pet imports

<h5>Can DKC manage both the import and export sides of my pet's or other animal's relocation?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_3.jpg"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Definitely yes! For sure! Yup!</p> <p>Well... maybe. Read on.</p> <p>There are two parts to any relocations process: 1) the export; 2) the import; and they need to be seen as distinct processes because, in fact, they are (although both sides coordinate with each other). We can definitely assist you with the import side if you're coming <em>into</em> the UAE, and we can definitely assist you with the export side if you're <em>leaving</em> the UAE. And that's because we, obviously, are <em>in</em> the UAE.</p> <p>Right, now that's clear.</p> <p>However, there (almost!) always needs to be someone (you, a friend or another relocations agent) handling things on the "other" side of a relocation. If you're importing into the UAE, someone will definitely have to handle things in your country of origin. If you're exporting from the UAE, someone in your destination country will have to handle things upon the arrival of your pet if your pet is being exported as "manifest cargo". (What is "manifest cargo" and "accompanied/excess baggage? Read our <a href="/docs/Pet_Flight_Options.pdf" target="_blank">Pet Flight Options</a>). There must always be a physical presence on both sides for the handing of it all when travelling as manifest cargo and when additional import requirements demand this.</p> <p>And so, you can of course engage us to handle the UAE-based stuff (please do!), but in the other country, you will have to have yourself, a friend or another agent handle that side of things. If you're going to use another agent, that's when we can step in to help with <em>both</em> sides of the shipment - although the other agent will be doing the physical work required at the other end, you may wish to deal with only one company for the management and payment of the whole process. In which case, we can manage that for you. There will of course be an additional management fee, but you might be happier having to deal with only one company.</p> <p>And by the way, if you do want to find another agent on your own, in your non-UAE location, check out <a href="https://www.ipata.org/ipata-pet-shippers-air-and-ground" target="_blank">IPATA.org</a>, where you'll be able to search for pet/animal shippers all over the world.</p> <p>But why did we exclaim "almost!" a couple of paragraphs up? Well, in departing the UAE, there are many countries around the world that permit the entry/arrival of pets travelling with you as "accompanied/excess baggage" rather than as "manifest cargo" for Customs clearance following arrival. This is not to say that additional assistance in the destination country is <em>never</em> required simply because your pet has travelled accompanied/excess baggage, but there are indeed many countries for which the entry requirements do <em>not</em> require this type of additional assistance (e.g. import permit, on-arrival quarantine, etc.). In other words, more research!!</p> <p>Complicated, this import/export thing, eh?  </p></div>

<h5>Can I meet DKC at the airport when you import my pet?</h5><p>How do we say this nicely?</p> <p>No, sorry. When you give us responsibility to clear your pet through Customs upon arrival in the UAE, we ask that you do not meet us at the airport for the clearance process. The clearance process is time-consuming and at times tedious, so we know from experience that having eager and sometimes anxious customers with us can actually make the process more stressful for everyone involved, including us, you and airport staff. We know this is not exactly the response you're looking for but we ask that you trust us to get through the whole process as quickly as possible and we do promise to get your pet to you without delay. There is also the matter of our access rights to secure areas of the airport, which you would not have.</p> <p>There are also customers who ask us to handle their pet's clearance but to then hand over their pet to them while still at the airport. This too we avoid because: first, it's simply not possible or safe to remove your pet from her travel box at the airport so that you can greet each other properly and as you would want to, which we've learned can itself be distressing for both you and your pet; second, and again, it places unnecessary stress on the clearance process and on those involved because they know that you all are eagerly awaiting that precious hand-over of your ever-so-precious pet - in the end, from the time of your pet's arrival through to the completion of the clearance process usually takes between 3.5 and 5.5 hours, and the best way to get through that time is to just relax, let us do our work for you, and wait for us to contact you when we're done.</p> <p>And remember, most arrivals are in the middle of the night, so wouldn't you rather be at home, relaxing or sleeping (if you can!), until we're done?</p> <p>We have a number of options you can choose from regarding how and when you will be reunited with your pet once we've finished clearing her for you, including:</p> <ul> <li>Meeting us at our facility after the clearance. In this case, we call you when we are finished and we meet you at our facility (even in the middle of the night), which is just 10 minutes away from the airport.</li> <li>Delivering your pet to your home immediately after clearance. When we're about to leave the airport, we'll call you to let you know we're on our way to you.</li> <li>Collecting your pet yourself from our facility the next morning, once we've opened to our customers for the usual workday. Take a look at our <a href="/about-dkc/two-legged-timings" target="_blank">Two-Legged Timings</a>.</li> </ul> <div> </div> <div>Just talk to us to work out the details.</div>

<h5>Once my pet's flight lands, how long does Customs clearance take?</h5> <div class="faq_ans_img"><img loading="lazy" src="https://d12fifzdy7ujh4.cloudfront.net/images/faqs/faq_19.png"></div> <div class="faq_ans_text"><p>Once the flight lands, all animals (and your pet, of course) are the first to be off-loaded from the aircraft and are taken to one of the dedicated animal areas in the cargo terminal at the airport. Then the paper shuffling and related work begins, which means that at this stage your pet is <em>not</em> ready to be taken home. The Ministry Vet now needs to check your pet and all the relevant documentation (vaccination records, import permit, health certificate, etc.), and the clearance process has to be completed.</p> <p>Although the amount of time to get all this done does vary from shipment to shipment and day to day, depending on a number of factors influencing airport activities, we tell our customers that the entire clearance process usually takes somewhere between 3.5 and 5.5 hours from the time the flight lands to finally having your pet at home. And this is true whether you are doing the clearance yourself or having us handle it for you. </p></div>