Pet Transport from Portugal to Georgia

Portugal to Georgia is a process built around documentation and cargo logistics. Georgia accepts EU health certificates from Portugal without a titre test requirement, keeping the preparation time …

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3-5

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

Days quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The Portugal to Georgia import process

4 to 6 weeks before travel. Microchip reading confirmed and rabies vaccination current.

Vet check and vaccination confirmation

Responsible: Your vet in Portugal

4 to 6 weeks before travel. Turkish Airlines via IST is the most direct option. Confirm live animal cargo acceptance.

Cargo booking from Lisbon to Tbilisi

Responsible: Owner or IPATA-registered agent

Within 10 days of travel. DGAV MVO examination and DGAV endorsement (1 to 3 working days).

DGAV-endorsed EU health certificate

Responsible: DGAV MVO

2 to 3 weeks before travel. IATA CR1 compliant crate. Crate training recommended.

Crate preparation

Responsible: Owner

Travel day. Georgia NFSA vets inspect documentation and pet at Tbilisi cargo terminal.

Travel and NFSA inspection at TBS

Responsible: NFSA inspectors

Requirements

Georgia entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit). Readable on arrival at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS).

Rabies vaccination

Required. Current and valid at time of arrival.

Rabies titre test

Not required for personal companion pets from Portugal or other EU member states entering Georgia.

Quarantine

No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals with valid DGAV-endorsed EU health certificate.

Import permit

No advance import permit required for personal companion pets.

Health certificate

DGAV-endorsed EU-format health certificate. Must cover microchip, vaccination status, and general health. Inspected by NFSA vets at TBS.

Leaving Portugal

Export requirements

Export permit

No formal export permit required for personal companion pets departing Portugal.

Veterinary inspection

Clinical examination by a DGAV official vet (MVO) confirming fitness to travel and absence of infectious disease.

Health certificate

EU-format official health certificate issued by a DGAV-registered official vet (MVO) and endorsed by DGAV. Valid 10 days from examination. Georgia accepts EU-endorsed certificates.

Costs

What this route typically costs

Cargo LIS to TBS via IST: approximately EUR 450 to EUR 1,300 depending on pet size

IATA-compliant crate: EUR 80 to EUR 300

DGAV MVO examination and certificate: EUR 60 to EUR 180

DGAV endorsement fee: approximately EUR 30 to EUR 80

Rabies booster if required: EUR 30 to EUR 70

Pet transport agent fee: EUR 350 to EUR 700

Critical points

Georgia does not require a titre test from EU pets. But confirm this remains current at nfa.gov.ge before travel.

DGAV requires an official vet (MVO) to issue the health certificate. Private vets who are not MVOs cannot issue the export certificate. Confirm your vet's DGAV MVO status.

Turkish Airlines applies summer temperature embargoes on some routes. Spring or autumn travel avoids this complication.

No direct cargo service operates from Lisbon to Tbilisi. All routings go via a hub. Build adequate hub transit time into your schedule.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Turkish Airlines	Via Istanbul (IST). LIS to IST then IST to TBS. Turkish Airlines Cargo is the primary cargo option from Lisbon to Georgia. The IST-TBS route is a regular service. Temperature embargoes during Turkish summer months apply.	Cargo Only
Emirates	Via Dubai (DXB). LIS to DXB then DXB to TBS. A longer routing but Emirates SkyCargo has strong infrastructure. Gulf summer temperature embargoes apply.	Cargo Only
Wizz Air	Wizz Air does not fly directly from Lisbon to Tbilisi. From some Portuguese origin points, indirect Wizz Air cabin pet connections may be possible but are not practical for standard routing.	Cabin Only Small
Lufthansa Cargo	Via Frankfurt (FRA). Connection from LIS to FRA (via TAP or Lufthansa), then FRA to TBS. Frankfurt Animal Lounge handles transiting pets. A reliable European hub option.	Cargo Only

Georgia's entry requirements for Portuguese pets

Georgia accepts personal companion pets from EU member states including Portugal with a valid EU health certificate, current microchip, and up-to-date rabies vaccination. No titre test is required.

The National Food Agency (nfa.gov.ge) inspects incoming pets at Tbilisi International Airport (TBS). Documentary and physical checks are conducted at the cargo terminal. Compliant pets with valid DGAV-endorsed certificates are released without quarantine.

As always with international pet moves, verify current requirements with the Georgian Embassy in Lisbon or at nfa.gov.ge before travel.

Cargo routing: Lisbon to Tbilisi via Istanbul

Turkish Airlines is the most practical carrier for this route. Lisbon (LIS) to Istanbul (IST) is a regular Turkish Airlines flight, and Turkish Airlines Cargo operates the IST-TBS corridor with live animal acceptance. Total journey time via IST is typically 6 to 9 hours depending on connection times.

Lufthansa Cargo via Frankfurt is an alternative: connect from Lisbon to Frankfurt (via TAP or Lufthansa) and use the Frankfurt Animal Lounge for the transit, then onward to Tbilisi.

Emirates via Dubai is a longer option but brings the advantage of Emirates SkyCargo’s strong live animal handling. The extra flight time makes this less ideal for pets unless other routes are unavailable.

The DGAV MVO: Portugal's export certificate requirement

Portugal’s EU export health certificates for companion pets must be issued by a Médico Veterinário Oficial (MVO), an official vet registered with DGAV. This is different from your regular practice vet, who may be a private practitioner without MVO status.

Some private vet practices have an MVO on staff or an affiliation with an MVO for international travel documentation. Others will refer you to a DGAV-registered facility. Ask your regular vet early in the planning process whether they can issue export health certificates, or if they need to refer you.

DGAV’s website (dgav.pt) lists regional offices and contacts. The endorsement process after the MVO examination typically takes one to three working days.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. Georgia does not require a titre test for personal companion pets from EU countries including Portugal. A DGAV-endorsed EU health certificate with current microchip and rabies vaccination is the main requirement.

No. Only a DGAV-registered official vet (Médico Veterinário Oficial, MVO) can issue the EU export health certificate. Confirm your vet’s MVO status before booking the examination.

Turkish Airlines via Istanbul (IST) is the most direct and commonly used cargo routing. LIS to IST is a regular service, and Turkish Airlines Cargo connects IST to Tbilisi (TBS).

No routine quarantine. The NFSA conducts a documentary and physical inspection at TBS. Pets with valid DGAV-endorsed certificates and current documentation are released without detention.

The EU health certificate is valid for 10 days from the MVO examination date. Schedule the examination no more than 10 days before travel, and factor in one to three working days for DGAV endorsement after the examination.

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