Bringing your pets to Portugal
Portugal is a very pet-friendly country as most people, both young and old, have pets, especially dogs and cats. There are also lots of parks you can take your pets for walks and exercises.
There are some important rules to note about the pets you wish to bring to Portugal:
You cannot enter Portugal with more than five animals in total (some airlines only allow two pets to travel with one passenger at the same time, so please check when you buy your tickets);
Your pets must be at least 12 weeks old;
The animal must not be pregnant; and
Owners must arrive within five days of arrival of their pets, or else it is considered a commercial move and you will incur more charges.
There are additionally some differences depending on whether you are bringing your pets from inside the EU or outside the EU to Portugal.
Brining your pets to Portugal from other EU Countries
The rules for bringing pets into Portugal from countries within the EU is straightforward. For travellers who are from the EU member states, the pet must have a microchip used for identification linked to the pet’s passport. You will also need to have a valid rabies vaccination document showing your pet has been vaccinated. If your pet has had a rabies booster shot, you need to wait 21 days before travelling.
Brining your pets to Portugal from Non-EU countries
There are three things you will need in order to bring your pet to Portugal from a non-EU country:
Microchip: Your pet must have an ISO compliant chip. Vets in your home country can implant this into your pet. The microchip must be implanted before the administration of the rabies vaccine.
Vaccination and blood tests: You will need to show proof of a rabies vaccination of your pet. If it is the first rabies vaccination of your pet, then you will have to wait 21 days after the vaccination before travelling. You can also travel to Portugal with your pet if your pet has a current one-year vaccination (booster). You may also need to do a blood test for your pet if you are bringing a pet to Portugal from an ‘unlisted country’.
Health Certificate: A health certificate must be issued by an accredited vet. It shows your pet has had the latest vaccinations and is fit for travel. The health certificate is usually valid for 10 days from the date of issue until the point of entry into Portugal.