Pet Transport from the UK to India
Pets moving from the UK to India must go through the AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Service), India's authority for pet imports. The mandatory 30-day quarantine at an AQCS facility on …
Get your free quoteThe United Kingdom to India import process
Responsible: Vet
Responsible: UK vet
Responsible: India-side agent
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: UK OV + APHA
Responsible: AQCS quarantine facility
India entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Export requirements
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The 30-day quarantine in India is mandatory and cannot be waived. There is no documentation-only route. Budget for this cost before you start the process.
AQCS quarantine facilities are at designated airports. Your pet must fly into an airport with an AQCS facility. Delhi and Mumbai are the main options.
The titre test is required for import into India, separate from any UK export requirement. Confirm your test result meets AQCS standards.
India has no specific national breed ban for pet imports, but some breeds may attract additional scrutiny. Consult your agent if your dog is a breed that might be considered dangerous.
Approved carriers on this route
| Airline | Notes | Type |
|---|---|---|
| British Airways | British Airways World Cargo (IAG Cargo and PetAir UK) from London Heathrow to Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM). Direct services. No cabin pets. PetAir UK handles documentation on the UK side. | Cargo Only |
| Virgin Atlantic | Virgin Atlantic Cargo from Heathrow to Delhi and Mumbai. Direct services. Live animal capability. No cabin pets. Book cargo directly or through an agent. | Cargo Only |
| Qatar Airways | Cargo via Doha (DOH). London to Indian cities via one transit. Live animal service from Hamad International. Good alternative when direct carriers are full. | Cargo Only |
| Lufthansa | Via Frankfurt (FRA). LHR to India with one transit. Lufthansa Cargo has a well-established live animal service. | Cargo Only |
At a glance: UK to India vs. comparable destinations
| Requirement | UK to India | UK to Malaysia | UK to Thailand | UK to Singapore |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titre test required | Yes (India import) | Yes (Malaysia import) | Yes (Thailand import) | No |
| Quarantine on arrival | 30 days (AQCS) | 30 days (DVS) | 30 days (DLD) | No |
| Import permit | AQCS clearance | DVS permit | DLD import permit | No permit |
| Health certificate | AHC (APHA) | AHC (APHA) | AHC (APHA) | AHC (APHA/AVS) |
| Complexity | High | High | High | Moderate |
| Minimum timeline | 12-18 weeks | 12-18 weeks | 12-18 weeks | 6-10 weeks |
India, Malaysia, and Thailand all require quarantine on arrival (30 days each) and a titre test. Singapore stands out as not requiring quarantine, making it the easiest major South Asian or Southeast Asian destination from the UK by some distance.
Airline comparison: UK to India
| Airline | Route | Pet policy | Transit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Airways | LHR to DEL, BOM | Cargo only | Direct | Via IAG Cargo and PetAir UK. Strong documentation support from UK side |
| Virgin Atlantic | LHR to DEL, BOM | Cargo only | Direct | Direct to Delhi and Mumbai. Reliable live animal service |
| Qatar Airways | LHR to DEL/BOM via DOH | Cargo only | 1 stop (DOH) | Via Doha. Good alternative when direct carriers are unavailable |
| Lufthansa | LHR to DEL/BOM via FRA | Cargo only | 1 stop (FRA) | Via Frankfurt. Adds a transit step |
For the UK-India route, direct services from Heathrow on BA or Virgin Atlantic are the cleanest option. Both airlines have established live animal cargo services on this corridor.
What the 30-day AQCS quarantine actually involves
All pets entering India from international origins go through a 30-day mandatory quarantine at an AQCS-designated facility. The main quarantine reception airports are Delhi (Indira Gandhi International) and Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International). AQCS has facilities at these airports to receive and hold pets during the quarantine period.
The quarantine is owner-paid. Costs vary by facility and by the size and number of pets, but owners should budget the equivalent of several hundred to a few thousand pounds for the 30-day period. Your India-side agent can provide current cost estimates for the specific AQCS facility at your arrival airport.
During quarantine, the AQCS veterinary team monitors the pets and verifies documentation. At the end of the 30-day period, AQCS issues a release certificate and you can collect your pet. Your pet should be in good health after quarantine, as the facilities are medically supervised.
The simplest way to prepare for the quarantine is to treat it as a scheduled event rather than a problem. The documentation needs to be correct, the AQCS office at the arrival airport needs to be notified in advance through your agent, and the 30-day cost needs to be budgeted. Given that, the process runs as a managed step rather than a disruption.
Common questions about this route
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