Pet Transport from Portugal to Kazakhstan

Portugal to Kazakhstan is a long-haul move that is manageable once the documentation and routing are sorted. Kazakhstan does not require a titre test from EU-origin pets, keeping the preparation …

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3-5

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The Portugal to Kazakhstan import process

4 to 6 weeks before travel.

Vet check and vaccination review

Responsible: Your vet in Portugal

4 to 6 weeks before travel. Choose Turkish Airlines via IST or Air Astana via AMS. Confirm live animal acceptance.

Cargo booking to Almaty or Astana

Responsible: Owner or IPATA agent

Within 10 days of travel. MVO examination plus DGAV endorsement (1 to 3 working days).

DGAV-endorsed EU health certificate

Responsible: DGAV MVO

2 weeks before travel.

IATA crate preparation

Responsible: Owner

Arrival day.

Arrival and Kazakh veterinary inspection at ALA or NQZ

Responsible: Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Committee

Requirements

Kazakhstan 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 (15-digit). Readable on arrival at Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ).

Rabies vaccination

Required. Current at time of arrival.

Rabies titre test

Not required for personal companion pets arriving from Portugal or other EU member states under standard personal import rules.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals. Kazakhstan Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Committee inspects at cargo terminal.

Import permit

No advance import permit required for personal companion pets.

Health certificate

DGAV-endorsed EU-format health certificate. Kazakhstan may also prefer EAEU-format in some cases. Confirm current format preference before departure.

Leaving Portugal

Export requirements

Export permit

No formal export permit required for personal companion pets departing Portugal.

Veterinary inspection

Pre-departure clinical examination by a DGAV official vet confirming fitness to travel.

Health certificate

EU-format official health certificate issued by a DGAV-registered MVO and endorsed by DGAV. Valid 10 days from examination. Kazakhstan accepts EU-endorsed certificates.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Cargo LIS to ALA or NQZ via hub: approximately EUR 600 to EUR 1,600 depending on pet size and routing

LIS to AMS connection for Air Astana: EUR 80 to EUR 200 (short EU flight or TAP connection)

IATA-compliant crate: EUR 80 to EUR 300

DGAV MVO examination and certificate: EUR 60 to EUR 180

DGAV endorsement fee: approximately EUR 30 to EUR 80

Agent fee: EUR 400 to EUR 800

Critical points

Kazakhstan uses EAEU veterinary certificates for movements within the EAEU bloc. EU certificates are generally accepted for EU-origin pets, but confirm the preferred format before leaving Portugal.

Air Astana flies from Amsterdam, not Lisbon. You need a short connection from LIS to AMS before the Air Astana flight. Plan this into your overall journey time and cargo booking.

The two main Kazakhstan airports (ALA and NQZ) serve different regions. Choose the one closest to your destination in Kazakhstan.

Portuguese DGAV certificates must be issued by an MVO. Not all private vets are MVOs. Confirm your vet's status early.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Air Astana	Air Astana flies from Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) to Almaty (ALA) and Astana (NQZ). From Portugal, connect from Lisbon (LIS) to Amsterdam (AMS) then take Air Astana. Air Astana Cargo accepts live animals on these routes. Confirm seasonal restrictions and booking procedures directly with Air Astana Cargo.	Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines	Via Istanbul (IST). LIS to IST then IST to ALA or NQZ. Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals. The IST-Kazakhstan corridor is well-established. Temperature embargoes during Turkish summer months.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo	Via Frankfurt (FRA). LIS to FRA via TAP or Lufthansa, then FRA to ALA or NQZ via Lufthansa Cargo or partner carriers. Frankfurt Animal Lounge available for transiting pets.	Cargo Only
Emirates	Via Dubai (DXB). LIS to DXB then DXB to ALA. Emirates SkyCargo handles live animals. Gulf summer temperature embargoes and brachycephalic breed restrictions apply.	Cargo Only

Kazakhstan's requirements for EU-origin pets from Portugal

Personal companion pets from Portugal can enter Kazakhstan with a valid DGAV-endorsed EU health certificate, current microchip, and up-to-date rabies vaccination. No titre test is required under standard personal import rules.

Kazakhstan’s Veterinary Committee inspects incoming pets at Almaty (ALA) or Astana (NQZ) cargo terminals. Compliant arrivals are released without quarantine.

One point worth checking: Kazakhstan operates within the EAEU (Eurasian Economic Union) and uses EAEU-format veterinary certificates for movements between member states. For EU-origin pets, the EU-format certificate endorsed by DGAV is generally accepted, but it is worth confirming current format preferences with the Kazakhstani Embassy in Lisbon before departure.

Routing from Lisbon: Amsterdam or Istanbul?

Portugal’s Lisbon Airport (LIS) does not have direct cargo services to Kazakhstan. Two main hub options exist.

Via Amsterdam (AMS) and Air Astana: Air Astana operates direct flights from Amsterdam Schiphol to Almaty and Astana. From Lisbon, connect to Amsterdam (TAP Air Portugal, KLM, or a short flight) and then take Air Astana’s direct long-haul service to Kazakhstan. Air Astana Cargo accepts live animals on these routes. The advantage of this path is a single long-haul carrier on the critical leg.

Via Istanbul (IST) and Turkish Airlines: Turkish Airlines offers daily Lisbon to Istanbul flights, with onward Turkish Airlines Cargo connections to both Almaty and Astana. This is a single-carrier journey from Lisbon without needing a separate AMS connection.

Turkish Airlines is generally simpler to book as a cargo package from Portugal. If you have a preference for the Air Astana direct service to Almaty, plan the Amsterdam connection carefully.

DGAV export documentation from Portugal

Portugal’s export health certificate process requires a Médico Veterinário Oficial (MVO) registered with DGAV to conduct the examination and prepare the EU-format certificate. The MVO submits this for DGAV endorsement, which typically takes one to three working days.

The 10-day certificate validity starts from the examination date. Plan the appointment so the certificate is still valid on arrival in Kazakhstan, including any hub transit time.

If you are based outside Lisbon, identify a DGAV-authorised MVO in your region through dgav.pt before starting the planning process.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No titre test is required for personal companion pets from EU member states like Portugal entering Kazakhstan under standard personal import rules.

Turkish Airlines from Lisbon via Istanbul is simpler as a single cargo package from Portugal. Air Astana from Amsterdam offers a direct long-haul service to Kazakhstan, but requires a separate LIS-to-AMS connection. Both are viable. Choose based on your schedule and cargo availability.

Almaty (ALA) is the traditional main hub and suits destinations in southern Kazakhstan. Astana (NQZ) serves the capital and is better for northern Kazakhstan. Both are served by Air Astana and Turkish Airlines.

EU health certificates endorsed by DGAV are generally accepted for EU-origin pets entering Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan also uses EAEU-format certificates within its Eurasian Economic Union partners. Confirm the preferred format with the Kazakhstani Embassy in Lisbon before departure.

No routine quarantine for compliant personal pet arrivals. Kazakhstan’s Veterinary Committee conducts a documentary and physical inspection at the cargo terminal. Healthy pets with complete DGAV-endorsed documentation are released without detention.

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