Relocating to Portugal with a Pet: An Expat's Complete Guide
Portugal has climbed steadily up the expat popularity charts, and for good reason. The climate is gentle, the food is excellent, the people are welcoming and Lisbon and Porto have become genuinely cosmopolitan cities. If you are planning to move here with a cat or dog, this guide covers the practical side of what to expect.
Where You Are Moving From Determines What You Need to Do
From the UK (post-Brexit): UK pets no longer have EU pet passports recognised in Portugal. You need:
- ISO microchip (implanted before your rabies vaccination)
- Current rabies vaccination
- FAVN titre test (at an EU-approved lab; result 0.5 IU/ml or above; test done at least 30 days after vaccination)
- 3-month wait after a passing titre result before EU entry
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC) completed by a UK Official Veterinarian within 10 days of arrival
- TRACES NT pre-notification at the Lisbon (LIS) or Porto (OPO) border inspection post
From EU countries: The EU pet passport is fully valid. Your pet needs a current rabies vaccination and ISO microchip. No additional paperwork for intra-EU moves.
From the USA, Canada, Australia and other non-EU third countries: Third-country rules apply. These mirror the UK rules above: microchip, rabies vaccination, titre test (3-month wait), AHC or equivalent third-country health certificate endorsed by your country’s government veterinary authority. See the moving pets from non-EU to EU guide for a detailed breakdown.
Arriving in Portugal
Lisbon Airport (LIS) and Porto Airport (OPO) both have Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) for third-country animal arrivals. For intra-EU arrivals, there is no border inspection required.
On arrival from a third country, a veterinary officer checks your documents and microchip. With complete paperwork, this is typically a 15 to 30 minute process. Keep originals and copies of everything.
Registering Your Pet in Portugal
Microchip registration: Portugal uses the SIAC (Sistema de Identificacao de Animais de Companhia) database. All dogs (mandatory) and cats (recommended) must be registered. Your Portuguese vet can handle SIAC registration.
Dog licence: All dogs must be registered with the local Junta de Freguesia (parish council). The registration involves showing the microchip number, vaccination record and proof of identity. Annual renewal is required. Fines for unregistered dogs apply.
Rabies vaccination: Rabies vaccination is mandatory for dogs in Portugal. Your Portuguese vet will continue the vaccination schedule and update the records on the SIAC system.
Finding a Vet in Portugal
The urban areas – Lisbon, Porto, the Algarve and major coastal towns – have good veterinary coverage. Rural areas in the Alentejo and interior have fewer options.
For English-speaking expats, many vet practices in Lisbon, Cascais, Sintra, Porto and the Algarve have English-speaking staff. Expat Facebook groups for Portugal are a good source of local vet recommendations.
Life with a Pet in Portugal
Portugal is generally pet-friendly. Dogs are permitted in many outdoor cafe areas, public parks and beaches (seasonal restrictions apply on many Algarve beaches in summer). The Portuguese attitude toward dogs in public is relaxed and positive.
The climate suits most dog breeds well for most of the year – summers in the south can be very hot (regularly above 35 degrees Celsius in July and August), which requires care for brachycephalic breeds and double-coated northern breeds.
Sources: SIAC pet registration system Portugal; DGAV (Direccao-Geral de Alimentacao e Veterinaria) Portugal; UK APHA guidance for EU travel; European Commission third-country pet travel rules.