Pet import requirements for India

India at a glance

The detail

YES ( HIGHLY RECOMMENDED). A destination agent is required for India. India, of ficially the Republic of India is a country in South Asia. Have the HAWB issued to DEL, BLR, CCU, MAA, BOM, HYD, and 3 other listed airports unless the airline assigns a different live-animal station.

Import requirements

Minimum 7 Months

More in formation HERE

Pets can be imported under transfer of residence rules (TR Rules) or be considered commercial.

Transfer of residence rules below:

Pet should arrive within one month of the owner’s arrival.

Owner eligible to bring 2 pets under Transfer of residence (TR) rules.

Owner cannot bring pets under Business or Tourist Visa

Short visits made to India have not exceeded 180 days in the last 2 years

Owner must be permanently move to India, with in tention to stay for at least 1 year minimum.

Original passport for pet owner is required at the time of pet clearance under manifested cargo.

Pre-Import Requirements for Cats:

The Official Veterinary Health Certificate must certify that "the cat, on the day of examination, shows no clinical signs and symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI), in cluding respiratory distress."

The examination of the cat must be conducted no more than 7 days before shipment.

Post-Import Requirements for Cats:

• An undertaking from the owner to inform the concerned Animal Quarantine and Certification Services if any respiratory illness is observed in the pet cat within 14 days of import into India.

Only dogs and cats

Owner must fulfil Transfer of residence rules (above)

Advance documentation for NOC and customs permission required.

Requires DGFT restricted license. The license takes 08 weeks approx to obtain and must be planned for in advance.

DGFT License will be required for pets coming to India on short visits, for owners not able to fulfilling TR rules, commercial moves and for animals other than dogs and cats.

For commercial moves documents needed for import license:

CITES Certificate if applicable

Health Certificate

Pet purchase in voice

Photo of the pets

Purpose letter - purpose of import

Owner's - passport, air ticket, Pan Card, Aadhar Card

Owner's email and mobile

Undertaking for DGFT

· The name of owner in the of ficial health certificate must match with the name as mentioned in the ticket of owner to establish ownership.

· The name and address of the owner in the country of origin and in the country of arrival (import) must be mentioned on the health certificate.

· The declaration from the owner that the dog/cat is Bonafede pet with no commercial in terest, gift and breeding purpose.

No additional feed, bedding etc. be allowed during the journey.

Copy of airway bill/journey details of pet/Bill of entry with custom (If coming under cargo).

Authorization letter if owner is not approaching directly.

Application for import permit to be submitted minimum 7 days prior to arrival and maximum 10 days prior to arrival.

Identification and microchip

ISO Microchip required. Should be readable on ISO Microchip scanner.

Rabies and vaccinations

Should be within validity period. To be administered atleast 1 month prior to arrival to India. Rabies vaccination certificate needed from local veterinary. Rabies must be between Minimum 30 days and maximum 365 days

Vaccination against rabies for both dog and cats.

For Dogs,A dditional vaccination with DHPPi and Lepto and for Cats with FVRCP for Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis (FHV-1), Feline Calicivirus (FCV), Feline Panleukopenia (FPL)

Tests and treatments

No test required for Dogs and Cats for Import into India

For Dog and Cats- No Treatment Required.

Health certificate and permits

From origin country issued by government entity / of ficial vet - usually valid for 10 days for dogs.

For Cats

The Official Veterinary Health Certificate must certify that "the cat, on the day of examination, shows no clinical signs and symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI), in cluding respiratory distress."

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The examination of the cat must be conducted no more than 7 days before shipment.

Issued by Animal Quarantine & Certification Services (AQCS). We call it basically NOC. NO Objection certificate for Import.

All documents should be available atleast 7-10 days in advance. We can apply for NOC minimum 7 days prior to date of pets arrival in India, with valid health certificate.Mandatory for all animals.

Annexure 1.1.1 - India Health certificate - import of pet dogs

Annexure 2.1.1 - India Health certificate - import of pet cats

Both forms to be filled out by government appointed vet of origin country. Valid for 10 days. All details should in English, all in formation in the form to be filled with sign and seal.

Veterinary Certificate for Import of Dogs and Cats

For imports into INDIA

Importers Declaration - Bengaluru

Undertaking from Owner - Bengaluru

Quarantine

Upto 30 days quarantine applicable for animals other than dogs and cats.

Application for import/ export permits for dogs/cats happens 10 days before travel.

Advance NOC is needed for all pets. Dogs and cats will avoid quarantine if they show no signs of illness at time of in spection after arrival. Pets other than dogs and cats, go into mandatory quarantine for 30 days.

Post-Import Requirements for Cats:

• An undertaking from the owner to inform the concerned Animal Quarantine and Certification Services if any respiratory illness is observed in the pet cat within 14 days of import into India.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Only Dogs & Cats can be imported under baggage rules and are pets.

Pre-Import Requirements for Cats:

The Official Veterinary Health Certificate must certify that "the cat, on the day of examination, shows no clinical signs and symptoms of Influenza-like Illness (ILI), in cluding respiratory distress."

The examination of the cat must be conducted no more than 7 days before shipment.

Post-Import Requirements for Cats:

An undertaking from the owner to inform the concerned Animal Quarantine and Certification Services if any respiratory illness is observed in the pet cat within 14 days of import into India.

Customs, agents, and airports

YES ( HIGHLY RECOMMENDED)

A destination agent is required for India.

DELHI – Capital

Mumbai-Economic Capital

Airports listed on this destination file: DEL, BLR, CCU, MAA, BOM, HYD, TRV, CCJ, COK.

Original Passport of Owner needed at time of pet's arrival to complete customs clearance.

Original signed customs forms needed for application

Pet should arrive within one month of the owners arrival.

Owner eligible to bring 2 pets under Transfer of residence (TR) rules.

Owner cannot bring pets under Business or Tourist Visa

Short visits made to India have not exceeded 180 days in the last 2 years

Owner must be permanently move to India, with in tention to stay for atleast 2 year

Custom Rule: 15/2013 for import of pets:

http://www.cbec.gov.in/htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circulars-2013/circ15-2013-cs

Custom Rule: 25/2013 for re-import of pets from Indian origin:

http://www.cbec.gov.in/htdocs-cbec/customs/cs-circulars/cs-circulars-2013/circ25-2013-cs

Baggage Rules 1998 and Revised Baggage Rules 2016 also must be reviewed and followed. 36.05 % Import Duty will be levied and have to paid.

Value will be decided by the customs.

Export notes

Export permit to be obtained from Animal Quarantine

Pet should have valid health certificate, microchip certificate and rabies vaccination certificate

Destination country's import requirements such as rabies titer test, CDC permit and import / transit permits needed to obtain export permit.

The pet must be physically examined by animal quarantine 5-8 days prior to departure. Appointments for pet examination to be obtained from Animal Quarantine in advance

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Required based on species from origin / destination.

Not for Dog and Cats.

Other Animals may applicable.

Pet should be microchipped

Pet must have valid rabies vaccination

Owner details and pet details should be captured accurately in vaccination books and vet certificates.

For Domestic Transportation: Airlines can be used as Air India or Spice Jet.

Spice Jet accepts live animals for carriage only as cargo

Air India access both Excess baggage and cargo.

Indian Rails also accept live animals for carriage. Passenger / Owner have to travel with them.

Additional documents for Import and export can be required for custom clearance is Owner Passport, Ticket, Visa and Frro(Residence permit) for both import and export.

Official contacts

Animal Quarantine & Certification Services - Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata

Animal Quarantine and Certification Service (aqcsindia.gov.in)

DirectoreGenerale of Foreign Trade - Directorate General of Foreign Trade | Ministry of Commerce and Industry | Government of India (dgft.gov.in) - For DGFT License for imports / exports

Ministry of environment, Forest and climate change - Welcome to PARIVESH - Needed for restricted animals for imports / exports

There are six airports in India with facilities for Animal Quarantine Stations where pets can go in and out.

AQCS, Chennai (Airport CODE: MAA)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, 83, Pallikkaranai, Chennai – 601 302

Dr. D. Biswas

(Regional Officer)

B.V.Sc.&A.H., M.V.Sc.

(Parasitology)

Phd. (VLM-ZOONOTIC)

Tel: +91 44 2246-0659

Fax: +91 44 2246-3070

Mob: +9748 6604-36

Email: aqcs_sr@yahoo.com

Email: aqcssr.chennai@gov.in

AQCS, New Delhi (AIRPORT CODE: DEL)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Kapashera, New Delhi – 110 037

Maj Dr Venkatesan.G

(Quarantine Officer)

M.V.Sc

Tel: +91 11 2506-3272

Fax: +91 11 2506-0647

Mob: +8079 0116-61

Email: aqcsnr-dadf@nic.in

AQCS, Kolkata (AIRPORT CODE: CCU)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services

CALTEX Building, NSC Bose International Airport,Kolkata-700 052, West Bengal

Dr. Jimlee Sarmah

(Quarantine Officer)

B.V.Sc. & A.H., M.V.Sc.

(Microbiology)

Tel: +91 33 2511-9418 (Airport)

Tel: +91 33 2519-6777 (Narayanpur)

Fax: +91 33 2511-9418

Mob: +9916 1334-05

Email: aqcs_cal@yahoo.in,

Email:roaqcser.kol-dadf@gov.in

AQCS, Mumbai (AIRPORT CODE: BOM)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Koper khairane, Sector-11, Navi Mumbai – 400 709.

Dr. Sonia Sharma

(Quarantine Officer I/C)

B.V.Sc.&A.H., M.V.Sc.

(Pathology)

Tel: +91 22 2755-2021

Tel: +91 22 2682-8194 (Airport)

Fax: +91 22 2755-2021

Mob: +7330 9103-91

Email: aqcs.mum-dadf@nic.in

AQCS, Bangalore (AIRPORT CODE:BLR)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Bangalore International Airport, Alpha 3 Building, Bangalore. 560 300.

Dr. Tapan Kumar Sahu

(Quarantine Officer)

B.V.Sc.&A.H., M.V.Sc.

(Bacteriology & Virology)

Tel: +91 80 2200-1351

Fax: +91 80 2200-1355

Mob: +9892 5261-50

Email: aqcsbng-ka@nic.in

Email: aqcsbng@yahoo.in

AQCS, Hyderabad (AIRPORT CODE: HYD)

Animal Quarantine and Certification Services, Block A, Cargo Satellite bldg., Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad-5010 218.

Dr. Sonia Sharma

(Quarantine Officer)

B.V.Sc.&A.H., M.V.Sc.

(Pathology)

Tel: +91 40 2400-8243

Fax: +91 40 2400-8243

Mob: +7330 9103-91

Email: aqcs_hyd@yahoo.in

Email: aqcs-hyd@nic.in

Current as of DEC 2025

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-12-17.

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