Pet Transport from Portugal to India

India’s Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (AQCS) sits under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, and it controls every international pet import into India. Before your dog or cat can enter the country, you need an AQCS import permit.

Apply early. The permit is port-specific, which means it is linked to your entry airport (Lisbon to Mumbai, or Lisbon to Delhi, or wherever you are landing). Changing your arrival airport after the permit is issued creates complications.

The permit application can be made via the AQCS office in India. If you are unfamiliar with the Indian government portal system, a pet transport agent who knows this process can save you significant time and frustration.

Once your DGAV-authorised official vet in Portugal has issued the health certificate, that certificate needs to go to the Embassy of India in Lisbon for endorsement before you travel.

This is a physical process. The embassy will review and stamp the document. Plan for at least a week between getting the certificate signed and receiving it back. Embassy processing times vary and are not always predictable.

The health certificate has a limited validity window. Coordinate the certificate appointment, the embassy visit, and your departure date carefully. Missing any one of these by a few days can mean starting over.

Lisbon has no direct flights to India. Every journey goes via a European or Gulf hub. Common routings:

Via Frankfurt on Lufthansa – reliable cargo connection, German efficiency, good connectivity to Mumbai and Delhi. Emirates via Dubai covers a wider range of Indian cities (Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad). Qatar Airways via Doha is another strong option with good Indian coverage.

For each connecting itinerary, confirm that your pet is booked all the way through on the same cargo documentation. Transferring cargo between carriers at a hub can add complexity.

Quarantine at the Indian port of entry is standard for imported pets, even when all documentation is perfect. Expect an inspection process that takes several hours on the day of arrival. Duration of any quarantine hold depends on the port, the documentation reviewed, and the discretion of AQCS officials.

Some ports are more straightforward than others. Mumbai and Delhi handle more international pet arrivals and typically have more experienced inspection teams.

Factor quarantine facility costs into your budget. And make sure someone at the destination end is prepared to receive the pet or facilitate collection once clearance is granted.