Portugal pet relocation
Portugal Country Guide
Everything you need to know about moving to Portugal
How to Safely Relocate Your Pet to Portugal
Your pet is a member of the family. Here’s how to get them to Portugal when you make the big move.
Moving to Portugal with a pet requires careful advance planning and attention to the details. Use our comprehensive guide below to safely relocate your pet from the U.S. or Canada to Portugal.
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Overview of Pet Relocation to Portugal
Pets can be brought to Portugal from other countries. They must have an EU Health Certificate completed by veterinarian that is licensed by the appropriate national health office (the USDA in the United States, the CFIA in Canada), and endorsed by your local USDA or CFIA office.
All cats and dogs entering the country are required to be microchipped with EU-recognized chips and have current rabies vaccinations. There is no quarantine requirement.
There are several options for bringing your pet to Portugal:
- In-cabin
- As baggage
- As cargo
- Via private jet
In this guide we will review all of the options, including some tips on how to make the trip as smooth and safe as possible for your furry best friend.
General Preparation and Considerations When Relocating Your Pet to Portugal
Before diving into specific requirements, consider these general tips:
Consult Your Vet: Start by consulting your veterinarian to discuss your pet’s overall health and suitability for the move. Your vet can advise on vaccinations, microchipping, and other crucial aspects.
Pet’s Age and Health: The age and health of your pet will play a significant role in determining their readiness for the journey. Puppies and senior pets might have different requirements.
Breed Restrictions: Some breeds are restricted by Portugal, or there may be breed restrictions imposed by your airline.
Plan Your Timeline Carefully: You will need to carefully schedule your pre-travel vet appointment and health certificate endorsement to fall within 10 days of your pet’s departure, while allowing enough time to get your health certificate back before departure.
Requirements for Relocating Your Pet to Portugal
Before diving into specific requirements, consider these general tips:
- Health certificate: Schedule a visit to your veterinarian shortly before your departure. They will issue an EU health certificate, including details of vaccinations and a general health assessment.
- Microchipping: Ensure your pet is microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit pet microchip. Make sure the microchip’s registration information matches your contact details.
- Rabies certificate: Ensure your pet is up to date on their rabies vaccination and that you have a certificate for their recent rabies vaccine that includes their microchip number.
- Parasite control: Make sure your pet is free from internal and external parasites, including ticks, fleas, and tapeworms.
- Airline and travel crates: Choose a pet-friendly airline with an accommodating pet policy. Ensure the airline-approved travel crate is well-ventilated, spacious, and comfortable for your pet. It should meet International Air Transport Association (IATA) standards.
- Arrival and customs: Notify Portugal’s airport veterinarian at the relevant airport of your pet’s arrival and present all the required documents at the port of entry.
Options for Relocating Your Pet to Portugal
There are several main options for bringing your pet to Portugal:
- In-cabin: Most airlines allow cats and dogs under 20 lbs to ride in-cabin. If you have a service dog they may also be able to ride in-cabin.
- As baggage: Some airlines (most European carriers) allow passengers to check pets as extra baggage
- As cargo: Work with a cargo freight forwarding company to ship a pet to Portugal. This is especially convenient if your pet needs to travel after you leave for Portugal.
- In a private jet: By far the most expensive, but most convenient option.
Not sure where to start?
Speak with an international relocation specialist for free
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Portugal client reviews
StartAbroad made the process easy and manageable. Anna is the BEST, she informed me of the necessary steps to get me to Portugal. StartAbroad helped with housing, needed documents, and the million questions I had. I highly recommend their services if you want an easy and very manageable process to travel and live overseas.
Joyce L.
Portugal Concierge Client
5/5
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Digital Nomad Visa Client
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Client reviews
“These guys saved our family so much time – it’s quite difficult to quantify the value of their service…clearly they care very much about what they are doing and their work reflects this. Thanks again guys!
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Digital Nomad Client
5/5
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