Taking Your Pet to Portugal

Step 1: Make sure your pet is microchipped.

It’s common these days for dogs and cats to have microchips inserted upon adoption or at their first vet visit; it serves as a permanent means of identification for your fur baby, should they ever get lost or need medical care. If you adopted your pet later in life and aren’t sure whether they have a microchip, your veterinarian will be able to scan for one.

Portugal requires that all incoming pets be microchipped. One exception would be if you have a senior dog or cat who was tattooed with an identification number prior to July 2011. In that case, your vet simply needs to supply the tattoo number and date completed on your animal’s health certificate.

Step 2: Prepare your pet’s vaccination record.

We’re getting used to the “new normal” of needing to show proof of vaccination in order to travel, but it’s always been this way for our pets! Dogs and cats moving to Portugal need to have a valid rabies vaccination. 
 

Your pet’s vaccine record should include:

• their date of birth
• microchip information
• vaccination date
• Manufacturer
• product name
• batch number
• the date until which their vaccine is valid
• your veterinarian’s signature and contact information

Your pet needs to be at least 12 weeks old before they can get vaccinated against rabies, and the shot needs to happen at least 21 days before you intend to travel. If they haven't yet been microchipped, be sure to get that done before (or at the same time as) their vaccination appointment.

Step 3: Have your veterinarian issue an animal health certificate or pet passport.

If you’re moving to Portugal with your pet from within the EU, then a pet passport is all you need! If you’re coming from outside of the EU, however – including from the UK – then your pet passport is not valid. You will need an animal health certificate from your vet.

Don’t worry – it’s very simple! All an animal health certificate is is a confirmation that your animal is, well, healthy! It will include their microchipping and vaccination history (see above for how that’s required), and state that they are fit to travel. It needs to be issued by an “official veterinarian” (call up yours in advance to make sure they qualify) within 10 days of your journey abroad. It will then be valid for another four months, should you want to travel elsewhere in the EU or head back to Britain with your kitty or pup.

Step 4: Get your pet ready for their journey ahead.

If your dog or cat has never travelled before, then the trip to Portugal – be it by plane, car, or otherwise – might be a little frightening for them. Get them a carrier that is compliant with their mode of transportation (each airline has different specifications, which also vary depending on if the animal will ride with you in cabin or below in cargo, so be sure to double check) and allow them to get used to it in advance, so they feel more comfortable. One tip is to place “scent soakers” – items that smell like them, such as a favourite blanket or toy – inside of the carrier. This will help them view the carrier as a safe space.

Step 5: Notify your point of entry of your pet’s arrival 48 hours in advance.

If you are flying into Portugal with your pet, you must arrive at an airport equipped with a border inspection post (if you have to go through customs, it only makes sense that Fluffy does, too!) and give them at least 48 hours’ notice of your arrival. Information about and copies of the forms you need to submit can be found here. 

Also keep in mind the border inspection post’s hours before booking your flight. You don’t want to get trapped at the airport with your animal! Lisbon’s, for example, is closed from midnight to 6am, and Porto’s from 11pm to 7am. In this case, red eye flights are not a good idea. 

If you have a dog that is considered a “dangerous breed” (a pitbull or a rottweiler, for example), you may have to fill out an additional form. After that, your four-legged friend will be happily welcomed into Portugal!

Step 6: Enjoy your new life in Portugal with your pet!

Portugal does not require that its newest furry residents undergo a quarantine period, so you can start your new lives together right away. While gathering all of the necessary paperwork in advance of your move might be a bit of a hassle, it’s a small price to pay for the ability to take your pet to Portugal! We guarantee that they are going to enjoy finding their sunshine just as much as you.