Bringing a dog or cat from the United States to Israel
Under Israel's rules, pets from the United States are in the group “All other countries”. A dog from the United States needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine, a rabies titer test and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. Plan for 30 days from the first vaccine to arrival.
About Israel: Up to 2 pets can come as accompanied baggage without an import permit, but you must notify the port vet office 2 working days ahead and have a titer of 0.5 IU/ml or higher. No waiting period after the titer test; several pit bull-type breeds and Rottweilers are banned.
All other countries Blood test
- Titer test
- Required
- Wait after blood test
- —
- Import permit
- Not required
- Quarantine
- None if rules are met
Minimum preparation: 30 days from the first rabies vaccine to arrival.
Step by step
Microchip, then vaccinate
ISO microchip first, then rabies vaccine at least 30 days and no more than 1 year before arrival.
Rabies titer test
Blood sample more than 30 days after the first rabies vaccine, tested at an EU- or WOAH-approved lab; result at least 0.5 IU/ml.
Official health certificate
Annex A veterinary certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival and signed or endorsed by your official veterinary authority.
Notify the port vet office
Send Annex B and a copy of the certificate to the port's Veterinary Services office at least 2 working days before departure. Sign the 90-day ownership declaration (Annex C).
Arrive at an approved port
Ben Gurion Airport or Haifa, Ashdod or Eilat seaports. More than 2 pets need an import permit from the Director of Veterinary Services.
No quarantine stated for compliant pets.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs. The breed ban applies only to dogs.
- Banned breeds
- American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Japanese Tosa, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Rottweiler, Crosses with these breeds or dogs with similar features
- How many pets
- Up to 2 dogs/cats as accompanied baggage without an import permit; more need a permit from the Director of Veterinary Services.
- Parasite treatment
- None required.
- Arrival
- Ben Gurion Airport, Haifa seaport, Ashdod seaport, Eilat seaport.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from the United States to Israel?
The United States counts as "All other countries" for Israel. Starting from a pet with no rabies vaccine, the minimum is 30 days: rabies vaccine, a blood test at least 30 days later, then the waiting period before arrival.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from the United States to Israel?
Yes. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine.
Will my pet be quarantined in Israel?
Not if every rule is met. No quarantine stated for compliant pets.
Do I need an import permit?
No import permit is needed for pets from the United States.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same as dogs. The breed ban applies only to dogs.
Sources
- gov.il - Procedure for the Import of Dogs and Cats into Israel (official; page failed to load during research)
- gov.il - Annex A veterinary certificate for domestic dogs and cats (official)
- Israeli Veterinary Services - Import of dogs and cats to Israel, effective 1 Aug 2017 (official, mirrored by Tarom)
- USDA APHIS - Guidance for pets to Israel, Dec 2020 (government, secondary)
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: Israel pet import rules.
More destinations from the United States
- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Chile
- China (mainland)
- Colombia
- Egypt
- European Union
- Hawaii
- Hong Kong
- Iceland