Pet Transport from India to Portugal

Portugal has become a popular destination for Indian expats and remote workers, and the pet transport route from India to Lisbon or Porto is straightforward once you know the rules. Portugal follows EU pet import law under Regulation 576/2013. For pets from non-EU countries like India, that means a microchip, a current rabies vaccination with a 21-day wait, and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine on arrival for correctly prepared pets.

One rule specific to Portugal (and EU requirements broadly) that catches people out: the microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, not after. If your vet gave the rabies jab first, you will need to repeat the vaccination cycle after the chip is in place. Confirm the order with your vet before booking the appointment.

Preparation takes 6-8 weeks. TAP Air Portugal operates connections from Indian cities to Lisbon, making it one of the more convenient routing options.

Step-by-Step Process

Portugal Import Requirements

What Portugal requires for pets entering the country.

Exporting from India

What you need from India before your pet can leave.

Cost Factors

Costs vary depending on pet size, transport method, and whether you use a transport agent.

• Airline fees: cabin or cargo charges (route, weight, crate size dependent)
• IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
• Veterinary fees: microchipping, vaccination, health certificate
• AQCS export inspection and certificate fee (India)
• Pet transport agent fee (optional but helpful for first-time movers)

Important Warnings

Portugal's import requirements for pets from India

Portugal’s DGAV (Direcao-Geral de Alimentacao e Veterinaria) enforces EU pet import rules at the border. For pets from third countries (non-EU) like India, the entry requirements are: ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination given at least 21 days before travel, and an official health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival.

The health certificate must be signed by an official (government-authorised) veterinarian in India. Standard private vets in India are not authorised to sign this document unless they hold official veterinarian designation. Ask explicitly before booking the appointment.

No import permit is needed for companion animals. The health certificate is the key document. Keep the original safe – border officers require the original, not a photocopy.

Why the microchip order matters so much

The microchip-before-vaccination rule is written into EU law for a specific reason: the microchip is how officials identify the animal and link it to its vaccination record. If the chip was not present when the jab was given, there is no way to prove that this specific animal received that specific vaccination.

In practice, if your pet was vaccinated before being chipped, the vaccination record is void for EU entry purposes. The correct sequence must be repeated: chip implanted first, then rabies vaccination, then 21-day wait.

Check your pet’s records before starting the process. Many pets in India have been vaccinated multiple times, but the microchip may have been added later.

AQCS export inspection and the journey to Portugal

Before leaving India, your pet must be cleared through AQCS. This involves a physical inspection at one of the AQCS quarantine stations, typically 2-3 days before your flight. The AQCS vet issues the export health certificate on the day. Locations include Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad – book the nearest one to your departure airport.

TAP Air Portugal flies from major Indian hubs to Lisbon, making it the most direct routing option. Small pets can travel in the cabin; larger dogs go in the cargo hold. If you are connecting via another European city, Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Emirates via Dubai are other reliable options with good live-cargo experience.

Factor in the connection time for cargo animals. Schiphol (Amsterdam) and Frankfurt Airport both have IATA-certified live animal facilities and experience handling Indian-routed pets.