Pet Transport from the USA to India

Pets moving from the USA to India face a mandatory 30-day quarantine at an AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Service) facility on arrival. This is not negotiable and cannot be avoided with any …

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12-18

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The United States to India import process

Start of planning.

Confirm ISO microchip is implanted.

Responsible: Vet

5+ weeks before blood draw.

Rabies vaccination. Must be administered at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

At least 5 weeks before travel (to allow for result processing time).

Titre test blood draw at accepted laboratory. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above.

Responsible: Accepted laboratory

4-6 weeks before travel.

Arrange AQCS import clearance with India-side agent.

Responsible: India-side agent

4-8 weeks before travel.

Book cargo with United, Delta, or Lufthansa.

Responsible: Owner or agent

Within 10 days of travel.

USDA-accredited vet issues AQCS-compatible health certificate within 10 days of India arrival. APHIS endorsement obtained.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet + APHIS

Travel day.

Pet arrives in India. 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.

Rabies vaccination

Required. Administered at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw.

Rabies titre test

FAVN or HAI titre test required. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination.

Quarantine

Mandatory 30-day quarantine at an AQCS-designated facility. Owner-paid. No waivers.

Import permit

AQCS import clearance required. Arranged in advance through an India-side agent.

Health certificate

AQCS-compatible health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, APHIS-endorsed. Issued within 10 days of India arrival.

Leaving United States

Export requirements

Export permit

No USDA export permit required for personal pet exports of dogs and cats from the USA.

Health certificate

USDA-APHIS endorsed health certificate. Issued by a USDA-accredited vet and endorsed by APHIS. Compatible with AQCS requirements. Valid 10 days from examination to India arrival.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Titre test at accepted laboratory (USA)

USDA-accredited vet consultation + health certificate

APHIS endorsement fee

IATA-compliant crate

Cargo fee: US to Delhi or Mumbai

AQCS 30-day quarantine cost (owner-paid)

Agent fee (both US and India side)

Critical points

The 30-day quarantine is mandatory. Plan for it, budget it, and do not assume it can be avoided or shortened.

AQCS facilities are at specific airports. Delhi and Mumbai are the main reception points. Your pet must fly into an airport with an AQCS facility.

The transition from APHIS export to AQCS import is where the paperwork chain is most fragile. Both sides need to align. Use an agent who manages both.

India does not recognise pet passports or the EU pet travel scheme. Even if your dog has an up-to-date EU-format document, India requires its own import clearance process.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
United Airlines	United PetSafe cargo from US hubs (EWR, ORD, IAH, SFO) to Delhi (DEL) and Mumbai (BOM). Temperature-controlled cargo. Brachycephalic restrictions and seasonal embargoes apply.	Cargo Only
Delta	Delta Cargo from JFK, ATL, LAX to Delhi and Mumbai. Live animal service. Confirm availability on your specific routing before booking.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa	Via Frankfurt (FRA). US to India with one transit. Lufthansa Cargo has a strong live animal service and is a popular choice for US-India pet moves.	Cargo Only
Qatar Airways	Via Doha (DOH). US to India with one transit. Live animal service from Hamad International. Good frequency and coverage.	Cargo Only

At a glance: USA to India vs. comparable Asian destinations

Requirement	USA to India	USA to Malaysia	USA to Thailand	USA to Singapore
Titre test required	Yes (India import)	Yes (DVS)	Yes (DLD)	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
APHIS health cert	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
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 30-day quarantine and a titre test for imports. Singapore is markedly simpler: no quarantine, no titre test. If your destination is flexible, Singapore is considerably easier from a logistics standpoint.

Airline comparison: USA to India

Airline	Route	Pet policy	Transit	Notes
United	EWR/ORD/SFO/IAH to DEL, BOM	Cargo only	Direct or 1 stop	PetSafe. Good coverage from major US cities to India
Delta	JFK/ATL/LAX to DEL, BOM	Cargo only	Direct or 1 stop	Reliable service with good East and West Coast US connections
Lufthansa	US hubs to DEL/BOM via FRA	Cargo only	1 stop (FRA)	Via Frankfurt. Popular for US-India routes. Strong live animal reputation
Qatar Airways	US hubs to DEL/BOM via DOH	Cargo only	1 stop (DOH)	Via Doha. Good frequency and live animal handling at Hamad

For US to India routes, United and Delta are the direct choices from the US perspective. Lufthansa via Frankfurt and Qatar Airways via Doha are well-used alternatives with reliable live animal services.

The 30-day quarantine: what to expect

The AQCS quarantine is a fixed part of the India import process. All pets, regardless of documentation quality, vaccination history, or country of origin, complete 30 days at the designated AQCS facility at their arrival airport.

The facilities in Delhi and Mumbai are the two main reception points for international pet imports. During the 30 days, AQCS veterinary staff monitor the pets, check documentation, and verify the titre test results. At the end of the period, the AQCS issues a release certificate.

Owners can visit their pets during quarantine at scheduled visiting times, though policies vary by facility. Your India-side agent can provide current visiting arrangements.

The cost is owner-paid. Budgeting the equivalent of USD 800 to USD 2,500 for 30 days (depending on facility and pet size) is a reasonable estimate, though costs change. Get a current quote from your agent before travel.

The 30-day quarantine is the same for dogs and cats. Neither species gets a shortened period or a waiver. Treat it as part of the journey rather than an obstacle.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. The 30-day AQCS quarantine is mandatory for all dogs and cats entering India from any country. It cannot be shortened or waived by any documentation, vaccination history, or breed status. Plan for it as a fixed step in your pet’s journey.

A USDA-APHIS endorsed health certificate is the core US export document. A USDA-accredited vet in the USA examines your pet and issues the certificate, which is then endorsed by APHIS. The certificate must be in a format accepted by AQCS and issued within 10 days of India arrival. You also need your pet’s microchip confirmation, vaccination records, and titre test result.

Yes. The 30-day AQCS quarantine applies to cats as well as dogs. All companion animals entering India from international origins must complete the 30-day period. Cats also need the microchip, vaccination, and titre test documentation.

Expect total costs in the range of USD 3,500 to USD 8,000. The 30-day AQCS quarantine and the transoceanic cargo fee are the two largest components. Titre test, health certificate, APHIS endorsement, crate, and agent fees make up the rest.

No. The APHIS export requirements are federal and apply uniformly across all US states. The India-side AQCS requirements do not change based on which US state your pet is coming from. The process is the same whether you are shipping from New York, Los Angeles, or Chicago.

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