Pet Transport from India to Italy
Planning to move your pet from India to Italy? Get Your Quote
India to Italy is one of the more commonly requested routes for expats, students, and families relocating to Rome, Milan, or Florence. Italy is an EU member state, so the entry rules come from EU Regulation 576/2013. For pets from non-EU countries like India, that means a microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and a specific official health certificate. No quarantine is required on arrival.
Preparing your pet for this move takes around 6-8 weeks from start to travel day. The key date to work backwards from is your travel date, because the rabies vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before your pet crosses the Italian border. Book your vet appointment before anything else.
Step-by-Step Process
Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)
Before any vaccination. This step must come first.
Responsible: Your veterinarian
Rabies vaccination
After microchipping. Must be at least 21 days before the travel date.
Responsible: Your veterinarian
Book flight and confirm pet cargo or cabin space
4-6 weeks before travel.
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
AQCS export health certificate (India)
In-person inspection 2-3 days before your flight at an AQCS station.
Responsible: AQCS official veterinarian
Official veterinary health certificate (EU format)
Within 10 days of travel. Must be from a government-approved official vet.
Responsible: Official veterinarian
Travel. Present all documents at cargo desk or check-in.
3-4 hours early for cargo pets; 2 hours for cabin.
Responsible: You + airline staff
Italy Import Requirements
What Italy requires for pets entering the country.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or on the same date as the rabies vaccination.
Rabies Vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks at the time of vaccination. 21 days must elapse between the vaccination date and entry into Italy.
Rabies Titre Test
Not required for standard entry from India into Italy.
Quarantine
No quarantine on arrival for pets with correct documentation. Italy is an EU member state.
Import Permit
No import permit required for companion animals.
Health Certificate
Required. Official health certificate issued by a government-approved (official) veterinarian in India, within 10 days of travel. Must include microchip number, rabies vaccination record, and a fitness-to-travel declaration. Source: EU Regulation 576/2013; UVAC (Italian Veterinary Border Authority) enforces entry.
Exporting from India
What you need from India before your pet can leave.
Export Permit
Export health certificate required from AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Services), under India's Dept of Animal Husbandry and Dairying. Take your pet to the nearest AQCS station for physical inspection 2-3 days before the flight. No postal or online alternative.
Cost Factors
Costs vary depending on pet size, transport method, and whether you use a transport agent.
- Airline cargo or cabin fee (weight, crate size, and route dependent)
- IATA-approved travel crate (must meet airline specifications)
- Veterinary costs: microchipping, vaccination, official health certificate
- AQCS export inspection fee (India)
- Pet transport agent fee if used (recommended for first-time movers)
Important Warnings
Italy's requirements for pets from India
Italy’s border veterinary authority, the UVAC (Uffici Veterinari per gli Adempimenti degli obblighi Comunitari), checks pet documentation at entry points. The requirements follow EU law and are consistent across all Italian entry points: Rome Fiumicino, Milan Malpensa, Venice, Naples, and other international airports.
The official health certificate must be issued within 10 days of your arrival in Italy. That means your vet appointment should happen at most 10 days before your travel date, not weeks earlier. Many owners schedule the certificate appointment in the week before flying.
One thing that catches people out: the certificate must be signed by an official government veterinarian, which in India means a vet authorised by the AQCS or affiliated government body. A private veterinary practice cannot sign the EU-format certificate.
AQCS export process in India
Separately from the health certificate, India requires an AQCS export clearance before your pet leaves the country. Take your pet to the nearest AQCS quarantine station 2-3 days before your flight. Locations include Delhi (IGI Airport), Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad.
The AQCS vet checks the microchip, vaccination records, and the pet’s condition, then issues the export health certificate. This is in addition to the EU health certificate – you need both documents.
Arrive with everything organised: vaccination booklet, microchip documentation, passport photos of the animal (some stations request these), and your travel itinerary.
The route: connecting via European or Gulf hubs
There are no direct India-Italy flights operated by carriers that carry pets. Most routes connect via Dubai (Emirates), Doha (Qatar Airways), Frankfurt or Munich (Lufthansa), or Rome itself via Air India’s European connections.
For cargo pets, confirm that the transit hub permits live animal layovers. Frankfurt and Zurich are particularly well set up for handling live cargo in transit.
For small dogs or cats travelling in cabin, the connecting journey from India to Italy can be 10-18 hours depending on the routing. A calm, well-crate-trained pet handles this more comfortably. If your dog is anxious, speak to your vet about whether in-cabin travel is appropriate for the journey length.
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