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Country entry guide · Middle East

Traveling to Israel with your dog

Difficulty: Moderate — a mandatory rabies antibody test for every dog ⏱ Several weeks to a few months

Israel welcomes dogs, but it is not part of the EU pet-passport system — it runs its own import scheme through the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (Veterinary Services and Animal Health), under the Animal Diseases Regulations (Import of Animals), 1974. The step that surprises many travellers is that a rabies antibody test is mandatory for every dog, from every country, on top of an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Your dog must be at least 4 months old, carry a government-endorsed veterinary health certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival, and you must send a Notification of Pet Arrival to the Veterinary Services at your port of entry at least two working days before departure. Up to two pets travelling with their owner on the same flight are exempt from an import licence; more pets, cargo shipments and restricted breeds need a permit. This guide explains each case before you book.

📋 At a glance

Dogs allowed	Yes
Microchip (ISO)	Required
Rabies vaccination	Required
Rabies antibody test	Required for every dog (>=0.5 IU/ml)
Import licence	Exempt for up to 2 accompanied pets; otherwise required
Pre-arrival notification	Required (>=2 working days before departure)
Veterinary health certificate	Required (endorsed, <=10 days before arrival)
Quarantine	Not required if compliant
Restricted breeds	8 dangerous breeds prohibited (permit only)

⚠️ Important

MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Only a veterinarian and Israel's Veterinary Services (Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security) can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
The rabies antibody test takes time (blood drawn more than 30 days after vaccination, then lab processing) — start it well before you book.
Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.

Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.

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Find a flight to Israel

Compare the airlines that accept dogs and check their conditions.

🔎 Find a flight to Israel

🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided

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Country of destination — Israel★★★★★
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Country of departure★★★★★
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Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆

✅ Entry requirements

Requirement	Required?	Exceptions	Official reference
ISO microchip	Required	If the microchip is not ISO-compliant, the owner must provide a compatible reader to the import official at the port of entry.	Israel Veterinary Services — import requirements (microchip); USDA APHIS guidance
Minimum age	At least 4 months	The age rule combines with the rabies and antibody-test timing, so plan the schedule from the first vaccination.	Israel Veterinary Services — import requirements (age); USDA APHIS guidance
Rabies vaccination	Required	A valid booster given within the previous vaccine's validity imposes no new 30-day wait, provided the antibody result remains valid.	Israel Veterinary Services — import requirements (rabies); USDA APHIS guidance
Rabies antibody test	Required for every dog	The laboratory result is valid for the life of the animal, as long as the dog stays current on rabies vaccination per the vaccine manufacturer's instructions.	Israel Veterinary Services — import requirements (rabies serology); USDA APHIS guidance
Veterinary health certificate	Required	A printed paper copy of the completed certificate must accompany each shipment; documents should be in English (or with a certified English translation).	Israel Veterinary Services — health certificate; USDA APHIS — Veterinary Health Certificate for Dogs and Cats
Owner declaration (90-day care)	Required for licence exemption	Without the 90-day care condition, the animal is not eligible for the import-licence exemption and an import permit is needed.	Israel Veterinary Services — import-licence exemption conditions (Annex C)
Pre-arrival notification (Annex B)	Required	The shipment is not released in Israel until the Veterinary Services at the port of entry have authorised it.	Israel Veterinary Services — Notification of Pet Arrival (Annex B); USDA APHIS guidance
Import licence / permit	Conditional	More than two pets, unaccompanied/cargo animals and dangerous breeds require a permit from the Director of Veterinary Services (apply to vs-ie@moag.gov.il). Permitted animals arrive as cargo manifest only.	Animal Diseases Regulations (Import of Animals), 1974; Israel Veterinary Services
Tapeworm treatment	Not required per reviewed official sources	Confirm the current certificate with your official veterinarian, as certificate templates are updated periodically.	Israel Veterinary Services — Veterinary Health Certificate for Dogs and Cats
Port of entry	Required	Plan cargo arrivals within the inspection window; there is no inspection on Friday or Saturday.	USDA APHIS guidance — ports of entry to Israel
Quarantine	Not required if compliant	A dog that does not meet the requirements can be detained, quarantined, returned to the exporting country or refused entry — costs borne by the owner.	Israel Veterinary Services — import requirements (non-compliance)

🗓 In what order, and when

Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.

ISO microchipISO 11784 / Annex A of ISO 11785 microchip (134.2 kHz). It must be implanted before the most recent rabies vaccination, and the number must match every document.
Minimum ageDogs and cats must be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel.
Rabies vaccinationThe dog must be current on rabies vaccination. A primary vaccination, or a booster given after the previous vaccine expired, counts as a primary vaccination: the dog must then wait at least 30 days before import.
Rabies antibody testA rabies neutralising antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an OIE/WOAH-approved laboratory. The blood sample must be taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. A positive result is required before the health certificate is completed.
Veterinary health certificateOfficial veterinary health certificate for import to Israel, issued by the exporting country's veterinarian and endorsed by its government veterinary authority no more than 10 days before arrival. It confirms the microchip, valid rabies vaccination, the antibody test and that the animal shows no signs of infectious disease.
Owner declaration (90-day care)An owner declaration (Annex C) that the animal has been under the owner's personal care for at least 90 days before being brought to Israel, and will stay with that owner.
Pre-arrival notification (Annex B)Send a Notification of Pet Arrival (Annex B) plus a copy of the endorsed veterinary certificate to the Veterinary Services at the port of entry (Ben Gurion Airport: vs-airport@moag.gov.il) at least two working days before departure.
Import licence / permitUnder the Animal Diseases Regulations (Import of Animals), 1974, an import licence is required. It is waived when up to two dogs/cats travel as their owner's accompanied baggage on the same flight, under 90-day care, meeting all health rules and not a restricted breed.
Tapeworm treatmentThe Israeli import requirements and health certificate reviewed do not list an echinococcus/tapeworm treatment for dogs entering Israel.
Port of entryPets must enter through an approved port: Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa seaport, Ashdod seaport or Eilat seaport. Cargo (permitted) animals are inspected at the cargo warehouse Sunday to Thursday, 06:00-24:00.
QuarantineCompliant dogs are released after the veterinary check; there is no routine quarantine.

🌍 The different cases

Up-to-date dog with a valid antibody result — fastest path

A dog that is microchipped, currently vaccinated against rabies and already holds a valid rabies antibody result (>=0.5 IU/ml, blood taken more than 30 days after a primary vaccination) follows the shortest path. It travels as its owner's accompanied baggage (up to two pets, in the owner's care at least 90 days), so no import licence is needed. Have the government-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival, send the Notification of Pet Arrival at least two working days before departure, and there is no quarantine if every condition is met.

⏱ Up-to-date dog with a valid lifelong rabies antibody result: ~2-3 weeks — issue the government-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of arrival and send the arrival notification at least 2 working days before departure; no import licence for up to two accompanied pets.

Primary or lapsed rabies vaccination — new antibody test

If your dog needs a primary rabies vaccination, or a booster given after the previous vaccine expired, that dose counts as primary: the blood for the antibody test must be drawn more than 30 days after it, and the dog must wait at least 30 days before import. Budget for the laboratory turnaround too. The microchip must already be in place before the vaccination, and the dog must be at least 4 months old. The endorsed health certificate and pre-arrival notification are still required.

⏱ Primary or lapsed rabies vaccination (new antibody test needed): ~2-3 months — vaccinate, wait, draw blood more than 30 days after the vaccination for an OIE/WOAH-approved laboratory, then a 30-day wait before import.

Import-permit cases — more than two pets, cargo, or a dangerous breed

More than two dogs/cats, unaccompanied animals, animals not under the owner's 90-day care, and dangerous breeds all require an import permit from the Director of Veterinary Services (apply to vs-ie@moag.gov.il); permitted animals arrive as cargo manifest only. Eight dangerous breeds — and any cross or dog with their physical traits — are prohibited from import except by a case-by-case permit. A dog arriving without the required documents, a matching microchip, a valid antibody result or a permit can be detained, returned or refused, at the owner's expense.

⏱ Import-permit cases (more than two pets, unaccompanied/cargo, or a dangerous breed): add several weeks — a permit from the Director of Veterinary Services is needed; dangerous breeds are only admitted case-by-case, if at all.

🛬 Arrival

What happens when your dog reaches Israel depends on whether every condition was completed before departure.

Pets enter only through an approved port: Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa seaport, Ashdod seaport or Eilat seaport.
The Veterinary Services must already have received your Notification of Pet Arrival (Annex B) and a copy of the endorsed certificate at least two working days before departure — the animal is not released until they authorise it.
Present the original endorsed health certificate, proof of the rabies antibody test and the owner declaration; the officer checks the documents and scans the microchip (bring a compatible reader if the chip is not ISO-compliant).
Cargo (permitted) animals are inspected at the cargo warehouse Sunday to Thursday, 06:00-24:00 — arrange arrival within that window.
If documents are missing or invalid, the microchip does not match, or the antibody result is absent, the animal may be detained, quarantined, returned to the exporting country or refused entry — all costs borne by the owner.

🛫 Leaving the country (return trip)

Israel is non-listed, so a valid rabies antibody titer is mandatory to return to the EU — plus an export certificate approved by a government veterinarian.

⚠️ Start before you leave Anticipate the rabies antibody titer: blood test in an EU-approved lab, at least 30 days after vaccination — a valid result is essential to re-enter the EU and cannot be arranged at the last minute.
On site, before the flight The export health certificate must be signed and approved by a government veterinarian of the MOAG Veterinary Services (a private-vet certificate alone is not valid), issued at the regional veterinary offices.

⚠️ If your dog already had a valid EU rabies titer before leaving, it stays valid for life as long as the rabies vaccination is kept up — check this before you travel.

🔗 Authority: IVSAH (MOAG)

🚫 Restricted dogs

Israel restricts the import of dogs classed as dangerous under the Regulations for the Control of Dogs (Import of Dangerous Dogs), 5765-2004. Importing a dangerous-breed dog, a cross with one, or a dog with their physical traits is prohibited except by a case-by-case permit from the Director of Veterinary Services.

Category 1

Prohibited (dangerous) breeds: American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Amstaff), Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Staffordshire Bull Terrier (English Staff), Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff) and Rottweiler — plus any cross with these breeds or any dog showing their physical traits.

Category 2

Exception route: entry is only possible with a valid, translated Israeli import permit specific to dangerous dogs, granted case-by-case by the Director of Veterinary Services (apply to vs-ie@moag.gov.il). Official veterinarians must not issue or endorse export certificates for these dogs without that permit.

Because the restriction covers crosses and look-alike dogs, have your dog's breed clearly stated on the export certificate and confirm its status with the Veterinary Services before booking. Airline breed policies (for example brachycephalic dogs in the hold) can be stricter still.

✈️ Airlines flying to Israel with a dog

Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.

EL AL Israel Airlines🇮🇱 1 airport Cabin Delta Air Lines 1 airport Cabin United Airlines 1 airport Cabin American Airlines 1 airport Cabin Air Canada 1 airport Cabin Lufthansa 1 airport Cabin ≤8 kg

+27 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 2 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →

🛂 Airports in Israel

Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.

Tel Aviv TLV

Israel with a dog: common questions

Israel: What does my dog need to enter?

Israel requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination, Rabies antibody test, Veterinary health certificate, Owner declaration (90-day care).

Israel: Is a rabies antibody test required?

Israel — Rabies antibody test: Required for every dog. A rabies neutralising antibody titre of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an OIE/WOAH-approved laboratory. The blood sample must be taken more than 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. A positive result is required before the health certificate is completed.

Israel: Are any dog breeds banned?

Israel: How long does it take to prepare a dog?

Up-to-date dog with a valid lifelong rabies antibody result: ~2-3 weeks — issue the government-endorsed health certificate within 10 days of arrival and send the arrival notification at least 2 working days before departure; no import licence for up to two accompanied pets.…

Israel: What is needed to leave with a dog?