The journey from United States to Lebanon for a pet is straightforward to plan once the key dates are mapped out. Allow around 8-12 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on track. Compliant pets are not held in quarantine on arrival. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United States to Lebanon
typically takes around 8-12 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United States to Lebanon pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Apply for Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit
Responsible: Owner or agent
8-10 weeks before travel. Contact agriculture.gov.lb and provide pet details, vaccination history, and travel date.
2
Confirm ISO microchip predates the rabies vaccination
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet
6+ weeks before travel.
3
Verify rabies vaccination is current
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet
6+ weeks before travel.
4
Book cargo from JFK, IAD, or ORD to BEY via chosen hub
Responsible: Owner or agent
6-8 weeks before travel. Confirm live animal acceptance on each leg.
5
USDA APHIS-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of travel
Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS endorsement
Within 10 days of departure. USDA APHIS endorsement via USDA APHIS regional office or online portal.
6
Travel day: Lebanese DGA inspection at BEY on arrival
Responsible: Airline cargo, then Lebanese DGA at BEY
JFK to BEY via IST or Gulf hub: typically 14-18 hours.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter Lebanon
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required.
Rabies vaccination
Current rabies vaccination required. Records presented at Beirut on arrival.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals from the USA at Beirut.
Import permit
Import permit required from the Directorate General of Agriculture, Ministry of Agriculture of Lebanon. Apply through agriculture.gov.lb.
Health certificate
USDA APHIS-endorsed official health certificate from the United States.
Export permit (United States)
No formal export permit required for companion animals departing the United States.
Costs
What this route typically costs
USDA APHIS health certificate endorsement: USD 38-50 per certificate plus vet exam fee
Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit: confirm fee with agriculture.gov.lb
Cargo JFK or IAD to BEY via hub: USD 1,800-5,000 depending on crate size
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 80-400 if needed
Pet transport agent (recommended): USD 500-1,500
Total typical range: USD 2,500-7,500
Critical points to read before you book
The Lebanese import permit must be secured before booking cargo. Apply 8-10 weeks ahead at agriculture.gov.lb and allow for follow-up. Lebanon's administrative environment can affect processing timelines.
USDA APHIS endorsement is a separate step from the vet examination. The APHIS-endorsed certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel. USDA APHIS endorsement in person takes 1-3 business days; the online portal (VSPS) may be faster.
Lebanon is not on the USA's list of countries requiring additional health steps, but the Lebanese permit process adds lead time that many pet owners underestimate.
Beirut Rafic Hariri Airport is generally operational for international cargo but confirm current airline cargo services are active before booking.
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.
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
JFK or ORD to Istanbul (IST) on Turkish Airlines, then IST to Beirut (BEY). Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animal freight. IST is one of the main transit hubs for USA-to-Middle East cargo. Middle East Airlines also operates from IST to BEY.
Cargo Only
MIDDLE EAST
Middle East Airlines (MEA) via London or Paris
MEA serves Beirut from several European hubs. From the USA, routing via London (LHR) or Paris (CDG) then MEA to BEY is possible. MEA Cargo handles live animals on select routes. Confirm cargo acceptance before booking.
Cargo Only
EMIRATES
Emirates SkyCargo via Dubai
JFK to Dubai (DXB), then DXB to BEY on Emirates. Emirates SkyCargo handles live animal freight and DXB-BEY is a short segment. Suitable if the Gulf hub routing suits your dates.
Cargo Only
QATAR AIRWAYS
Qatar Airways via Doha
JFK or IAD to Doha (DOH), then DOH to BEY. Qatar Airways Cargo handles live animals. Doha is close to Beirut and the DOH-BEY connection is short.
Cargo Only
How Lebanon handles incoming pets
Lebanon keeps its requirements reasonable, though a few steps have fixed timing. Map those out first and the rest falls into place.
What experienced owners do
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 about United States to Lebanon pet transport
Lebanon does not require a rabies titre test for pets from the United States. Current rabies vaccination, ISO microchip, USDA APHIS health certificate, and the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture import permit are the required documents. Confirm current requirements when applying for the permit.
Your USDA-accredited vet examines your pet and issues the health certificate. USDA APHIS then endorses it through a regional office or the VSPS online portal. APHIS endorsement is approximately USD 38 per certificate. The endorsed certificate must be issued within 10 days of travel.
JFK (New York), IAD (Washington Dulles), and ORD (Chicago O’Hare) all have good connections to Beirut via Turkish Airlines, Gulf carriers, or European hubs. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is direct from JFK and ORD. Choose the departure airport closest to you with the most convenient cargo routing.
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals from the USA. The DGA inspection at BEY is a document and health check. Pets with the import permit, APHIS health certificate, ISO microchip, and current rabies vaccination clear without quarantine.
Airline guides
Turkish Airlines via Istanbul
Middle East Airlines (MEA) via London or Paris
Emirates SkyCargo via Dubai
Qatar Airways via Doha
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.