Country entry guide · Africa
Traveling to Morocco with your dog
Morocco welcomes pet dogs, but entry runs through the country's own scheme managed by ONSSA (the national food-safety and veterinary authority), not the EU framework. Every dog needs a permanent identification (microchip or tattoo), a valid rabies vaccination and an official veterinary health certificate (certificat sanitaire) issued shortly before departure by a government vet of the country of origin. The dog must also come from a country or zone free of rabies. For a temporary stay, a rabies antibody test is required in addition. On arrival, you present your dog for veterinary inspection and declare it to customs. This guide explains the certificate, the rabies rules, the temporary-stay blood test and the banned breeds so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (non-banned breeds) |
| Identification (microchip or tattoo) | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — temporary stays only |
| Veterinary health certificate | Required |
| Rabies-free country of origin | Required |
| Quarantine | Not required if compliant |
| Banned breeds | Pit bull, Boerbull, Tosa prohibited |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- 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.
Find a flight to Morocco
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact documents depend on three things — Morocco (your destination) is only the first.
- 1 Country of destination — Morocco★★★★★
Morocco runs its own ONSSA scheme: a permanent identification, a valid rabies vaccination, a country of origin free of rabies and an official veterinary health certificate are always required. Certain dangerous breeds are banned outright.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
ONSSA issues a certificate model per origin (a dedicated model for the EU, and others for third countries such as the US, UK, UAE, Russia, Tunisia and South Africa). The country of departure decides which model your official vet must use — and it must be a country recognised as free of rabies.
- 3 Length of stay & prior residence★★★★☆
A temporary stay adds a rabies antibody test that a permanent (definitive) import does not need. Your dog must also have lived in a rabies-free country or zone since birth or for at least the 6 months before departure, so a recent stay in a rabies-risk country matters — not only the last airport.
So read the requirements below as Morocco's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin, length of stay and history with your vet before booking.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Identification (microchip or tattoo) | Required | A permanent identification mark must be in place before the rabies vaccination and must match the health certificate. | None — every imported dog must be identified. | ONSSA — health certificate for import of dogs & cats |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | Valid vaccination with an inactivated rabies vaccine; the certificate records the vaccine, batch, expiry date, primary vaccination date and last booster. | The identification must already be in place; otherwise the animal must be re-vaccinated. | ONSSA — health certificate for import of dogs & cats |
| Rabies-free country of origin | Required | The dog must have been kept in a country or zone free of rabies since birth or for at least the 6 months before loading. | Animals from a country not recognised as rabies-free may be refused. | ONSSA — health certificate (point 1) |
| Rabies antibody test (titration) | Conditional | Required for a temporary import: blood drawn by an authorised vet at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, result at least 0.5 IU/ml, with the endorsed laboratory report attached to the certificate. | Not required for a permanent (definitive) import to Morocco. | ONSSA — health certificate (point 5) |
| Veterinary health certificate (certificat sanitaire) | Required | Issued or countersigned by an official government vet of the country of origin close to departure — the ONSSA dog/cat model is signed within the 24 hours before loading; the general customs rule references the three days before embarkation. | None — an official certificate must accompany every dog. | ONSSA — health certificate; Douane (ADII) — Importation des animaux, Section 02 |
| Health / clinical examination | Required | Examined within the 24 hours before loading, found in good health and showing no clinical sign of a contagious disease on the day of loading. | None. | ONSSA — health certificate (points 2–3) |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required (personal pet) | A traveller's pet dog needs no prior import permit, but it is subject to veterinary sanitary inspection at the border, at the owner's expense. | Larger movements fall under commercial import rules, not personal import. | Douane (ADII) — Importation des animaux, Section 02 |
| Border veterinary inspection & customs declaration | Required | Enter through a border post open to animal imports; present your dog for veterinary sanitary inspection and declare it to customs on arrival. | Animals in international transit without unloading are outside these formalities. | Douane (ADII) — Importation des animaux, Section 02 |
| Minimum age / puppies | Linked to rabies vaccination | A puppy must be old enough to be validly vaccinated against rabies — generally about 3 months (12 weeks). ONSSA does not publish a separate stand-alone minimum age. | Puppies too young to be vaccinated cannot meet the rabies requirement and cannot be imported. | ONSSA — health certificate (rabies vaccination) |
| Quarantine | Not required if compliant | — | Non-compliant animals may be refused, returned or held under veterinary control at the owner's expense. | Douane (ADII) — Importation des animaux, Section 02 |
| Banned / dangerous breeds | Prohibited | Import of dogs classified as dangerous is prohibited: pit bull type (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier), Boerbull type (Mastiff) and Tosa. | None published — the ban is set by joint ministerial order and applies at the border. | Arrêté conjoint n° 1677.18 (18/07/2018); ONSSA — public notice on dangerous dogs |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
From the European Union — ONSSA EU certificate
For a dog leaving the EU, ONSSA provides a dedicated EU import certificate. Your dog needs a permanent identification placed before vaccination, a valid inactivated rabies vaccine, and residence in a rabies-free country or zone since birth or for at least the 6 months before loading. An official EU vet signs the certificate within the 24 hours before loading. No antibody test is required for a permanent import.
From another third country — country-specific model
For other origins, ONSSA publishes country-specific certificate models (for example the United States, United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Russia, Tunisia, South Africa, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia and New Zealand). The core requirements are the same: identification, valid rabies vaccination, a rabies-free country of origin and an official health certificate. Your official vet must use the correct ONSSA model for that country.
Temporary stay — antibody test required
If your dog is imported temporarily (for example a holiday, then a return abroad), ONSSA additionally requires a rabies antibody test: blood drawn by an authorised vet at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The endorsed laboratory report is attached to the health certificate. A permanent (definitive) import to Morocco does not require this test.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Morocco depends on your documents and whether the stay is temporary or permanent.
- Enter through a border post open to animal imports; your dog is subject to veterinary sanitary inspection at the owner's expense.
- Declare your dog to customs on arrival and present the official documents spontaneously.
- Carry originals: the ONSSA veterinary health certificate, proof of identification and rabies vaccination, and — for a temporary stay — the rabies antibody test report.
- If documents are missing or invalid, or the breed is banned, the animal may be refused entry, returned or held under veterinary control — at the owner's expense.
- Pit bull, Boerbull (Mastiff) and Tosa type dogs are refused entry.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Morocco prohibits the import of dogs classified as dangerous under a joint order of the Minister of the Interior and the Minister of Agriculture (No. 1677.18 of 18 July 2018). The ban targets specific breeds and applies at the border; it does not depend on an individual behavioural assessment.
Banned from import: pit bull type (Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier), Boerbull type (Mastiff) and Tosa. ONSSA states plainly that importing these dogs into Morocco is prohibited.
There is no lighter 'permitted with conditions' category for these breeds at the border: their import is refused outright. No published exemption exists for personal pets.
Because a dog that resembles a listed type risks refusal, confirm your dog's breed and any cross before you travel. The list is set by ministerial order and can change; verify with ONSSA.
✈️ National airlines
Carriers registered in this country that accept dogs — see each airline's MyDogCanFly fiche.
🛂 Airports in Morocco
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Permanent identification (microchip or tattoo) placed before the rabies vaccination
- ☐Valid rabies vaccination with an inactivated vaccine (dates recorded)
- ☐Dog kept in a rabies-free country or zone since birth or the last 6 months
- ☐Rabies antibody test ≥0.5 IU/ml, ≥30 days after vaccination — temporary stays only
- ☐ONSSA veterinary health certificate signed by an official vet close to departure
- ☐Original documents ready to present at veterinary inspection and to customs
- ☐Confirm your dog is not a banned breed (pit bull, Boerbull/Mastiff, Tosa)
- ☐Airline reservation confirming your dog's travel option and suitable IATA crate
📚 Official sources
- ONSSA — Import of dogs and cats (certificates and procedures)
- ONSSA — Health certificate for import of dogs & cats from the EU (model)
- ONSSA — Health certificate for import of dogs & cats from third countries (model)
- ONSSA — Public notice: import of dangerous dogs prohibited (order 1677.18)
- Administration des Douanes (ADII) — Import of animals and animal products (Section 02)