IsraelLawCan I bring my pet dog or cat with me when I move to Israel?
Animal entry is controlled by the Veterinary Services and Animal Health department of the Ministry of Agriculture, which sets the conditions by regulation and publishes the current forms. The sequence matters more than any single document. The microchip has to be implanted before the rabies vaccination, the vaccination has to be given at least 30 days before entry and remain valid, and the blood sample for the rabies antibody test has to be drawn after the vaccination and at least 30 days before the animal travels. A puppy or kitten cannot compress that timetable, which is why very young animals are effectively excluded. Bringing a third animal, or shipping unaccompanied as cargo, moves the case into the import permit track and adds several weeks.
Aliyah status does not change any of this. Live animals are not covered by the customs exemption that lets an oleh import household goods free of duty, so the airline charge, the crate, and any handling agent fee are paid separately and are not reimbursed by the absorption grant. Once the animal is in the country a second layer of obligations begins: the Dog Supervision Law 5763-2002 requires every dog to be registered in the national registry and licensed with the local municipality, and it bars certain breeds outright. Landlords and building committees are a separate practical hurdle, since a lease can lawfully prohibit animals. Check the current conditions with the Veterinary Services shortly before travel, and confirm what your customs exemption actually covers.
- Governing law: Animal Diseases Ordinance [New Version] 5745-1985 and the animal import regulations made under it; Dog Supervision Law 5763-2002 for registration and prohibited breeds
- Competent authority: Veterinary Services and Animal Health, Ministry of Agriculture (HaSherutim HaVeterinarim), with inspection at Ben Gurion Airport
- Core conditions: ISO standard microchip implanted first; rabies vaccination given at least 30 days and not more than one year before entry; rabies antibody result of at least 0.5 IU/ml from an approved laboratory, sampled at least 30 days before travel
- Paperwork and notice: health certificate issued within about 10 days of travel and endorsed by the exporting country's government veterinarian; written notice to the Veterinary Services at least two working days before arrival
- Limits: up to two accompanied animals per traveler without an import permit; a third animal or unaccompanied cargo shipment requires a permit
- After arrival: dogs must be registered and licensed with the municipality; the annual license runs from roughly NIS 50 for a neutered dog to about NIS 400 for one that is not (2026)
From the full guide: Aliyah Customs Exemption in Israel: What New Immigrants Can Import Tax-Free
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