Have you just found out that you are moving to India, and you are wondering how to bring your pet? Rest assured, we understand that he is part of the family and we hope reading this article will give you some clarification.

Currently, only cats and dogs which are considered as pets by the Indian authorities are responsible for the import and export of live animals. Therefore, the procedure to be followed differs depending on the animal.

Rules for importing cats and dogs

Rules for importing cats and dogs may vary depending on the status of the owner (Indian or foreigner, reason and duration of travel, type of visa, country of residence, etc.), and it is important to note that certain breeds may be prohibited from importing, just like kittens or puppies. puppies deemed too young.

Broadly speaking, you should therefore be able to justify the following points in order to be entitled to import your cat or dog into India:

• Have lived abroad for more than 2 years, and have not spent more than 180 days in India in those two years.
• Prove that you will establish your residence in India, for example by submitting a copy of your work visa and work promise or employment contract.
• Be the owner of the animal to be imported, and the owner’s name is the same on all documents (vaccination records and animal passports, airline tickets, documents that must be completed). It should be noted that it is usually not possible to import more than two cats or dogs.

Electronic chip and mandatory vaccination record

The animal must have an electronic chip to be able to formally identify it, and must be vaccinated against rabies, the last dose must be more than one month and less than one year.

The animal’s passport containing the list of its vaccinations must be presented at the time of inspection. In addition to rabies, certain vaccines are mandatory for cats, and others for dogs.

Traveling with your pet on the same flight or not

It is possible to travel with your cat or dog on the same flight, the animal is then considered as additional baggage. Some airlines allow owners to bring their pets into the cabin (depending on the pet’s weight and size), and others require pets to travel in the hold. If the animal is not traveling on the same flight as the owner, the animal must arrive within 30 days, according to the date of the first customs stamp.

Good health certificate

After all this information is verified, it is necessary to obtain a certificate of good health from a veterinarian (“animal health certificate”, whose format must be carefully respected) which must be signed by a government official authorized for the import and export of animals in the country of origin. This document must be obtained within 10 days prior to the animal’s departure.

This certificate of good health will eventually make it possible to apply for a certificate of no objection from the Indian government’s AQCS service within 7 days prior to the animal’s departure.

It is recommended that you make copies of all documents and travel with copies and originals. Except in special cases, animals are returned directly to their owners after landing and must undergo a quarantine period at the residential address stated in the document filled out before departure.

A few days after his arrival in India, he must bring the animal along with all original documents for a final control visit to the reference quarantine office. For example, if you land in Mumbai, you have to go to the AQCS office which is located at Navi Mumbai. After this visit, all import formalities will be completed and your pet will be able to spend happy days in his new home.

Rules for importing other animals

Other animals can only be imported by air freight. An import license must be obtained upstream from DGFT, the Indian government entity responsible for foreign trade. For some protected or endangered species (CITES), additional permits may be required, and quarantine arrangements may differ.

In some cases, imports may even be completely banned.

To summarize…

Whether your little friend is a cat, dog, goldfish or turtle, we recommend that you contact a specialized agency (“pet relocation” in English) to check the eligibility requirements for importing your pet into India before you begin. You may decide to be accompanied by an agent during the procedure to facilitate the process and avoid unforeseen events. It is important to note that the rules are likely to evolve regularly according to the decisions taken by the Indian government.

Depending on the mode of transportation chosen, don’t forget to get a transport cage with specifications and dimensions that are adapted to the mode of transportation as well as the weight and size of your animal. You should also learn about good practices regarding water and food distribution, as well as the layout of the transport cage so that your animals travel in the best possible conditions.

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Goodbye to you and your little friend!