Pet Transport from UK to Portugal: Post-Brexit Rules, Titre Test and Airline Options
Portugal has become one of the most popular destinations for British expats. The climate, the lower cost of living relative to the UK and Portugal’s Golden Visa programme have drawn tens of thousands of UK residents over the past decade. For those moving with pets, the post-Brexit rules add a layer of planning that was not required before January 2021 – but the process is well-understood and manageable.
The Post-Brexit Change
Before Brexit, a UK pet passport and current rabies vaccination was all that was needed for UK-to-Portugal travel. Since January 2021, the UK is a third country for EU entry purposes. This means:
- The old UK pet passport is no longer valid for EU travel from the UK
- A new Animal Health Certificate (AHC) is required each trip
- A rabies titre test is required if your pet does not already have a valid titre result from after their current rabies vaccination
- A 3-month wait after a passing titre test applies before the animal can enter Portugal/EU
Step-by-Step Process
1. ISO microchip – must be implanted before any rabies vaccination you intend to rely on
2. Rabies vaccination – current and within valid period; the vaccine must have been administered after the microchip
3. Titre test – at an EU-approved laboratory (many UK labs are EU-approved; check the approved list); result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above; test must be given at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; you must then wait 3 months from a positive titre result before entering Portugal
4. Animal Health Certificate (AHC) – completed by a UK Official Veterinarian (OV) within 10 days of your arrival date in Portugal; the OV must be approved by APHA; the AHC is valid for 10 days for EU entry and then 4 months for onward EU travel
5. APHA endorsement – the AHC does not require APHA endorsement for all EU destinations, but many border officers prefer an APHA-stamped document; confirm with your OV what is currently required for Portugal specifically
6. TRACES NT notification – Portugal has Border Inspection Posts (BIPs) at Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) and Porto Francisco Sa Carneiro Airport (OPO); the BIP must be notified via TRACES NT before your arrival; your OV or pet relocation agent typically handles this
What About Once You Have a Valid Titre?
Once your pet has a successful titre test on record and you keep the rabies vaccination current, you do not need to repeat the titre test for future UK-to-EU trips. You will still need a new AHC for each entry (valid 10 days). This makes regular commuting between the UK and Portugal with a pet workable, just expensive in vet fees.
Flying UK to Portugal
Direct flights from London to Lisbon and Porto are operated by TAP Air Portugal, British Airways, easyJet, Ryanair and Jet2 (seasonal). Most low-cost carriers do not accept pets in the hold – TAP Air Portugal accepts cabin pets (small dogs and cats) and pets as checked baggage on some routes. British Airways uses PetAir UK for hold transport.
For cabin pets, the combined weight limit is typically 6 to 8 kg. A Chihuahua, Maltese or small cat in a soft carrier generally qualifies. A Labrador does not.
Living in Portugal with a Pet
Portugal has good veterinary infrastructure in the Lisbon, Porto and Algarve regions. Rural Alentejo and the interior have fewer vets. NIF (fiscal number) registration is useful for veterinary records and municipal dog licensing (registo de canino) is required for dogs.
Sources: UK APHA official veterinarian guidance; European Commission EU third-country pet travel rules (Regulation EU 576/2013); TRACES NT platform; TAP Air Portugal pet policy.