Home/Routes/Uruguay to Portugal
UY
Uruguay
✈️
PT
Portugal

Pet Transport from Uruguay to Portugal: 2026 Guide

20-28 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
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Lead time needed
20-28 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Uruguay to Portugal typically takes around 20-28 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.

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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

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Overview

Bringing your dog or cat from Uruguay to Portugal takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 20-28 weeks. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order.

A rabies titre test is part of the process, and its waiting period drives the whole timeline. Map your dates against the steps below and you will stay on track.

Step by step

The Uruguay to Portugal process

1
Before the rabies vaccination.
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.

Responsible: Vet in Uruguay.

2
At least 30 days before the FAVN blood draw.
Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: MGAP-DGSG-registered vet.

3
30 or more days after vaccination. Sample ships internationally; allow 2-4 weeks for results.
Draw blood for the FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and EU-approved laboratory.

4
Fixed. Cannot be shortened.
90-day mandatory wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: N/A

5
Within 10 days of travel, once the 90-day wait has passed.
Obtain the EU-format export health certificate, endorsed by MGAP-DGSG.

Responsible: MGAP-DGSG-registered vet and MGAP-DGSG.

6
Confirm live animal acceptance on every leg.
Book cargo from Montevideo to Lisbon via São Paulo, Madrid or Paris.

Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent.

Checklist

Portugal: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after the primary vaccination.
Rabies titre testRequired. Uruguay is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, then a fixed 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636.
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate endorsed by MGAP-DGSG, issued within 10 days of travel.
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Leaving Uruguay

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for companion cats and dogs leaving Uruguay.
Health certificateOfficial export health certificate from an MGAP-DGSG-registered veterinarian, endorsed by the Dirección General de Servicios Ganaderos (DGSG), completed in EU format for Portugal. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test plus international sample shipping: USD 200-320.
2MGAP-DGSG-endorsed export health certificate: USD 90-170.
3Cargo fee, Montevideo to Lisbon via a connecting hub: USD 1,200-2,300 depending on crate size and season.
4IATA-approved travel crate: USD 120-380.
5Total typical range: USD 2,000-3,900 over 5-7 months.
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the result date. Start the process at least six months before your intended travel date.
⚠ There is no EU-approved FAVN laboratory in Uruguay, so the sample has to travel internationally in the correct cold-chain packaging.
⚠ There is no direct flight from Montevideo to Lisbon. The São Paulo-TAP routing is often the shortest total journey time, but confirm capacity well ahead given limited South America-Portugal cargo frequency.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
Air Europa or LATAM covers MVD to a South American gateway such as São Paulo (GRU), connecting to TAP Air Portugal's GRU-LIS service, one of the more direct European links for a Uruguay-origin pet.
Cargo Only
Iberia via Madrid
MVD to Madrid (MAD) with Iberia or Air Europa, then a short onward hop to Lisbon. A well-established connection given Madrid's proximity to Lisbon.
Cargo Only
Air France via Paris
A Paris (CDG) routing for owners whose travel dates do not line up with the Madrid or São Paulo connections.
Cargo Only

Portugal entry requirements at a glance

The requirements for Portugal are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

Getting the details right

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

Yes. Uruguay is an EU unlisted third country, so a FAVN or ELISA titre test is required, with a minimum result of 0.5 IU/ml and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date.
TAP Air Portugal’s direct São Paulo-to-Lisbon service, once cargo reaches São Paulo from Montevideo, is typically the shortest total transit. Madrid and Paris connections are workable alternatives.
No. It is fixed to the blood draw date and does not shorten regardless of how quickly the laboratory returns a result.
No. Non-commercial companion pet movements into Portugal do not require a separate import permit, only the compliant health certificate, vaccination record and titre test result.
Airline guides
  • TAP Air Portugal via São Paulo
  • Iberia via Madrid
  • Air France via Paris
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →
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