Pet import costs | ExpatWoman.com
 

Pet import costs

40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 12:18

I am organising a pet transport company to fly our cat over from Australia to Doha. I was wondering if anyone else had experience doing this with their pets? So far it is costing around two thousand dollars. I have just been given a quote of another thousand on top to get an agent to organise the Qatar animal import permit and to take him through customs. This cat is getting EXPENSIVE! Do these prices seem right and what experiences have you had?

40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 15:05
It is all too late to change now. The cost includes taking him though customs and delivery. I am paying foe peace of mind..I sure don't want him dumped next to baggage!
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 11:16
I am organising a pet transport company to fly our cat over from Australia to Doha. I was wondering if anyone else had experience doing this with their pets? So far it is costing around two thousand dollars. I have just been given a quote of another thousand on top to get an agent to organise the Qatar animal import permit and to take him through customs. This cat is getting EXPENSIVE! Do these prices seem right and what experiences have you had? Contact Ministry of Environment, Department of Animal Resources on 974 4456 0444.The import cert is cheap as chips, so not sure why you have been quoted 1000 dollars is way to expensive. As for customs, obviously I have no idea what they do behind the scenes, once your animal has landed, all I know when I arrived at the luggage carousel both my boys were just dumped basically next to the carousel, and I just walked thru to arrivals, no one asked me any questions or wanted to see any paperwork. ??? I would hate it for you to pay all this money out when you probably dont need to. Are you planning to travel with your cat? <em>edited by salsB on 27/05/2013</em>
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 10:34
The agent is Qatar Veternary Clinic. I assume that means they know all about importing pets to Doha. I have heaps of paperwork for my cat plus covering every possible scenario. Once it is all done I shall report on here how it all went and hopefully it might help others.
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 10:26
Not cleared on entry? Sorry, but in 13 years and 5 or 6 imports to GCC and North American countries, they are always cleared on the point of entry by government vets. Having the relevant paperwork (from the Depts of Agriculture both exporting and importing countries) is very important. I've always had a government rep (maybe not a vet but a Dept of Agriculture person) inspect my paperwork and animals (physically) before my pets were allowed to enter into any country. Maybe I was not making myself clear on this one, yes I had to have a import cert, what I meant was that the airport let me walk in without showing any paperwork, so there was no inspection and we had to take the cats to the government vet within 24 hours of arriving in the country. <em>edited by salsB on 27/05/2013</em>
1759
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2013 - 20:49
Not cleared on entry? Sorry, but in 13 years and 5 or 6 imports to GCC and North American countries, they are always cleared on the point of entry by government vets. Having the relevant paperwork (from the Depts of Agriculture both exporting and importing countries) is very important. I've always had a government rep (maybe not a vet but a Dept of Agriculture person) inspect my paperwork and animals (physically) before my pets were allowed to enter into any country.
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 26 May 2013 - 18:50
I would suggest you contact Nicky as someone mentions below. She arranged the import cert for me and my husband collected it from her when he was in Qatar. She also can arrange clearance at the airport for a separate cost which is what you will need. I can't recall the cost, but it was not very expensive. Her email is nickyroffey at yahoo dot com edited by Niggly on 16/05/2013 My cats were not cleared at the airport, you have 24hours to take your animal to the government vet, so I cant understand why anyone would be charged for airport clearance. Sounds to me people are getting paid to do nothing. <em>edited by salsB on 26/05/2013</em>
145
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 13:39
We used Nicky Roffery as time was tight but if your husband arrives before you he can get the permit and I think its only 100 QR if even that. But someone needs to get this paperwork before the animal lands in order for the clearance.
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 10:49
I am working through the insane amount of paperwork to bring a pet cat to Doha! I paid a grand for an agent to get a permit to import a cat to Qatar. On the paperwork it asks for an ID number for my husband. He sent his work visa as he isn't IN the country yet and has yet to get an ID or local mobile phone number. I am worked that the permit won't come through in time for his booked flight as mine goes the next day. Has anyone had any problems with getting a permit from Qatar to bring their pet?
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 May 2013 - 01:55
I am using Jetpets which are Australia based. I have thrown money at them and hopefully they will get him there in one piece. It is good to know that should I need to move again...which is always possible these days...there are good pet transporters available in Qatar. Next time I hope I can arrange a lot more of it myself to save costs. Thanks all.
232
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 May 2013 - 00:26
I would suggest you contact Nicky as someone mentions below. She arranged the import cert for me and my husband collected it from her when he was in Qatar. She also can arrange clearance at the airport for a separate cost which is what you will need. I can't recall the cost, but it was not very expensive. Her email is nickyroffey at yahoo dot com <em>edited by Niggly on 16/05/2013</em>
81
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 17:33
This may or may not be helpful, but the local rescue takes animals from Doha and gives them new families elsewhere (ie. the US). They save costs by finding "flight buddies" for the animals, and this costs a lot less than having the animal travel by itself. You could try reaching out to them and see how they organize it. http://www.qatarliving.com/answers/pets-and-animals/flight-buddy-for-a-rescue-dog-to-the-us
2725
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 11:19
I paid someone to provide me with import paperwork only , cost in Doha was 650 rials for two cats. I brought them from Dubai in March. Just wanted to add I was quote 8000 rials to handle the cats from Dubai into Doha, and there was a further charge of 2500 dhs on the Dubai side. I did it myself in the end, once I eventually had the cats on the flight as excess luggage it was a walk in the park, with a reall big thank you to a lovely EW lady that came to my rescue. <em>edited by salsB on 11/05/2013</em>
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 01:04
Thanks for all your replies. I suspect I am being charged top dollar but unfortunately this move to Qatar has been very last minute. My husband has been offered work there and we are having to make a lot of fast decisions. It is good to know there are good pet movers in Qatar if we need to move agin..with the engineering business so unstable this could happen. We are leaving behind all our family so our cat ( A purebred Birman) is our little fluffy piece of home! I think I will have to just accept the crazy price ( I think the permit cost is extreme) and make sure in future I deal with it all myself. Just an aside...is it hard to get a furnished place for rent with a pet?
103
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 00:55
I am organising a pet transport company to fly our cat over from Australia to Doha. I was wondering if anyone else had experience doing this with their pets? So far it is costing around two thousand dollars. I have just been given a quote of another thousand on top to get an agent to organise the Qatar animal import permit and to take him through customs. This cat is getting EXPENSIVE! Do these prices seem right and what experiences have you had? Incredible! No other word comes to my head! Will you cat travel with you or alone? If alone, I have nothing to say. But if the cat travels with you and you just need an import permit + flight cost (by weight) it is too expensive! I have personally been to the governmental veterinary Clinique in Doha and I know that a export/import permit costs peanuts! You even don't need a rabies test to import your cat to Qatar. Just all the necessary vaccines and that's it! My friend imported her cat from the UK in December. The cost was about 500 GBP (by pet relocators) <em>edited by marykar on 10/05/2013</em>
309
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 19:49
Can't comment specifically about the costs but I cannot recommend Nicky Roffey highly enough. We moved from Doha to Abu Dhabi last summer, with 3 cats & 2 small dogs. It ended up being a lot more complicated & arduous than it should have been, but Nicky was simply marvellous throughout, always very calm & reassuring and took care of everything in our absence. She's wonderful, and ALWAYS has the animals' best interests at heart. During our moving process (which took much longer than we thought) our pets vaccinations ran out, and she took them to the government vet to be done, supplying the vaccine herself, rather than take them to a 'normal' vet which would have cost a small fortune. Animals are always a worry and an expense during an international move, but we really have little choice as they're family members. Good luck! <em>edited by lulubaker on 09/05/2013</em>
120
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 13:29
Rabbithat When we asked for a quote from Oz when we moved here in July it was the same ...about two thousand for travel and another thousand for agents fees WTD Shockingly expensive and at last three times that taking her back to Oz...however we decided to leave her with mom while we got settled n here...but she is so settled as my mom has a house near the bush so she loves her kangaroo friends catching geckos etc...and I couldn't bring her here and take her away from that :( So I have to be happy skyping with her But will see her soon in the hols :) The other issue you have to think of ...certain breeds are a problem...like my kitty is a Bengal but the exporters in Oz they wouldn't allow her back cos she was a Bengal unless we had all original papers and they could confirm with breeder...so do chk Wish u luck...I know how hard it is...I miss her lots too ut a kitty adopted us two months ago so kids are happy half way :) Gray girl any idea on your quote from here taking the cats back? Thks
40
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 13:10
The import rules for taking animals to Australia are far stricter than many countries. As an isolated country that flies on it's agriculture the quarantine is at least 30 days and six months for an animal coming from certain countries. Qatar doesn't have quarantine luckily so we can have him with us once he arrives. I have never taken a pet with me to another country and it seems far more expensive than taking a child!:)
168
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 12:37
I've not had experience - yet - of our cats travelling but we're taking five to Australia this year!! I can't say if the quote's expensive or not but I know friends of ours sent their big dog to Oz and it cost a few thousand. They used Qatar Pet Travel and couldn't speak more highly of Nicky and recommended us to use her company. If I remember rightly, she re-booked the dog on an alternative flight as she'd found a cheaper fare, so she does watch the pennies! They handle imports as well as exports so may be worth getting in touch (they have their own website.)