DE
Germany
✈️
IN
India
Pet Transport from Germany to India
6-10 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Very High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Germany to India
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Shipping a dog or cat from Germany to India rewards owners who start planning early. Give yourself close to 6-10 weeks, as several stages run on fixed clocks that no agent can shorten. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.
You will not need a rabies titre test here. The sections below cover each requirement in detail.
Step by step
The Germany to India process
1
First step: must be done before any vaccinations.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785 standard)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
After microchip. 30-day wait before next steps.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Apply early: allow 4-6 weeks
Apply for import permit from India
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
4
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space with airline directly.
Book IATA-compliant flight and cargo/cabin space
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
5
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirement)
Obtain official veterinary health certificate
Responsible: Official veterinarian
6
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation at cargo desk
Responsible: You + airline check-in/cargo desk
7
On arrival. AQCS examines the animal and releases it the same day if it is healthy and the paperwork is complete. A quarantine stay applies only to animals that fail that examination.
Arrival examination at the AQCS station, and the final NOC issued on the spot
Responsible: AQCS officers at the port of entry
Checklist
India: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required (ISO 11784/11785) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 30-day wait after vaccination before travel |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. No titre test appears in the AQCS or DGFT requirements; a current rabies vaccination is the standard. India asks for the vaccination to be more than one month and within 12 months before departure. |
| Quarantine | No routine quarantine for a healthy pet. The final NOC is issued at the port of entry after examination. AQCS station quarantine applies only to animals that fail the physical exam or show signs of disease, at the owner's cost. Note that AQCS's own documents disagree on its length, the SOP saying 15 days and the baggage-rule page saying clearance after 30, so confirm before you travel. |
| Import permit | Required. Issued by: Animal Quarantine and Certification Services. Permit issued by AQCS or State Animal Husbandry Department. |
| Health certificate | Required. Issued by: Official veterinarian. Valid for 14 days from issue. Must include all vaccination and test details. |
Leaving Germany
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit for pets. Health certificate and EU pet passport serve as documentation. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size) |
| 2 | IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire) |
| 3 | Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate |
| 4 | Import permit application fee (India) |
| 5 | Quarantine facility fees (owner-paid at destination) |
| 6 | Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes) |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Mandatory quarantine required on arrival. Plan for separation from your pet.
⚠ Import permit must be obtained before travel. Apply well in advance.
⚠ Always verify current regulations with the destination country's official veterinary authority before travel.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Lufthansa
Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
Air India
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 5kg with carrier). Cargo: Larger pets via Air India Cargo. Breed restrictions apply. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat on Indian domestic sectors
Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with additional requirements and seasonal restrictions. Temperature embargoes during extreme heat (summer months in Gulf region)
Singapore Airlines
Cargo: Pets travel in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions. Temperature embargoes apply on certain routes/seasons
British Airways
Cargo: Pets transported via British Airways World Cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Book through approved cargo agent. No cabin pets on any route.
Cathay Pacific
Cargo: Pets travel as manifested cargo in temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted during summer months. Hong Kong AFCD import regulations must be met
Air France
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo transport available for larger pets. Brachycephalic breeds subject to restrictions/seasonal embargoes
KLM
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo: pets transported via KLM Cargo. Temperature restrictions apply. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo
What India requires
Getting a pet into India means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
FAQ
Common questions
Allow at least 26 weeks from starting preparations to travel day. Some steps involve mandatory waiting periods that cannot be shortened, so starting early is the only way to keep to your schedule.
No. India does not quarantine healthy, compliant pets, whatever other guides say. AQCS officials examine the animal at the port of entry and issue the final NOC on the spot. A stay at the AQCS station, at your cost, is what happens to an animal that fails that examination or shows signs of disease. AQCS is inconsistent on how long: its standard operating procedure says 15 days, its baggage-rule page says clearance after 30.
No. India does not require a rabies antibody test as a standard condition of entry. If a titre has been quoted to you for this move, check whether it belongs to a transit country rather than to India itself, which is a common and expensive confusion.
Yes, an import permit is required from India’s authority (Animal Quarantine and Certification Services). Apply before you book your flight. The permit specifies conditions your pet must meet and must be obtained in advance.
Your pet needs a government-issued veterinary health certificate from an official vet in Germany. The certificate must be issued within 14 days of travel. Present the original (not a copy) at check-in. Check India’s authority for the exact format required.
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Sources
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.