Planning · Checklist
Pet Relocation Checklist: Everything You Need Before You Move
A pet relocation only goes wrong in the gaps — the vaccination given a day too early, the crate ordered a week too late, the permit applied for before the flight was confirmed. This checklist breaks the entire move into four phases, from eight weeks out to arrival day, so nothing slips through. Work through it in order and your pet travels on schedule, every document valid, no surprises at the cargo terminal.
Table of Contents
- Before you start: two things to confirm
- Phase 1 — 8 weeks before: foundations
- Phase 2 — 4–6 weeks before: permits & booking
- Phase 3 — 1–2 weeks before: final paperwork
- Phase 4 — travel day & arrival
- The document pack: what travels with your pet
- How Foufoufly runs this checklist for you
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before you start: two things to confirm
Two answers set your entire timeline, so settle them before you tick anything else off:
- Is your pet's breed allowed? The UAE bans several dog breeds outright, and a MOCCAE permit will never be issued for them. Snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds face airline restrictions and summer heat embargoes. Confirm both against our guide to bringing a dog to Dubai before booking anything.
- Does your origin country need a rabies titre test? If yes, the test must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination and adds weeks to the plan. Check your country's status in our rabies titre test guide.
Phase 1 — 8 weeks before: foundations
Lay the groundwork
- ☐ Confirm breed eligibility (banned list) and airline breed policy
- ☐ Confirm whether a rabies titre test is required for your route
- ☐ Fit an ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit) microchip if not already done
- ☐ Administer the rabies vaccination after the microchip
- ☐ Bring core vaccinations up to date (DHPP for dogs, FVRCP for cats)
- ☐ Decide your service approach — manage it yourself or appoint a relocation company
- ☐ Gather existing records: vaccination history, ownership, prior travel
Phase 2 — 4–6 weeks before: permits & booking
Lock the paperwork and the flight
- ☐ Take the rabies titre (FAVN) test if required — at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥ 0.5 IU/ml
- ☐ Apply for the MOCCAE import permit (valid 30 days from issue)
- ☐ Book a pet-approved airline that accepts your pet's breed and size in your travel month
- ☐ Order the correctly sized IATA-compliant travel crate
- ☐ Confirm the cargo routing and any connection or layover handling
- ☐ Estimate and budget the full cost — see our complete cost guide
- ☐ Begin crate acclimatisation: feed and rest the pet in the open crate at home
For airline-by-airline acceptance, crate rules and seasonal embargoes, work alongside our guide to which airlines fly pets to Dubai. If you are moving from a specific country, our route guides — for example UK to Dubai and Australia to Dubai — give country-specific timelines.
Want a relocation manager to run this checklist for you?
We build a backwards timeline from your target flight date and own every box on this list — permit, airline, crate, documents and customs — so nothing is left to chance. Send us your route for a free plan.
Get Free Assessment on WhatsAppPhase 3 — 1–2 weeks before: final paperwork
Validate everything inside its window
- ☐ Book the export vet appointment for the health certificate (issued within 10 days of the flight)
- ☐ Obtain the government endorsement (APHA in the UK, USDA APHIS in the US, DAFF in Australia)
- ☐ Verify the microchip number matches exactly across every document
- ☐ Confirm all vaccinations remain in-date through the travel date
- ☐ Re-confirm the flight, cargo slot and airway bill (AWB) number
- ☐ Label the crate: name, contact numbers, "LIVE ANIMAL", feeding instructions
- ☐ Attach a water bowl to the crate door; freeze a water portion for slow release
- ☐ Print at least two copies of every document
Phase 4 — travel day & arrival
Calm, fed and checked in
- ☐ Light meal about 4 hours before check-in — never a full stomach, never sedation
- ☐ A short walk and toilet break before crating
- ☐ A familiar-smelling blanket or worn t-shirt inside the crate
- ☐ Arrive at the cargo terminal 4–6 hours before departure
- ☐ Hand over the document pack; keep your own copies
- ☐ Confirm who is collecting the pet at DXB — you or your clearance agent
Clearance at Dubai
- ☐ Pet moved to the airport animal reception on landing
- ☐ MOCCAE and customs verify the permit, scan the microchip, inspect the pet
- ☐ Customs clearance fee paid (AED 250–600)
- ☐ Pet released — usually within 4–6 hours of landing
- ☐ Home: quiet space, fresh water, familiar bedding, a settling-in routine
The document pack: what travels with your pet
This is the bundle that must be complete, current and duplicated before travel day:
| Document | Validity rule | Copies |
|---|---|---|
| MOCCAE import permit | Valid 30 days from issue | 2–3 |
| Microchip certificate | Number must match all documents | 2 |
| Rabies vaccination record | In-date, given after chipping, ≥21 days old | 2 |
| Rabies titre certificate (if required) | ≥0.5 IU/ml, from an approved lab | 2 |
| Export health certificate | Issued within 10 days of flight, government-endorsed | 2 |
| Airway bill (AWB) | Matches consignee on the permit | 2 |
Every regulation behind these documents is set out in full in our pillar guide, the UAE Pet Import Requirements: The Complete 2026 Guide.
How Foufoufly runs this checklist for you
For every relocation we manage, this checklist becomes a dated schedule built backwards from the flight. We confirm breed and airline acceptance first, run the MOCCAE permit from a UAE Pass account, time the titre test and health certificate to their windows, source the right crate, and handle customs clearance at DXB — so you tick nothing off under pressure. You can see the full journey on our pet relocation process page and the support level at each tier on our service tiers.
We recently managed a move for a family relocating from Singapore to Dubai with a cat and a Cocker Spaniel on the same flight. Singapore is a listed country, so no titre test was needed — but the owner had booked a vet appointment for the health certificate 12 days out, outside the 10-day window. We caught it during the Phase 3 review, rebooked the exam for six days before departure, and both pets cleared DXB on the original date. A single mis-timed appointment, caught by a checklist, was the difference between flying and re-booking.
Ready to plan your move? Read our complete pet relocation Dubai guide, explore Foufoufly, or message our team for a free, dated checklist built around your flight.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start planning a pet relocation?
Start at least 8 weeks before your move, and earlier if your origin country requires a rabies titre test — that single requirement can add several weeks because the blood is drawn at least 30 days after vaccination and the lab needs 1–2 weeks to return a result.
What documents does my pet need to enter Dubai?
A MOCCAE import permit, microchip certificate, in-date rabies vaccination record, a rabies titre certificate (if your country requires it), and a government-endorsed export health certificate issued within 10 days of the flight, plus the airway bill. Carry two copies of each.
Can I sedate my pet for the flight?
No. Airlines and the IATA Live Animals Regulations prohibit sedation for air travel, because it impairs breathing and temperature regulation at altitude. A familiar blanket and proper crate acclimatisation are the safe ways to keep a pet calm.
When should my pet last eat before travelling?
Give a light meal about 4 hours before check-in, then water only. A pet should not travel on a full stomach, but should not be fasted for long either. Attach a water bowl to the crate door for the journey.
What size crate does my pet need?
An IATA-compliant crate tall enough for the pet to stand without its ears touching the top, and long enough to turn around and lie flat. Airlines measure crates on the day and refuse undersized ones, so size up rather than down and order early.
Do I need a relocation company to use this checklist?
No — the checklist works whether you self-manage or appoint a company. The value of a relocation company is in owning the sequence and the validity windows, which is where most self-managed moves run into delays. We handle the full checklist if you would rather not manage it yourself.
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