PT
Portugal
✈️
UY
Uruguay

Pet Transport from Portugal to Uruguay: 2026 Guide

6-9 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
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Lead time needed
6-9 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Moderate
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Portugal to Uruguay typically takes around 6-9 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

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Overview

Moving a dog or cat from Portugal to Uruguay is very doable with the right preparation. Around 6-9 weeks is typical, with a straightforward sequence to work through. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.

You will not need a rabies titre test here. The full checklist, requirements and airline options are set out below.

Step by step

The Portugal to Uruguay process

1
As early as possible, before fixing a travel date.
Apply for Uruguay's MGAP import permit.

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent.

2
At least 3-4 weeks before travel.
Confirm ISO microchip (recommended) and current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Vet in Portugal.

3
Between 72 hours and 30 days before arrival in Uruguay.
For dogs, administer the praziquantel echinococcus treatment.

Responsible: DGAV-authorised vet in Portugal.

4
4-6 weeks before travel.
Book cargo space LIS to MVD via São Paulo or Madrid.

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent.

5
Within 10 days of departure.
DGAV official vet examination and health certificate endorsement.

Responsible: DGAV-authorised official veterinarian.

6
Travel day.
Travel day: LIS to MVD via a connecting hub. Present the health certificate, import permit and echinococcus treatment record at Carrasco International.

Responsible: Owner and MGAP officials on arrival.

Checklist

Uruguay: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRecommended and in practice expected. ISO 11784/11785 standard.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Must be current on arrival and documented on the health certificate.
Rabies titre testNot required. Uruguay does not require a rabies antibody titre test for companion pets arriving from Portugal or other EU member states.
QuarantineNo quarantine for compliant arrivals with correct documentation.
Import permitRequired. An import permit must be obtained from MGAP before travel.
Health certificateDGAV-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of travel, documenting microchip (if present), current rabies vaccination, and for dogs, the praziquantel echinococcus treatment.
Leaving Portugal

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo export permit required for companion cats and dogs leaving Portugal.
Veterinary inspectionClinical examination by a DGAV-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of departure.
Health certificateOfficial health certificate for a non-EU destination, issued by a DGAV-authorised official veterinarian and endorsed by DGAV (Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária). Valid 10 days from issue.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Cargo LIS to MVD via a connecting hub: EUR 900-1,900 depending on crate size and season.
2IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-350.
3DGAV official vet examination and endorsed certificate: EUR 80-180.
4Praziquantel echinococcus treatment (dogs): EUR 15-40.
5MGAP import permit: confirm current fee when applying.
6Total typical range: EUR 1,300-3,000 over 6-9 weeks.
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Secure the MGAP import permit before finalising a travel date, since its conditions can affect your documentation timeline.
⚠ The echinococcus treatment window is narrow: between 72 hours and 30 days before arrival. Time the final vet visit against your confirmed flight.
⚠ There is no direct flight from Lisbon to Montevideo. TAP's São Paulo connection is usually the shortest total transit, but confirm cargo capacity well ahead.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
TAP's direct Lisbon-São Paulo (GRU) service connects onward to Montevideo with a South American partner carrier or Air Europa. Often the shortest total transit for this corridor.
Cargo Only
Iberia via Madrid
A short LIS-MAD hop connects to Iberia's Madrid-Montevideo cargo service. A reliable alternative to the São Paulo routing.
Cargo Only
Air Europa via Madrid
A second Madrid-routed option, useful if Iberia capacity is tight around your travel dates.
Cargo Only

Meeting Uruguay's entry requirements

Getting a pet into Uruguay is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Advice worth following

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.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Uruguay does not require a rabies antibody titre test for companion pets from Portugal or other EU member states.
As early as possible, ideally as soon as your move is confirmed, since the permit sets conditions that your vaccination and certificate paperwork must match.
No. It applies only to dogs, administered between 72 hours and 30 days before arrival.
TAP Air Portugal’s direct Lisbon-São Paulo service, connecting onward to Montevideo, is typically the shortest total transit for this corridor.
Airline guides
  • TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
  • Iberia via Madrid
  • Air Europa via Madrid
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →
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