Pet import requirements for Israel
What Israel asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2026-06-01 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2026-06-01. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Israel at a glance
| Requirement | For Israel |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | Microchip required that transmits on a frequency of 134.2 kilohertz and can be read with a chip reader that conforms to the provisions of the ISO Standard No |
| Rabies | Dogs/Cats must be vaccinated against rabies no more than 1 year and no less than 30 days (in the case of the primary vaccination) |
| Rabies antibody test Required | A Blood Titre Test (RNATT) is required no sooner than 30 days after the PRIMARY rabies vaccination and no sooner than 14 days from a Valid Booster rabies vaccine for pets… |
| Import permit Required | Import Permits are required for all pets entering Israel except dogs or cats traveling accompanied by their owner with less than 3 pets, as well as restricted dog breeds or pets… |
| Quarantine | Government Quarantine facilities are available upon prior approvals and reservations |
| Minimum age to travel | The dog/cat shall be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel, with the exception of arrivals from countries listed in point 2 from which the pet can be imported at 3… |
| Customs clearance | YES – Mandatory for Inbound and Outbound Cargo |
| Agent at destination | Strongly advised |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
For Israel, start with this checkpoint: the dog/cat shall be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel, with the exception of arrivals from countries listed in point 2 from which the pet can be imported at 3…. Israel, of ficially the State of Israel, is a country in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. Cargo and passenger-pet routings commonly use TLV.
Import requirements
The dog/cat shall be no less than 4 months of age upon arrival in Israel, with the exception of arrivals from countries listed in point 2 from which the pet can be imported at 3 months of age.
Your pet must enter Israel through one of the following ports of entry: Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa seaport, Ashdod seaport and Eilat seaport. Pets can fly into Israel in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.
There is no limit as to the number of dogs and cats that you can bring to Israel; however if there are more than two dogs or cats then the owner must obtain an import permit.
Unvaccinated puppies and kittens entering Israel from Oceania, Great Britain, Japan and Cyprus can enter Israel at the age of 3 months, but they must be vaccinated within 5 days of arrival. Israel requires that puppies and kittens from other countries are vaccinated at 3 months and wait for 30 days prior to entering the country. Puppies and kittens from all other countries must be a minimum of 4 months and must be vaccinated for rabies 30 days prior to entry.
Notification: At least 48 hours prior to all import, notification (in cluding all of your completed documents and flight in formation) must be sent to Israeli Veterinary Authorities at Ben Gurion Airport.
Birds must have an import permit and health certificate to enter Israel. Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Israel. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further in formation from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
Personal Pet is only considered under following conditions:
- He / She is the owner of the pets imported;
- The pets has been in his / her possession for a period of not less than 3 months;
- The pets are not being transferred ownership after arrival in Israel
Import TAX applicable also for personal pets under 18 month old.
For all commercial moves importer require to have an Import Permit, Customs Broker, Pay Import TAXES according to value of the shipment.
Special condition may apply due to timing, location or other unforeseen situation.
Identification and microchip
Microchip required that transmits on a frequency of 134.2 kilohertz and can be read with a chip reader that conforms to the provisions of the ISO Standard No. 11784 and of Annex A of ISO Standard 11785
If the chip does not conform to these standards, the importer or the importer’s representative is required to be in possession of another means to read it.
Rabies and vaccinations
Dogs/Cats must be vaccinated against rabies no more than 1 year and no less than 30 days (in the case of the primary vaccination)
Must be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 30 days and no later than 12 months of entry.
After entry, vaccinations are valid based on the manufacturer.
Tests and treatments
A Blood Titre Test (RNATT) is required no sooner than 30 days after the PRIMARY rabies vaccination and no sooner than 14 days from a Valid Booster rabies vaccine for pets entering Israel from any country.
Samples must be processed at approved laboratories.
*If your pet received an annual booster vaccination and its previous vaccination was a one year vaccination and had not expired at the time of the booster, then 30 day wait to enter Israel does not apply.
There is no minimum wait time to enter Israel after the titre test results are received. The titre test is valid as long as your dog or cat's rabies vaccinations do not expire.
Once your dog or cat is microchipped, it must be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 30 days and no later than 12 months of entry.
After entry, vaccinations are valid based on the manufacturer.
Health certificate and permits
The Veterinary Certificate for Israel must be completed within 10 days of entry, and it must be stamped (endorsed) by the government of the exporting country responsible for the import and export of animals. The health certificate must state that, at the time of examination, your pet did not exhibit any symptoms of contagious or in fectious diseases. Required model Annex A.
Birds must have an import permit and health certificate to enter Israel. Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Israel.
Import Permits are required for all pets entering Israel except dogs or cats traveling accompanied by their owner with less than 3 pets, as well as restricted dog breeds or pets that not able to comply in full with import regulations (Special Waiver permit required in this case )
Health CertificateAnnex B&C
Quarantine
Government Quarantine facilities are available upon prior approvals and reservations.
Restrictions and banned breeds
Annex D -Declaration regarding Non-Mutilation is to be used in cases the cat or dog has a Bob Tail.
Under the Regulations for the Control of Dogs (Imports and Holding of Dangerous Dogs), 5765 – 2004, it is prohibited to import a dog belonging to a dangerous breed1, as well as a dog that is the result of a cross with a dangerous breed and that exhibits behavior patterns and physical traits similar to those of a dangerous breed; Excluding in exceptional in stances, accompanied by an Import Permit from the Director as set out in the said regulation:
American Staffordshire Bull Terrier (Amstaff), Bull Terrier, Argentinean Dogo, Japanese Tosa, Staffordshire Bull Terrier (English Staff), Pitt Bull Terrier, Brazilian Fila, and Rottweiler. In addition, any dog that is hybrid of these breeds and has similarities in its behavior pattern and physical characteristics to those of a dog belonging to a dangerous breed, in cluding breed lines originating from a dangerous breed.
These breeds can be imported only if they are owned by a person over 18 years of age, are spayed or neutered or has resided with its owner for at least 18 months prior to entry. A muzzle must be worn at all times when in public.
Import of Mini Bull Terrier Dog will be done with import permit only.
Customs, agents, and airports
YES – Mandatory for Inbound and Outbound Cargo.
Highly Recommended.
TEL AVIV TLV
No person will import an animal unless through the following ports of entry: Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa Seaport, Ashdod Seaport and Eilat Seaport.
Airports listed on this destination file: TLV.
Export notes
- Contact the originating country's department of animal health to determine if import health requirements are on file for the destination country.
- If not, contact the originating country's Agricultural Officer at the Embassy or Consulate in the destination country. They should be able to provide the import health requirements in the language of the originating country.
- Consult local agency to advise on procedures of export certification for different countries.
- Cats and dogs departing Israel must be accompanied by a veterinary health certificate signed and approved by a government veterinary doctor who is employed by Veterinary Services. Health certificates completed by private doctors will not be accepted.
Your dog or cat older than 3 months of age must have proof of rabies vaccination at least 30 days prior to travel and not more than one year prior to travel. Dogs must also have a holding license issued by the local authority.
If the owner is not transporting the pet, it must grant his or her representative Power of Attorney to transport the pet.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
CITES permit is required for animal that is listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The import of feral cats (for example: Bengali and Savannah) is prohibited, as well as hybrids with feral cats and their of fspring unless a written permit has been issued for them by the Nature and Parks Authority. The determining list is the one published on the Nature and Parks Authority website. Import of cats from such breeds require import permit.
- Consult local agency to advise on procedures of export certification for different countries. Some countries have been selected for electronic submission and approvals, but many countries are still requiring two in stitutions in volved – Private and Government.
- Valid dog /cat license required for export certification.
- Compliance with local requirements (Rabies vaccination, Dog keeping license)
Official contacts
Director of Veterinary Services & Animal Health Ministry of Agriculture
PO Box 12
Beit Dagan 50250
Tel: +972 3 968-1649 / 9688986/7
Fax: +972 3 960-5194
Contact: Dr Shlomo Garazi, Director Import Export
E-mail: shlomoga@moag.gov.il
Veterinary Services and Animal Health
Chief Import and Export Veterinary Officer Ben Gurion Airport
Dr. Zvi Avni, Head of the Airport Quarantine Station
Tel: +972 3 979-2240
Fax: +972 3 977-2033
E-mail: zviav@moag.gov.il
Import Export Unit – Veterinary Servicesand Livestock Health03-9681649Email: Vs-ie@moag.gov.il
Telephone answering hours in the Import-Export Department
Sunday - Thursday between the hours of: 9:00-10:00, 1:00-2:00 PM.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security's service center is available by calling *6016 Sunday - Thursday, between the hours of 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM.
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security chat service
WhatsApp response Sunday to Thursday 08:00 - 17:00
For any problems with the identification process, please contact the digital hotline.1299Ben Gurion Airport
+972 83 8977-2033
Haifa+972 84 8862-2455Haifa Seaport
Ashdod
+972 88 8856-5673
Ashdod Seaport
Eilat
+972 88 8632-3054
Eilat Seaport
vet_eilat@moag.gov.il
Current as of 2025
Disclaimer
Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2026-06-01.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Algeria · Angola · Bahrain · all destinations
Official sources for Israel
- Vs-airport@moag.gov.il Vs-airport@moag.gov.il
- VS-haifaport@moag.gov.il VS-haifaport@moag.gov.il
- Ashdodvet@moag.gov.il Ashdodvet@moag.gov.il
Questions about moving a pet to Israel
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Israel?
Microchip required that transmits on a frequency of 134.2 kilohertz and can be read with a chip reader that conforms to the provisions of the ISO Standard No
From the country profile, last verified 2026-06-01.
What rabies vaccination does Israel require?
Dogs/Cats must be vaccinated against rabies no more than 1 year and no less than 30 days (in the case of the primary vaccination)
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for Israel?
A Blood Titre Test (RNATT) is required no sooner than 30 days after the PRIMARY rabies vaccination and no sooner than 14 days from a Valid Booster rabies vaccine for pets…
A titer test is the single most common reason a move takes months rather than weeks, because the waiting period runs from the blood draw.
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Israel?
Import Permits are required for all pets entering Israel except dogs or cats traveling accompanied by their owner with less than 3 pets, as well as restricted dog breeds or pets…
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Israel?
Government Quarantine facilities are available upon prior approvals and reservations