Pet Transport Portugal to Brazil: TAP Direct, DGAV Certificate and MAPA Arrival
4-8 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified
Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities.
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Overview
Portugal to Brazil is one of the natural corridors for pet moves, and TAP Air Portugal makes it direct from Lisbon. Brazil requires no titre test from Portuguese pets, no quarantine applies, and the process is the DGAV-endorsed CVI plus a current rabies vaccination and antiparasitic treatment for dogs. Preparation time is four to eight weeks. This is a well-travelled route with experienced agents on both ends.
Step by step
The Portugal to Brazil process
1
Before rabies vaccination. Portuguese dogs are legally required to be microchipped; confirm ISO standard.
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet
2
After microchip. Allow 21 days before departure.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
3
Between 1 and 15 days before arrival in Brazil.
Antiparasitic treatment (dogs only)
Responsible: Vet
4
At least 3 weeks before travel.
Book TAP cargo or alternative
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
Within 10 days before arrival in Brazil.
CVI issued and DGAV endorsement
Responsible: Official vet and DGAV
6
On arrival.
MAPA inspection on arrival at GRU
Responsible: MAPA
Checklist
Brazil: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Implanted before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Inactivated vaccine. At least 21 days after primary vaccination before entry.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Brazil does not require a FAVN titre test from Portugal.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for dogs and cats with complete documentation.
Import permit
Not required for up to 2 personal pets per passenger.
Health certificate
CVI (Certificado Veterinário Internacional) in MAPA format. Issued by official vet and endorsed by DGAV. Valid 10 days from endorsement date.
Leaving Portugal
Export requirements
Requirement
Detail
Export permit
No formal export permit for personal pet dogs and cats from Portugal. The DGAV-endorsed health certificate is the export document.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate issued by an official veterinarian and endorsed by DGAV (Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária, Portugal's General Directorate of Food and Veterinary).
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
Vaccinations and vet consultation: EUR 80 to EUR 200
2
CVI issuance and DGAV endorsement: EUR 40 to EUR 120
3
Antiparasitic treatment: EUR 15 to EUR 60
4
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100 to EUR 500
5
TAP cargo fees (LIS to GRU): EUR 600 to EUR 2,000
6
Pet transport agent fee (if used): EUR 300 to EUR 1,000
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ TAP is the natural carrier on Lisbon to Brazil, but book cargo space early. LIS-GRU is a popular route and hold space for large crates fills up.
⚠ The CVI must be endorsed by DGAV, not just signed by a vet. Allow 2 to 5 days for DGAV endorsement.
⚠ The 10-day validity runs from the DGAV endorsement date. Time the endorsement and your TAP departure carefully.
⚠ Dogs require antiparasitic treatment 1 to 15 days before arrival in Brazil. Cats do not currently require this.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
TAP Air Portugal Cargo
Lisbon (LIS) to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU), Galeão (GIG), Brasília (BSB), and other Brazilian cities. TAP is the primary carrier on this corridor. TAP Cargo accepts pets. Multiple weekly frequencies on LIS-GRU.
Cargo Only
LATAM Cargo
LIS via Madrid or connecting hub to GRU. LATAM Cargo accepts pets on international routes.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
LIS via Frankfurt (FRA) to GRU. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
DGAV: Portugal's competent authority for pet export
DGAV (Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária) is Portugal’s General Directorate of Food and Veterinary, the authority that endorses export health certificates for animals leaving Portugal. Your vet issues the CVI in the MAPA format, DGAV reviews it and stamps it with the official endorsement.
DGAV regional offices operate around Portugal. Turnaround is typically 2 to 5 working days. Contact the nearest DGAV office before booking travel to confirm their current schedule. The endorsed CVI is valid for 10 days from the endorsement date, so plan the endorsement appointment to land within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Brazil.
TAP and the Lisbon-Brazil corridor
TAP Air Portugal operates multiple weekly direct flights from Lisbon to São Paulo Guarulhos, Rio de Janeiro Galeão, Brasília, Recife, Fortaleza, and other Brazilian cities. For a Portugal-to-Brazil pet move, this frequency gives flexibility when booking cargo space.
TAP Cargo handles live animal cargo on its Brazil routes. Contact TAP Cargo well in advance, provide the crate dimensions and estimated pet weight, and confirm acceptance before finalising travel plans. For large dogs in big crates, early booking matters.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Brazil does not require quarantine for dogs and cats from Portugal. The MAPA inspection at Guarulhos or Galeão is a documentary verification, not a quarantine hold. If the microchip, vaccination, antiparasitic treatment record, and DGAV-endorsed CVI are all in order, the pet is cleared for entry on arrival.
The MAPA format for the CVI can be in Portuguese or English. Since both Portugal and Brazil are Portuguese-speaking, a Portuguese-language CVI is well-understood by MAPA inspectors. However, the standard EU health certificate format that DGAV endorses for international travel is typically bilingual or in English. Confirm with your vet and DGAV that the format aligns with MAPA’s current requirements.
TAP Air Portugal allows small pets in the cabin on some routes within Europe, but for transatlantic flights from Lisbon to Brazil, pets travel as cargo in the hold, not in the passenger cabin. Confirm the current TAP policy for the specific flight route and date, as policies do change.
Book at least 3 to 4 weeks before travel, and earlier for peak summer months (July-August) and the Christmas-New Year period when both passenger and cargo capacity tightens. Provide the exact crate dimensions and total weight when making the enquiry, as hold space allocation depends on aircraft type and specific flight loading.