IN

Importing Your Pet to India

Difficult to import
Regulations checked
Reviewed by , International Animal Health Consultant on 12 August 2026

India admits pet dogs and cats only through the airports and seaports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. A nonstop flight to any other Indian airport, however convenient, cannot receive your pet. Imports are regulated under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS), part of the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD).

Eligibility splits on one question: are you transferring residence to India after two or more years of continuous stay abroad? If yes, up to two pets can travel as passenger baggage without a DGFT import authorisation. If no (a shorter stay, a third pet, or a pet not travelling as passenger baggage), you need a DGFT import authorisation, and DGFT advises starting that application at least 2 months before travel.

Either way, everyone passes through the AQCS Advance No Objection Certificate (NOC). You apply on the ATITHI 2.0 portal at least 7 working days before departure, and AQCS issues the NOC within 1 working day of checking the documents. Airlines may only carry the pet if the passenger holds a valid Advance NOC.

Import Requirements

Every requirement below is taken from an official government page, and each one links to the page it comes from. The rules were last checked on 1 October 2026. They can change, so check the linked page again before you book.

Who is in charge

  • Pet dog and cat imports are regulated under the Livestock Importation Act, 1898 through Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) under the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), which issues the SOP. Customs (CBIC) clears the pet only on the AQCS Final NOC.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026

Where your pet travels from

GroupWhat appliesOrigins
All originsOne AQCS procedure and one Indian standard health certificate apply to pet dogs and cats from every country; no origin grouping is published. Sourceall
  • Not required: India has no origin groups. The AQCS SOP sets one procedure for all pet dogs and cats imported through the notified ports, whatever the country of origin.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026

Import permit

  • Up to two pets may come in as passenger baggage without a DGFT authorisation, but only for people transferring residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad. Applies to owners relocating to India after 2+ years abroad, up to 2 pets.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differUK APHA notes for guidance 2910NFG (revised 14/11/2025, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69175971493305b49ce6e82a/2910EHC-guidance.pdf) say import is restricted to one dog per person and a limited number of cats, and that import permits are not required from the Indian authorities. India's own CBIC (February 2026), AQCS and DGFT pages take precedence.
  • More than two pets always need a DGFT import authorisation, with the application examined by DAHD first. Applies to imports of more than two pets.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differUK APHA notes for guidance 2910NFG (revised 14/11/2025, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69175971493305b49ce6e82a/2910EHC-guidance.pdf) say import is restricted to one dog per person and a limited number of cats, and that import permits are not required from the Indian authorities. India's own CBIC (February 2026), AQCS and DGFT pages take precedence.
  • A DGFT import authorisation is required if the stay abroad was under 2 years, the pet is not travelling as passenger baggage, or baggage rules do not apply. Applies to all other pet imports.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
  • Baggage Rules, 2026 (CBIC guide updated February 2026): residents, tourists of Indian origin and foreigners holding a valid visa other than a tourist visa may import two pets (cat and dog) under transfer of residence after two years or more abroad, subject to declaration and an AQCS advance NOC or a DGFT import authorisation. Applies to owners transferring residence after 2+ years abroad.
    Guide for International Travellers (updated February 2026), checked 1 October 2026
  • DGFT advises starting the import authorisation application at least 2 months before travel. Applies to pets needing DGFT authorisation.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
  • An application must be lodged on the ATITHI 2.0 portal at least 7 days before embarkation (the SOP's process annexures say a minimum of 7 working days, so allow 7 working days); AQCS issues an Advance No Objection Certificate (NOC) within 1 working day of checking the documents.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • AQCS issues the Advance NOC within 1 working day of examining the uploaded forms.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • Airlines may only carry the pet from the foreign port if the passenger holds a valid Advance NOC.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • Three import categories exist: transfer of residence (proof of two years abroad and visa cancellation or relocation), re-import (earlier AQCS export certificate), and DGFT short stay (valid DGFT licence).
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026

Microchip

  • A vaccination and microchip certificate is among the supporting documents for the ATITHI application, and the application form records the microchip number. No chip standard (ISO 11784/11785) or timing relative to rabies vaccination is stated on the AQCS, DGFT or DAHD pages; AQCS says any registered vet may implant the chip.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • Cats: the same vaccination and microchip certificate is required with the ATITHI application.
    SOP for import of pet cat(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026

Rabies vaccination

  • Dogs 3 months and older, and cats, imported under the baggage rule (transfer of residence) must be vaccinated against rabies more than one month but within 12 months before embarkation, certified on the official health certificate. The CBIC February 2026 guide repeats this window for pets under the Baggage Rules, 2026. The AQCS page states the window under its baggage-rule category; for re-import and DGFT-licence cases it asks for the official health certificate with vaccination details and any pre-import conditions in the licence. Applies to dogs (3 months and older) and cats imported under the baggage rule (transfer of residence).
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differThe DGFT FAQ (undated, https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/FAQ_IMPORT_PET.pdf) and the DAHD OM certificate format (15 July 2020, https://dahd.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-07/OMdated31March2021onSOPsforImportofLiveAnimalsintoIndia.pdf) only require vaccination within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer. The AQCS pages (site updated Aug 2026) and the CBIC Guide for International Travellers (updated February 2026, https://www.cbic.gov.in/resources/htdocs-cbec/travellerguide_atithi.pdf: 'vaccine >1 month but <12 months before embarkation') are newer and stricter, so the AQCS window is recorded.

Rabies titre test

  • Not required: the Indian standard health certificate for pet dogs (DAHD SOP Annexure 1.1.1) certifies only (a) no clinical signs of listed diseases, (b) vaccinations and (c) any treatment; no rabies titre test is in the list. The pet cat certificate (Annexure 2.1.1) has the same structure. A titre is only mentioned for commercial dogs. This covers transfer of residence and re-import; a DGFT-licence import must also meet any pre-import tests written into the licence (AQCS baggage page). Applies to pet dogs and cats.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026

Health certificate

  • Dogs need an official health certificate (Annexure 1.1.1, signed by the competent authority) confirming no clinical sign of rabies, canine distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis, infectious canine hepatitis, scabies and leishmaniasis.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • Cats need the Veterinary Health Certificate for Import of Pet Cats (Annexure 2.1.1) with the ATITHI application; the cat must be physically examined within 7 days of shipment.
    SOP for import of pet cat(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • The cat must be physically examined (for the certificate) within 7 days of the date of shipment.
    SOP for import of pet cat(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • The cat certificate (Annexure 2.1.1) must show no clinical sign of rabies, feline enteritis, feline panleukopenia, leptospirosis, distemper, scabies, Aujeszky's disease and toxoplasmosis.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • The owner's name on the official health certificate must match the name on the ticket. Applies to dogs and cats under baggage rules.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026
  • For dogs, the Indian pages do not state how long before travel the certificate may be issued (the cat SOP says examination within 7 days). UK guidance (APHA certificate 2910EHC, version dated 15/07/2014) requires a vet examination not more than 48 hours before export. Exporting-government guidance resting on 2014 wording; confirm with AQCS when booking. Applies to dogs from the UK (indicative for other origins).
    Export health certificate 2910EHC: dogs and cats to India, checked 1 October 2026
  • UK certificate 2910EHC (dated 15/07/2014) states its validity as 7 days (exporting-government guidance; Indian dog pages silent on validity). Applies to dogs and cats from the UK.
    Export health certificate 2910EHC: dogs and cats to India, checked 1 October 2026

Other vaccines and tests

  • Dogs: the Indian standard certificate requires vaccination against canine distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis as well as rabies, within the manufacturer's time limits, recorded in the pet passport or health card. AQCS also requires all other vaccinations to be certified on the health certificate. No pre-import tests are required for pet dogs under transfer of residence or re-import; a DGFT-licence import must meet any tests set in the licence. Applies to pet dogs.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differThe DGFT FAQ dog certificate annexure (https://content.dgft.gov.in/Website/FAQ_IMPORT_PET.pdf) lists only rabies vaccination. The DAHD SOP format is the Indian standard protocol referenced by the current AQCS SOP (Annexure 1.1.1), so it is recorded.
  • Not required for cats beyond rabies: the cat certificate (Annexure 2.1.1) certifies only no clinical signs, rabies vaccination and any treatment; any other vaccinations given must still be certified on the health certificate. Applies to pet cats.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026

Parasite treatment

  • Not required: the Indian standard pet dog and cat health certificates list only absence of clinical signs, vaccinations and any treatment given; no internal or external parasite treatment is required (scabies is screened as a clinical sign). A DGFT-licence import must still meet any pre-import conditions written into the licence. Applies to pet dogs and cats.
    OM on SOPs for import of live animals into India, checked 1 October 2026

Quarantine

  • No routine quarantine: pets found healthy at the arrival examination get the Final NOC at the port of entry.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
  • A dog or cat that fails the arrival examination or shows clinical signs goes to the AQCS quarantine station for 15 days, with daily examination and testing at the owner's cost; if test results are positive or the pet dies of disease, deportation or post-mortem and incineration follow at the owner's cost. The same flow applies to transfer of residence, re-import and DGFT short-stay cases. Applies to dogs and cats failing the arrival examination.
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differThe AQCS baggage page (https://aqcsindia.gov.in/Home/ImportPetUnderBaggage) says that in case of doubt the animal may be kept under quarantine observation with final clearance after 30 days, and AQCS FAQ 11 (https://aqcsindia.gov.in/Home/FAQ) says all animals except pets under baggage are quarantined. The ATITHI 2.0 SOP is the newer document (ATITHI 2.0 is described as new in the CBIC February 2026 guide) and is recorded; a DGFT licence may still carry its own quarantine conditions.

Arrival points and notice

  • Pets may only be imported through the airports and seaports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
  • AQCS confirms the same six ports; the owner brings the pet and original health documents to the quarantine station for examination.
    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs), checked 1 October 2026
  • AQCS staff physically examine the pet and check original documents at the port of entry; the Final NOC is available round the clock at the airport (CBIC, Circular 7/2025-Customs).
    SOP for import of pet dog(s) into India, checked 1 October 2026

Minimum age

  • DGFT: newborn puppies under 7 months are not allowed; this sits in DGFT's conditions for import authorisations. The AQCS baggage-rule documents set no minimum age but require rabies vaccination only for dogs three months and older, so under-7-month puppies on a DGFT licence are refused while the baggage route has no stated age floor. Check with AQCS before booking a young animal. Applies to puppies imported under DGFT authorisation.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differThe AQCS baggage page (https://aqcsindia.gov.in/Home/ImportPetUnderBaggage) requires rabies vaccination for 'The dog (three months of age and older)' and sets no minimum age; UK certificate 2910EHC (15/07/2014, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5bc5fcc040f0b6385bad95a4/2910EHC_V3.pdf) only certifies the animal was more than three months of age.

How many pets

  • Up to two pets (dogs and/or cats) per owner under the baggage rule; more than two need a DGFT authorisation. CBIC (February 2026) and Chennai Customs give the same limit per passenger. Applies to owners importing under transfer of residence.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026
    Official sources differUK APHA notes for guidance 2910NFG (revised 14/11/2025, https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/69175971493305b49ce6e82a/2910EHC-guidance.pdf) say one dog per person and a limited number of cats. India's own AQCS, DGFT and CBIC (February 2026) pages say two pets, and take precedence.
  • Customs: only dogs and cats, up to two per passenger who has stayed abroad continuously for 2 years and is transferring residence (CBIC Circular 15/2013-Cus). Applies to passengers transferring residence.
    Passenger Clearance FAQ, checked 1 October 2026

Banned and restricted breeds

How your pet may travel

  • Pets may come as passenger baggage or as cargo; licence-free import applies only to passenger baggage (accompanied or unaccompanied; AQCS asks for advance Customs permission if the pet arrives before the owner or more than one month after). Applies to dogs and cats.
    Import of dog/cats: General information (FAQ), checked 1 October 2026
  • Accompanied baggage needs the owner's ticket; unaccompanied baggage needs the owner's passport with immigration stamp, within one month of the owner's arrival. Applies to dogs and cats under baggage rules.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026
  • A pet sent more than one month after the owner's arrival, or before arrival, needs advance customs permission. Applies to dogs and cats under baggage rules.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026

Official fees

Other conditions

  • The owner must declare the pet is a bona fide pet with no commercial, gift or breeding purpose. Applies to dogs and cats under baggage rules.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026
  • Pets must be declared to Customs on Form CBD-I (ATITHI) and the passenger must use the Red Channel; customs cannot clear the pet without the AQCS Final NOC. Applies to dogs and cats arriving with passengers.
    Guide for International Travellers (updated February 2026), checked 1 October 2026
  • No extra feed or bedding may travel with the pet. Applies to dogs and cats under baggage rules.
    Import of Pets under Baggage, checked 1 October 2026

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The Advance NOC, step by step

The application goes in on the ATITHI 2.0 portal with the official health certificate in India’s Annexure format, signed by the competent authority in your origin country, plus a vaccination and microchip certificate. Transfer-of-residence cases also need proof of two years abroad and of visa cancellation or relocation. AQCS charges Rs 1,000 per application for import clearance, paid through Bharatkosh.

The rabies vaccination must sit in a precise window: more than one month but within 12 months before departure, for dogs aged 3 months and older and for cats. And a detail that trips up more families than any other: the owner’s name on the official health certificate must match the name on the ticket.

What actually happens on arrival

Despite what many guides claim, India does not routinely quarantine healthy pets. AQCS staff examine the pet and check the original documents at the port of entry, and a pet found healthy gets the Final NOC there. A dog or cat that fails the arrival examination or shows clinical signs goes to the AQCS quarantine station for 15 days, with daily examination and testing at the owner’s cost. AQCS charges Rs 800 per day per dog or cat for that accommodation.

You must declare the pet to Customs on Form CBD-I and use the Red Channel, and Customs cannot clear the pet without the AQCS Final NOC. Pets may come as passenger baggage or as cargo, but licence-free import applies only to passenger baggage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not routinely. Pets found healthy at the arrival examination get the Final NOC at the port of entry. A dog or cat that fails the examination or shows clinical signs spends 15 days at the AQCS quarantine station, with daily examination and testing at the owner’s cost.

No, not for transfer of residence or re-import. The Indian standard health certificates for pet dogs and cats do not include a rabies titre test. What India requires is the rabies vaccination itself, given more than one month but within 12 months before departure. A DGFT-licence import must also meet any pre-import tests written into the licence.

Yes, if you qualify for transfer of residence: up to two pets as passenger baggage, for people moving to India after two years of continuous stay abroad. More than two pets always need a DGFT import authorisation, as does a stay abroad of under 2 years or a pet not travelling as passenger baggage. DGFT advises starting that application at least 2 months before travel.

Pets may only be imported through the airports and seaports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Kolkata. A pet cannot clear at any other Indian airport, so build the routing around one of these entry points from the start.

AQCS charges Rs 1,000 per application for import clearance, paid through Bharatkosh. Apply on the ATITHI 2.0 portal at least 7 working days before departure; AQCS issues the Advance NOC within 1 working day of examining the documents. No airline may carry your pet to India unless you hold a valid Advance NOC.

Yes. Cats follow the same framework as dogs: a vaccination and microchip certificate, rabies vaccination more than one month but within 12 months before departure, the Advance NOC, and entry through the same six cities. The cat certificate (Annexure 2.1.1) must show no clinical sign of diseases including rabies, feline enteritis and feline panleukopenia, and the cat must be examined within 7 days of shipment.

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India

  • Difficulty: Difficult
  • Code: IN

Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

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