Pet Transport India to Brazil: An Honest Look at the Routing, and What AQCS and MAPA Actually Require
Relocating a pet from India to Brazil follows a clear path once you understand what Brazil asks for. This route takes some organising, and roughly 8-12 weeks of preparation is about right. Compliant …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from India to Brazil
typically takes around 8-12 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The India to Brazil import process
01
Before any rabies vaccination is given.
Confirm or implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet in India
02
If first-time, allow the mandatory 30-day wait before travel.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet in India
03
Between 1 and 15 days before arrival in Brazil.
Antiparasitic treatment (dogs only)
Responsible: Vet in India
04
4 to 6 weeks before travel, given the multi-leg journey.
Book cargo routing and confirm every leg accepts live animals
Responsible: Owner or agent
05
At least 7 days before embarkation, by appointment.
Present pet and documents at the AQCS office
Responsible: Owner and AQCS
06
Typically around 5 working days after submission.
AQCS issues the NOC and endorses the export health certificate
Responsible: AQCS
07
CVI must still be within its 10-day validity on arrival.
Fly to Brazil and clear MAPA inspection at GRU
Responsible: Owner, cargo carrier, MAPA
Requirements
Brazil entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required, inactivated vaccine. For a first-time vaccination, MAPA requires a 30-day wait before the pet is eligible for entry.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Brazil does not ask for a FAVN titre test from pets arriving from India.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for dogs and cats with complete, correct documentation on arrival.
Import permit
Not required for personal pets travelling with their owner.
Health certificate
CVI (Certificado Veterinario Internacional) in MAPA format, issued by the origin vet and endorsed by AQCS. Valid 10 days from the endorsement date.
Leaving India
Export requirements
Export permit
No separate export permit for a personal dog or cat, but an AQCS No Objection Certificate (NOC) is mandatory before departure.
Health certificate
Health certificate issued by a DAHD-authorised veterinarian, examined and endorsed by AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Service). Documents and the pet must be presented at the AQCS quarantine office at least 7 days before embarkation. The NOC and export certificate are valid 10 days from the date of AQCS examination.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Vaccinations and vet consultation: INR 4,000 to INR 12,000
AQCS NOC and export certificate endorsement: INR 3,000 to INR 8,000
Antiparasitic treatment: INR 1,500 to INR 5,000
IATA-compliant travel crate: INR 8,000 to INR 35,000
Cargo fees, India to Sao Paulo via a connecting hub: USD 1,200 to USD 3,200 (roughly INR 100,000 to INR 267,000)
Pet transport agent fee: USD 500 to USD 1,300
Total typical range: INR 220,000-380,000 (approximately USD 2,600-4,600) over an 8 to 12 week window
Critical points
There is no direct flight between any Indian city and Brazil. Every pet on this route flies at least one connection, adding 24 hours or more of total transit and layover time before the pet even reaches Brazilian soil.
AQCS requires the pet and documents to be presented in person at least 7 days before embarkation, and NOC processing takes roughly 5 working days on top of that. Both windows have to be scheduled against the final CVI's 10-day validity before Brazil arrival, which is a tight sequence to get right on a multi-leg itinerary.
Choose the routing with the shortest connection time. A long overnight hold at a hub airport, particularly Dubai or Doha in the warmer months, adds real risk for brachycephalic breeds and increases stress on any pet.
A first-time rabies vaccination triggers a genuine 30-day wait before MAPA will admit the pet. Factor this in before booking a fixed relocation date.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Emirates SkyCargo
Via Dubai (DXB). Emirates connects Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai and other Indian cities to DXB, then onward to Sao Paulo Guarulhos (GRU). One of the broadest India-to-Brazil cargo networks, though summer Gulf heat embargoes can affect the Dubai transit for brachycephalic breeds.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways Cargo
Via Doha (DOH). Strong Indian city coverage and an established GRU freight service. A common alternative when Emirates capacity is full.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines Cargo
Via Istanbul (IST). Turkish Cargo has grown its South American network and offers a workable option from several Indian gateway cities.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
Via Frankfurt (FRA). Delhi or Mumbai to FRA, then FRA to GRU. Lufthansa's long-standing Latin America freight operation is well suited to larger dogs.
Cargo Only
The rules for bringing a pet into Brazil
Brazil asks for several pieces of paperwork, and they all need to line up. A checklist and a clear timeline are your best tools here.
How to keep this move on track
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 about this route
No. There is no direct passenger or cargo service between any Indian city and Brazil. Every pet travels via at least one connecting hub, most commonly Dubai, Doha, Istanbul or Frankfurt, which adds 24 hours or more to the total journey including the connection.
The No Objection Certificate is issued by India’s Animal Quarantine and Certification Service after examining the pet and its documents in person, at least 7 days before embarkation. Processing typically takes around 5 working days. Both the NOC and the export health certificate are valid for 10 days from the examination date.
No. Brazil does not ask for a FAVN titre test from India-origin pets. The requirement is a current rabies vaccination, ISO microchip, antiparasitic treatment for dogs, and the AQCS-endorsed CVI, all within the standard 10-day validity window on arrival.
No mandatory quarantine applies, provided the documentation is complete and correct. MAPA carries out a documentary and health check at the arrival airport, most commonly Sao Paulo Guarulhos, rather than a quarantine hold.
Frankfurt via Lufthansa tends to be the safer choice for flat-faced breeds, since it avoids the Gulf heat embargoes that Dubai and Doha impose on brachycephalic cargo during the warmer months. Confirm current embargo dates directly with the airline before booking, since these change seasonally.
Around 8 to 12 weeks for a straightforward case. This covers the microchip and vaccination sequence, the 7-day AQCS submission window plus roughly 5 working days of processing, and time to book cargo space across a multi-leg route. Add extra time if your pet needs its first rabies vaccination, which triggers a 30-day wait on the Brazil side.
Airline guides
Emirates SkyCargo
Qatar Airways Cargo
Turkish Airlines Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.