Is it more expensive to import a dog or a cat to Portugal?
By Georgiana Strait, Marketing Manager
Pet Travel to Portugal
SHORT ANSWER
No single EU rule makes importing a dog to Portugal more expensive than importing a cat, or vice versa. Dogs, cats, and ferrets all fall under the same EU pet travel regulation, use the same non-commercial health certificate, and go through the same USDA endorsement process for the same fee. Where the price actually diverges is in the practical logistics: crate size and weight (which drive airline cargo fees), and a Portugal-specific rule that adds paperwork, and sometimes insurance, for certain dog breeds classified as "potentially dangerous." Pound for pound, a large dog will usually cost more to relocate than a small cat. But a Chihuahua and a Maine Coon are often closer in price than people expect.
Video Walkthrough
Listen to a quick breakdown on pet travel costs to Portugal.
Requirements at a glance
Key Takeaways
- 1. The EU non-commercial health certificate, the microchip-before-vaccine requirement, and the USDA endorsement fee are identical for dogs and cats entering Portugal. There is no separate "dog price" or "cat price" written into EU or Portuguese regulation.
- 2. Because the United States is a rabies-free "listed" country under EU rules, neither dogs nor cats need a rabies titer test (RNATT) to enter Portugal. Both species just need a working microchip followed by a valid rabies vaccination.
- 3. Portugal classifies seven dog breeds as potentially dangerous, and pets in that category face additional Point of Entry paperwork that cats never encounter, since the rule applies to dogs only.
- 4. Airline and crate costs, not species, are the biggest swing factor. A 90-pound dog needs a much larger crate and a heavier cargo booking than an 8-pound cat, and that weight difference is what typically separates the two on a final invoice.
- 5. Starwood's published starting costs are based on the number of pets moving, not their species, which reflects how the real cost structure works: it scales with logistics and headcount, not whether the pet barks or meows.
What Actually Determines the Price Tag
When people ask whether dogs or cats cost more to move, they are usually really asking about one of three things: government paperwork, airline logistics, or breed-specific rules. It helps to separate those out, because only one of the three treats dogs and cats differently.
The Regulatory Paperwork Costs the Same for Both Species
Portugal follows the EU's pet travel framework (Regulation (EU) No 576/2013, with updated certificate formats arriving under EU 2026/131 and EU 2026/848). Under this framework, dogs, cats, and ferrets are grouped together and treated identically at every procedural step. According to the USDA APHIS pet travel page for Portugal, the requirements are the same regardless of species:
- A working, ISO-compliant microchip implanted before any rabies vaccination is given
- A rabies vaccination administered by an accredited veterinarian, with the microchip scanned first
- A non-commercial EU health certificate, issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and submitted through VEHCS for USDA endorsement
- Endorsement within 10 days of the pet's arrival in the EU, using the same certificate form for dogs and cats alike
Because none of these steps carries a species-specific fee, the base "government paperwork" cost of moving a dog and a cat through Portuguese customs is effectively the same. The APHIS endorsement fee is set per certificate, not per pound or per species, so a Chihuahua and a Great Dane cost exactly the same to endorse.
One notable point buyers often assume applies to Portugal but does not: the mandatory post-arrival tapeworm treatment for dogs only applies to Finland, Malta, Ireland, and Norway. It is not a requirement for dogs entering Portugal, so it does not factor into a Portugal-specific cost comparison.
Where Airline Logistics Create a Real Cost Gap
This is where the dog-versus-cat cost question usually gets answered in practice. Airline pet transport pricing is driven by the combined weight of the pet and its IATA-compliant crate, not by species classification. A large-breed dog like a Labrador or a German Shepherd typically travels in a crate that, fully loaded, can weigh 70 to 100+ pounds, while most cats travel in crates that weigh a fraction of that. Since cargo pricing scales with weight, larger dogs almost always land on the higher end of any airline invoice.
This means the real driver of cost is size, not species. A giant-breed dog and a medium dog can have very different price points from each other, just as a large Maine Coon cat and a small domestic shorthair can. The "dog vs. cat" framing is really a stand-in for "large pet vs. small pet."
The One Place Where Dogs Cost More: Breed-Specific Rules
Portugal maintains a national classification of dog breeds considered potentially dangerous, a category that does not exist for cats. Owners moving one of these breeds should expect extra paperwork requirements at the Point of Entry that a cat owner will never encounter, since the classification applies exclusively to dogs. This is not a ban, but it is an added administrative step, and depending on the breed and circumstances, it can mean additional documentation or insurance requirements once the dog is living in Portugal. Anyone moving one of the seven classified breeds should confirm current requirements directly with Portuguese authorities well before their scheduled travel date, since this is the one area where dog ownership introduces a cost and paperwork layer that cat owners simply do not face.
What This Means for Starwood's Published Pricing
Starwood's starting-cost table is structured by number of pets moving, not by species, because that mirrors how the underlying costs actually behave:
Pet Transport Cost Estimator
| Number of pets | Starting cost* |
|---|---|
| 1 | $3,895 |
| 2 | $4,895 |
| 3 | $6,195 |
| 4 | $7,295 |
| 5 | $8,495 |
| 6+ | Contact Us |
* Pricing excludes quarantine costs
*Starting costs reflect the baseline for a standard move and can vary based on pet size, crate requirements, and specific routing. A large dog moving alone may land closer to the higher end of a package than a small cat moving under the same tier, simply because of crate and cargo weight, not because of any dog-specific government fee.
As Adam Melton, VP of Strategic Initiatives at Starwood Pet Travel, explains: "People come to us assuming dogs are automatically the more expensive move, and that's only half true. The paperwork costs the same whether you're moving a ten-pound cat or a hundred-pound dog. What actually moves the needle is crate size, cargo weight, and whether a breed falls into Portugal's potentially dangerous category. Two small pets of any species usually land in a very similar price range."
What Pet Owners Are Saying
Cost comparisons between dogs and cats come up often in expat and relocation communities, and the consensus tends to match what the regulations show. In discussions about moving to Portugal, pet owners frequently note that their vet bills and paperwork fees looked nearly identical regardless of species, while their airline or pet shipper cost varied mainly with crate size. This lines up with the regulatory reality: the government side of the process does not discriminate by species, but the logistics side responds directly to size and weight.
Plan Your Move With Local Expertise
Because so much of the true cost comes down to crate size, routing, and breed classification rather than species alone, it helps to work with a team that handles Portugal moves regularly. You can see how Starwood supports pet relocations to Portugal specifically on our Portugal relocation page, or request a personalized quote to get an exact cost estimate for your pet's size, breed, and travel timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to move a cat than a dog to Portugal?
+
Not automatically. The government paperwork and health certificate costs are identical for both species. Cats tend to come in cheaper in practice mainly because they are usually smaller, which means a smaller crate and a lighter cargo booking.
Do cats need a rabies titer test to enter Portugal?
+
No. Since the United States is a "listed" country under EU rules, neither cats nor dogs need a rabies titer test (RNATT) to enter Portugal. Both just need a microchip followed by a valid rabies vaccination.
Are there extra fees for certain dog breeds entering Portugal?
+
Dogs from Portugal's list of seven breeds classified as potentially dangerous face additional Point of Entry paperwork that cats do not. This is a documentation requirement, not an entry ban, but it can add time and cost to the process.
Does a large cat cost the same as a large dog to relocate?
+
Cost tracks weight and crate size more than species. A large cat breed and a medium-sized dog with similar combined pet-and-crate weight will often see comparable airline pricing.
Why does Starwood's pricing table list pets by number, not species?
+
Because the biggest cost variables (paperwork, endorsement fees, and baseline handling) do not change by species. Number of pets, size, and routing are what actually shift the final price.
Will the new EU health certificate rules in October 2026 change the cost to move a dog or cat?
+
The certificate format is changing under EU 2026/131 and EU 2026/848, but this affects paperwork requirements for both species equally. It is not expected to create a cost difference between dogs and cats specifically.
About the Author
Georgiana Strait, Marketing Manager
Georgiana Strait is a marketing manager at Starwood Pet Travel, where she leads content strategy, SEO, paid media, and marketing automation across the company's international pet relocation services. A performance-driven digital marketing strategist with a background in customer acquisition and data analytics, Georgiana brings a sharp, iterative approach to building out Starwood's marketing infrastructure, from AI search visibility to lifecycle campaigns. She's also a U.S. Army veteran. Outside of work, Georgie is an avid traveler who has hiked to Everest Base Camp. She lives with her cat, Lavender.
Talk to our experts
Need help or have questions? Our team is ready to help!
Get a quote →
Subscribe for Monthly Updates
Subscribe for expert pet travel tips, updates, and relocation guides—delivered to your inbox.
