Pet Transport from United Arab Emirates to Seychelles: 2026 Guide
Shipping a dog or cat from United Arab Emirates to Seychelles rewards owners who start planning early. Expect around 20-28 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting periods. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Arab Emirates to Seychelles
typically takes around 20-28 weeks.
Expect 28 days of quarantine on arrival.
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 United Arab Emirates to Seychelles import process
01
Vaccination 30 days to 12 months before export; all core vaccinations at least 2 weeks before travel.
Microchip implanted and rabies vaccination administered.
Responsible: UAE-licensed vet.
02
At least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of the planned departure.
Titre test blood draw at an accredited laboratory.
Responsible: Vet and accredited laboratory.
03
Fixed. Runs in parallel with the NBA import permit application.
3-month mandatory wait from the blood draw date.
Responsible: Owner.
04
At least 4 months ahead of the intended arrival, given the rabies-affected pathway.
Apply to the NBA for the import permit.
Responsible: Owner or agent.
05
Close to the travel date.
Obtain the MOCCAE health certificate and book cargo direct to Mahe.
Responsible: UAE-licensed vet and owner or cargo agent.
06
Approximately 4 weeks (28 days) for a compliant pet.
Arrange the quarantine stay at the Mahe facility on arrival.
Responsible: NBA quarantine facility.
Requirements
Seychelles entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Microchip number must be declared on the National Biosecurity Agency (NBA) application. Industry practice points to ISO 11784/11785 compliance, though the current NBA document doesn't restate the standard explicitly.
Rabies vaccination
Minimum age 3 months for an inactivated rabies vaccine. Booster given 30 days to 12 months before export. All vaccinations, not just rabies, must be given at least 2 weeks before departure. Minimum age to travel is 16 weeks.
Rabies titre test
Required. The UAE is treated as a rabies-affected origin under NBA rules, since it doesn't sit on Seychelles' internationally recognised rabies-free list. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, tested within 6 months of departure, result above 0.5 IU. Critically, entry is only permitted 3 months after the blood draw date, a fixed wait similar to the EU model. Source: NBA, 'Importation of Cats and Dogs,' 2024.
Quarantine
Mandatory by law, no exceptions. Compliant pets from a rabies-affected origin face a minimum of 4 weeks (28 days) at Seychelles' single quarantine facility on Mahe. Non-compliant pets face a minimum of 6 months quarantine or return to origin at the owner's expense.
Import permit
Required from the NBA, issued within 7 working days of a complete application and valid for 1 month from the intended arrival date. Apply at least 4 months ahead given the rabies-affected-origin pathway. A second Ministry of Finance import permit is needed to clear customs on arrival.
Health certificate
Health certificate in English or French, confirming microchip, vaccination and titre result. Dogs also need clearance for Brucella canis, Trypanosoma evansi, Babesia gibsoni, Leishmania and Erlichia canis unless the exporting country's vet certifies the country free of these diseases.
Leaving United Arab Emirates
Export requirements
Export permit
No separate export permit for a personal pet. A MOCCAE veterinary health certificate, issued after a physical exam and valid 30 days from issue, is the core document.
Health certificate
MOCCAE veterinary health certificate, translated where needed and completed in English or French to meet Seychelles' entry requirements.
Costs
What this route typically costs
MOCCAE health certificate: AED 100 discounted personal-consignment fee, or AED 400 standard fee.
Titre test and laboratory fee: AED 600-1,100.
NBA import permit and Ministry of Finance customs permit: fees set at application.
Quarantine facility, approximately 4 weeks: SR 1,000 for the first 2 weeks, plus SR 500 per week thereafter.
IATA-compliant travel crate: AED 350-1,100.
Direct cargo, Dubai or Abu Dhabi to Mahe: AED 3,800-8,200.
Total typical range: AED 9,000-16,500 over 5-7 months, including the mandatory wait and quarantine.
Critical points
The 3-month wait after the titre blood draw is fixed and cannot be shortened, and the NBA's own guidance recommends applying for the import permit at least 4 months ahead. This route runs on a genuinely long clock despite Seychelles' rabies-free reputation.
Quarantine is mandatory by law for every pet, with no exception for a compliant UAE-origin animal: budget for roughly 4 weeks at the single Mahe facility.
Seychelles' own published guidance is unclear on whether a rabies-free-origin pet ever gets a lighter pathway; the 2024 procedural document doesn't describe one even though the companion application form still references it. Since the UAE isn't on any internationally recognised rabies-free list regardless, this ambiguity doesn't change the requirements for this specific route, but it's worth knowing the documentation itself is inconsistent.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Emirates SkyCargo
Direct Dubai-Mahe service, the shortest and most straightforward option for this route, with established live-animal handling at the Dubai hub.
Cargo Only
Etihad Airways / Etihad Cargo
Direct Abu Dhabi-Mahe service, routing pets via the Pet Oasis facility for crate checks before departure.
Cargo Only
Air Seychelles
Flies Mahe from the Gulf on a seasonal basis, mainly for accompanied checked baggage rather than a standalone manifest cargo service. Most shippers still book Emirates or Etihad.
In Cabin and Hold
What Seychelles requires
Bringing a pet into Seychelles involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Avoiding the common mistakes
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.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Yes. The UAE isn’t on Seychelles’ recognised rabies-free list, so the National Biosecurity Agency treats it as a rabies-affected origin, requiring a titre test above 0.5 IU/mL and a fixed 3-month wait from the blood draw.
Yes. Quarantine is mandatory by law for every pet. A compliant animal from a rabies-affected origin like the UAE typically serves around 4 weeks at Seychelles’ single quarantine facility on Mahe.
Yes. Emirates flies nonstop Dubai to Mahe, and Etihad flies nonstop Abu Dhabi to Mahe.
Certain breeds and their crosses, including Pit Bull, Rottweiler, German Shepherd, Doberman and several others, must be surgically sterilised before entry, with a vet-endorsed certificate.
Airline guides
Emirates SkyCargo
Etihad Airways / Etihad Cargo
Air Seychelles
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.