip.
It has to fall between 30 days and 12 months before arrival. Both limits are enforced, so a vaccination given too recently is just as much of a problem as one that’s lapsed.
AED 100 for a single pet or a personal consignment of up to 2 animals, AED 400 for larger shipments. The government vet inspection needs to happen within 7 days of departure.
No. The standard routing is Emirates SkyCargo to Johannesburg, then Airlink onward to Windhoek. Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa is the main single-carrier alternative.
Airline guides
Emirates SkyCargo
Airlink
Ethiopian Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.