Pet Transport United Kingdom to Kuwait: 2026 Guide

Kuwait’s breed restriction list is extensive and enforced rigorously at the airport. Before you spend any money on permits, titre tests, or cargo bookings, check whether your dog’s breed is on the PAAAFR banned list.

Breeds currently banned for import into Kuwait include: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully, all Mastiff breeds (which includes the English Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, and others), English Bulldog, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Rottweiler, Doberman Pinscher, Presa Canario, Boxer, Boerboel, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Turkish Kangal, Anatolian Karabash, and Great Dane. The source for this list is PAAAFR (paaafr.gov.kw).

If your dog is a mixed breed that resembles any of the above, expect scrutiny at the Kuwait border. PAAAFR inspectors make a judgement on appearance as well as documentation. If there is any doubt, raise this with PAAAFR at the permit application stage rather than at the airport.

Cats are not subject to breed restrictions under Kuwaiti law, though brachycephalic cats (Persians, Himalayans, Scottish Folds) may face airline cargo restrictions. Cats are otherwise straightforward on this route if their documentation is in order.

Every pet entering Kuwait requires an import permit from PAAAFR, the Public Authority for Agricultural Affairs and Fish Resources. This is not optional, and pets without a valid permit will be refused entry or returned at the owner’s cost.

The permit covers one dog, or two cats, or one dog and one cat, per application per year. If you are relocating more than this combination, you will need to contact PAAAFR directly to discuss the arrangement. The application process can take three to four weeks, so apply at least eight weeks before your planned travel date to allow time if you need to respond to queries.

Once you have the permit, and once the APHA-endorsed health certificate has been issued by an authorised Official Veterinarian in the UK, you must take the certificate to the Kuwaiti Embassy in London for attestation. The embassy stamps the document to confirm its authenticity. Allow five to ten working days for this step, plus any time for postal or courier delays if you are not near London.

This attestation step surprises many owners who are used to EU moves where a standard AHC is sufficient. On the Kuwait route, the embassy stamp is non-negotiable. Kuwait border officials will not accept a certificate that lacks it.

On the UK health side, your pet needs a microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and in practice a FAVN or ELISA titre test. While the UK export rules themselves focus on the APHA-endorsed health certificate, Kuwait’s import requirements ask for the titre test evidence, so both are needed.

The APHA-endorsed health certificate is issued by an APHA-authorised Official Veterinarian in the UK. It has a short validity window for international travel, typically around 10 days, so timing matters. Get the titre test done first, then coordinate the health certificate to be issued as close to travel as Kuwait’s rules permit.

Flights operate from London Heathrow (LHR) to Kuwait City International Airport (KWI) with Kuwait Airways and British Airways as the main carriers. All pets travel as cargo. Book at least four to six weeks in advance and confirm the IATA kennel requirements for your pet’s size. The kennel must be large enough for the animal to stand, turn around, and lie down.

At Kuwait International Airport, PAAAFR officials inspect arriving animals. If your documentation is complete and your permit is valid, this inspection is typically brief. Delays happen when paperwork has gaps or when the breed identification is disputed.