Bringing your dog or cat from United Kingdom to India takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. Expect around 12-18 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to India
typically takes around 12-18 weeks.
Expect 30 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The United Kingdom to India import process
01
Start of planning.
Confirm ISO microchip is implanted and pre-dates the rabies vaccination.
Responsible: Vet
02
At least 5 weeks before travel.
Rabies vaccination and titre test. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml required.
Responsible: UK vet
03
4-6 weeks before travel.
Arrange AQCS import clearance through India-side agent. AQCS office at destination airport must acknowledge the import.
Responsible: India-side agent
04
4-8 weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with BA or Virgin Atlantic. Confirm live animal availability.
Responsible: Owner or agent
05
Within 10 days of travel.
UK OV issues AQCS-format AHC within 10 days of India arrival. APHA endorsement obtained.
Responsible: UK OV + APHA
06
Travel day.
Pet arrives at Indian airport. AQCS inspection. 30-day quarantine begins.
Responsible: AQCS quarantine facility
Requirements
India entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw. Current and valid at time of import.
Rabies titre test
Required for import into India. FAVN or HAI test method. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml result. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination.
Quarantine
30-day quarantine at an AQCS-designated quarantine facility on arrival. Owner-paid. This is mandatory and cannot be waived.
Import permit
Import clearance from AQCS required. Arranged in advance through your India-side agent or via the AQCS portal.
Health certificate
AQCS-compatible AHC issued by a UK OV and endorsed by APHA. Issued within 10 days of India arrival.
Leaving United Kingdom
Export requirements
Export permit
No UK export permit required for personal pet exports.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by a UK Official Veterinarian (OV). The AHC must be in a format compatible with AQCS requirements. APHA endorsement required. Issued within 10 days of India arrival.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Titre test at accepted laboratory
UK OV vet consultation + AHC preparation
APHA endorsement fee
IATA-compliant crate
Cargo fee: Heathrow to Delhi or Mumbai
AQCS 30-day quarantine cost (owner-paid)
Agent fee (both UK and India side recommended)
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.
Airlines
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
What India requires
Bringing a pet into India involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Avoiding the common mistakes
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.
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
Yes, without exception. All dogs and cats imported into India must complete 30 days of quarantine at an AQCS-designated facility. There is no documentation route that avoids this. Plan for it from the start and budget the cost as part of your overall move expenses.
AQCS-designated quarantine facilities operate at the main international airports. Delhi (Indira Gandhi International) and Mumbai (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International) are the primary entry points. Your pet must fly into an airport with an AQCS facility. Check with your agent for the current list of approved entry airports.
Yes. India requires a rabies antibody titre test (FAVN or HAI method, minimum 0.5 IU/ml) for pet imports. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination. This is an India import requirement, separate from any UK export documentation.
Expect total costs of GBP 2,500 to GBP 6,000 depending on pet size, airline, and length of stay in India quarantine. The 30-day AQCS quarantine cost and the cargo fee are the two largest components. Agent fees typically add GBP 600 to GBP 1,500.
No. UK law requires all pets to travel as manifested cargo from Great Britain. There is no cabin option from the UK side. On arrival in India, all pets regardless of species must complete the 30-day AQCS quarantine.
Airline guides
British Airways
Virgin Atlantic
Qatar Airways
Lufthansa
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.