Your pet’s safe trip

🐾 Pet Import Requirements for Portugal

Portugal follows European Union pet import regulations, meaning U.S. pet owners must comply with EU-wide health and documentation standards.

✅ Microchip

Your pet must be microchipped with a 15-digit ISO-compliant microchip before receiving their rabies vaccine. The microchip will be scanned upon arrival in Portugal.

💉 Rabies Vaccination

• Must be given after microchip implantation

• Must be at least 21 days old at the time of entry

• Must be valid (not expired) upon travel

• Only inactivated rabies vaccines are accepted

• Pets must be at least 12 weeks old to receive their rabies shot and become eligible to travel after 21 days

📄 EU Health Certificate (Annex IV)

U.S. pets must travel with an EU health certificate, which must be:

• Issued by a USDA-accredited veterinarian

• Completed within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Portugal

• Endorsed by the USDA APHIS

• Accompanied by the original rabies certificate and microchip documentation

The certificate is valid for:

• Entry into the EU: 10 days from date of issue

• Travel within the EU: up to 4 months or until the rabies vaccine expires

📬 Entry Process in Portugal

Upon arrival, your pet will be inspected by Portuguese customs authorities. They will:

• Scan your pet’s microchip

• Review all health documentation

• Verify that your pet meets EU import requirements

Your pet must enter Portugal through an authorized Border Inspection Point (BIP), such as:

• Lisbon (LIS)

• Porto (OPO)

• Faro (FAO)

Portugal requires pet owners to sign a Statement of Responsibility if your dog is on the list below and you expect to be in the country longer than four months. If you are making a permanent move, these breeds and their mixed must be already neutered or will be neutered within 2 weeks of arrival to Portugal. The pet owner will need to sign a document saying that the pet is or will be neutered.

The following breeds and their crosses are considered potentially dangerous:

• Brazilian queued dog
• Argentine Great Dane
• Pit bull terrier
• Rottweiler
• American Staffordshire terrier
• Staffordshire bull terrier
• Tosa inu

Age Restrictions for Portugal

Portugal does not allow importation of kittens, puppies, or baby ferrets that are less than 15 weeks old and whose rabies immunization is less than 21 days old at the time of entry. 

Our Portugal pet shipping services include:

• Door-to-door transport
• Assistance with health certificates, import certificates, and other travel documents needed for animal transport to Portugal (outlined above)
• USDA endorsement and consular legalization (when needed) of all relevant documents where required
• Airline-approved flight kennels provided with personalized labels, identification and emergency notification instructions
• Customs clearance and delivery to your home
• Local pet taxi service to and from the airport, your home, veterinarian, kennel, or groomer – available in major Portugal cities as well as their surrounding areas
• Travel consultation and flight reservations

We will inform you of your pet's full itinerary before the trip and we will update you as your pet travels to Portugal.