Planning a pet relocation from Rwanda to Portugal is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. This route takes some organising, and roughly 20-26 weeks of preparation …
Rabies titre testRequired. Rwanda is EU-unlisted. FAVN …
QuarantineNo quarantine for compliant arrivals. …
Import permitNot required for personal companion …
Health certificateEU-format health certificate endorsed by …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Rwanda to Portugal
typically takes around 20-26 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before the rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation
Responsible: Veterinarian in Rwanda
2
After microchipping, at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
3
At least 30 days after vaccination, at an EU-approved laboratory
Blood draw for FAVN titre test
Responsible: Veterinarian in Rwanda
4
Counted from the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
5
Valid 10 days from examination date
EU-format health certificate, examined and RAB-endorsed
Responsible: RAB-authorised vet
6
4 to 6 weeks lead time recommended
Cargo booking and departure from Kigali (KGL)
Responsible: Owner and airline
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit). Before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered after microchipping. At least 21 days before titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Rwanda is EU-unlisted. FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 90-day wait from blood draw before entering Portugal. Source: EU Regulation 576/2013.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant arrivals. DGAV inspection at Lisbon Airport cargo terminal.
Import permit
Not required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate endorsed by origin authority. Valid 10 days from examination date. Inspected by DGAV officials at LIS.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate from an RAB-authorised veterinarian, endorsed by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) before departure.
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Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo
KGL-ADD via Addis Ababa, connecting onward to Lisbon (LIS) through Ethiopian's European partner network. A dependable long-haul option for this route.
Cargo
Brussels Airlines
Direct KGL-BRU, with an onward leg to Lisbon. Brussels has regular connections into Portugal, making this a practical alternative.
Cargo
KLM Cargo
KLM/Kenya Airways joint venture routing via Nairobi (NBO) and Amsterdam (AMS), then on to Lisbon. Structured and well-tested for East Africa cargo.
Cargo
RwandAir
KGL-BRU with an onward connection to Lisbon. Worth checking if Brussels Airlines cargo space on the same date is unavailable.
Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: USD 150-250 plus sample shipping
RAB veterinary endorsement and EU-format export health certificate: USD 100-200
Cargo fee KGL to Lisbon (LIS): USD 800-2,100 depending on crate size and routing
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 70-230
Agent coordination fee for the transit leg: USD 150-300
Boarding costs if the 90-day wait outlasts a planned move date
Critical points
The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not from when the lab issues the titre result. This is the single most common planning error on this route.
The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. Reverse the order and the vaccination doesn't count for the titre test sequence.
A titre result under 0.5 IU/ml means re-vaccination and a fresh blood draw, resetting the 90-day wait from the new draw date.
DGAV checks documentation at Lisbon's cargo terminal, not at passenger arrivals. The health certificate must be in EU format and valid within its 10-day window on arrival.
The rules for bringing a pet into Portugal
Portugal has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
How to keep this move on track
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
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.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions
At Lisbon Airport’s dedicated cargo terminal. DGAV officials inspect the documentation there, separate from the passenger arrivals area.
10 days from the date of examination. If the certificate ages past that window before the flight lands, it will not be accepted on arrival.
No. Portugal does not require an import permit for personal companion pets. The requirement is the standard EU unlisted-country sequence: microchip, vaccination, titre test, and the 90-day wait from the blood draw.
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo via Addis Ababa is usually the first option to check, with Brussels Airlines via Brussels as a strong alternative. Confirm live animal acceptance on the connecting leg before booking either.
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Move your pet
to Portugal.
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