Destination guide
Bringing a dog or cat into India
The entry requirements for a family pet travelling with its owner, quoted from the official government pages, and what changes depending on where your pet is coming from.
Make my dated planLimited official guidance. Animal Quarantine and Certification Services publishes little for this route. Everything it does say is here, with its wording. AQCS's pages describe the Advance NOC timing in more than one way and don't mention a rabies blood test. Confirm the current rules and the Advance NOC deadline with your AQCS station before you apply.
The short version
- Import permit needed
- Quarantine
- Designated entry point
- Some origins not allowed
How early to start
The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.
| From | Microchipped and vaccinated | Nothing done yet |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| United Kingdom | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Canada | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Australia | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Germany | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| France | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| United Arab Emirates | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Singapore | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
Every requirement
For every pet
Paperwork
Qualify under the baggage rule
Show proof of at least two years' stay abroad and of transferring your residence to India (for example a visa copy), plus the owner's ticket. Sign a declaration that the pet is a bona fide pet with no commercial, gift or breeding purpose. If your pet comes as unaccompanied baggage, send a copy of your passport with the immigration stamp within one month of your arrival.
Details and the official words
“Proof of two years of stay abroad.”
“Proof of transferring residence to India”
“The declaration from the owner that the dog/cat is bonafide pet with no commercial interest, gift and breeding purpose.”
Paperwork
Official health certificate from the country of origin
An official health certificate from the country of origin certifying that your pet shows no clinical signs of infectious and contagious diseases, including rabies, distemper, parvovirus and leptospirosis for a dog (distemper, feline enteritis, panleukopenia and leptospirosis for a cat). The owner's name on it must match the owner's ticket, and it must give the owner's name and address in the country of origin and in India.
Details and the official words
The page gives no deadline for how recent the certificate must be.
“The official health certificate from the country of origin certifying that the dog is free from clinical sign and symptoms of all infectious and contagious diseases including Rabies, Canine Distemper, Parvo virus infection, Leptospirosis etc.”
“The name of owner in the official health certificate must match with the name as mentioned in the ticket of owner to establish ownership.”
Permit
Advance NOC from AQCS
Send AQCS the advance copies of your pet's health documents. AQCS issues an Advance NOC, which the airline needs before it lifts your pet: without it the pet is not allowed to board. The processing charge is INR 1,000 per application. AQCS's page says the Advance NOC can be issued within 7 days before arrival.
The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.
Details and the official words
AQCS publishes more than one description of the Advance NOC timing (a '7 days before arrival' wording here, other guidance elsewhere). Confirm the current deadline with your AQCS station.
If this is missed: Without the Advance NOC the pet will not be allowed to board the flight.
“Advance NOC can be issued within 7 days before arrival based on the self certified advance copies of all above documents.”
“Advance NOC if not presented to the airlines, the pet will not be allowed to board the flight.”
“The processing charges for an Advance NOC application for import of pets is Rs.1000 per application”
Route
Enter through one of six ports
Pets can enter India through Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore or Hyderabad. After arrival you bring your pet and the original health documents to the quarantine station.
Details and the official words
“Pet animals can enter India through the ports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore and Hyderabad.”
On arrival
Examination at the quarantine station
AQCS examines your pet and the original health certificate and issues a Provisional Quarantine Clearance Certificate. The original health certificate is kept by AQCS.
Details and the official words
“The animal(s) will be examined at the Quarantine Station for issuing a Provisional Quarantine Clearance Certificate.”
Quarantine
Quarantine observation if there is doubt
Pets under the baggage rule are not routinely quarantined, but AQCS can keep a pet under quarantine observation if in doubt. AQCS's page says final clearance will be issued after 30 days.
The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.
Details and the official words
The page does not say whether the 30 days apply to every pet or only to those kept under observation.
“Pets under baggage can also be quarantined in case of doubt.”
“In case of doubt animal may be kept under Quarantine Observation. Final clearance will be issued after 30 days.”
Depends on your pet or your route
Vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Applies when: your pet is a cat, or your pet is 3 months old or older on arrival, or you don’t know your pet’s birth date
Cats, and dogs three months old or older, must be vaccinated against rabies more than one month, but within 12 months, before embarkation. The details must be officially certified or written in the official health certificate, together with the other vaccinations.
Details and the official words
“must be vaccinated against Rabies more than one month, but within 12 months prior to actual embarkation”
When this route doesn’t work
Not allowed · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed and your pet is a dog
India does not allow dogs to be imported for breeding or any other commercial activity.
Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed and your pet is a cat
AQCS's baggage-rule page asks the owner to declare the pet has no commercial, gift or breeding purpose. Cats imported for sale or rehoming need a DGFT licence, which we don't cover.
Good to know
- These steps are for owners who move their residence to India with their pet under the baggage rule. A short visit, research, defence or police use, and anything else outside the baggage rule need a licence from DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade), which we don't cover. A pet that has left India before is treated as a re-import.
- The baggage rule covers up to two dogs or cats per owner.When: You bring 3 or more pets
- No additional feed or bedding is allowed during the journey.
- AQCS says all notifications, rules, orders and procedures can change at any time and decisions follow the rules in force on the day you apply. Its pages also describe the Advance NOC process differently in places: check the current AQCS notice before you apply.
- AQCS's entry pages don't list a microchip requirement. It does advise microchipping for identification when pets leave India.
Government fees we know of
- AQCS Advance NOC processing charge (per application)1000 INR