Einreise mit Tier: Indien (2026)

Key points

• India does not let tourists bring a pet, and this is the single most important thing on this page. "Import Policy of Pet (dogs/cats) is "restricted" and is permitted for import, only with an authorisation from DGFT." and "Import of cat/dogs/rabbit for Short duration (as a tourist) is generally not permitted/ allowed." DGFT does examine short stays case by case, but permission is granted in rare cases and normally only where the animal is a therapy or emotional-support dog, with a medical certificate for the owner and an undertaking from a local host
• The one route with no DGFT authorisation is the Customs baggage rule, and it is a relocation route, not a travel route: "Import is allowed as passenger baggage, without DGFT authorisation, only to persons transferring their residence to India after two years of continuous stay abroad
• Only cats and dogs can be imported under baggage rules." More than two pets, or less than two years abroad, and you are back to needing the authorisation
• Start early — two months, not two weeks: "The Pet Owners travelling to India are advised to initiate the import authorisation application process at least 2 months in advance of the travel dates." The application goes to the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying for an NOC and then to an inter-ministerial Exim Facilitation Committee that meets once a month, which is what sets the timeline
• You do not need to be a business to apply: "You may use your own Importer Exporter Code (IEC), if you already have one
• Alternatively, you may use the permanent IEC No
• IIHIE0153E." There is a SECOND permit, and people miss it
• After the DGFT authorisation you still need an advance NOC from the quarantine officer at your arrival port: "This NOC needs to be obtained from the Regional Officer/ Quarantine Officer seven days before the date of travel (relaxable up to 3 days depending on the specific circumstances)." The airline will not load the pet without it
• Only six ports accept pets: "Import of pet animals is allowed only through airports and seaports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore and Kolkata." Rabies vaccination sits in a window, not a deadline: "The dog (three months of age and older) and Cat must be vaccinated against Rabies more than one month, but within 12 months prior to actual embarkation and all details shall be officially certified or mentioned in the official Health certificate." So a shot given last week is too recent, and one given fourteen months ago is too old
• Quarantine is a sanction here, not a routine step
• A sound, healthy pet is cleared at the port of entry itself
• Only if it fails the arrival examination does it go into quarantine: "it will be taken to the Quarantine Station and will remain under quarantine for 15 days." Testing during that period is charged to the owner
• Two paperwork traps
• The owner's name on the health certificate must match the ticket: "The name of owner in the official health certificate must match with the name as mentioned in the ticket of owner to establish ownership." And under the DGFT route, "New born puppies of less than 7 months are not to be allowed." Budget two government charges on top of your vet bills
• AQCS charges a flat processing fee for import clearance, and pets are named in it: "The processing charges for import clearance by AQCSs to be fixed at Rs.1,000/- per bill of entry or per application for import of livestock, livestock products, pets etc." (with effect from 01.05.2025)
• DGFT publishes no fee and no validity period for the import authorisation itself anywhere in its pet FAQ, so ask the Regional Authority when you file ANF-2M
• If your pet does end up in quarantine, you pay for it
• The same circular sets accommodation charges during quarantine at "4 | Dog/Cat/Small Carnivores | Single | 800.00" — 800 rupees per day for a dog or cat, so the 15-day stay that follows a failed arrival examination ("In case the dog(s) fails to clear physical examination or exhibits clinical signs of diseases mentioned in format at annexure 1.3, it will be taken to the Quarantine Station and will remain under quarantine for 15 days.") runs to about 12,000 rupees, plus the cost of the testing, which the SOP also puts on the owner