Bringing Your Pet to Lisbon, Step by Step
Relocating a pet to Lisbon involves navigating the EU’s pet travel requirements, from microchipping and rabies vaccination to the right health certificate and Portugal’s advance arrival notice. Starwood Pet Travel handles every step of this process for you. We coordinate with airlines, ground handlers, and Portuguese veterinary border officials to make sure your dog or cat arrives safely and on schedule.
Whether you’re moving to Lisbon for work, retiring to Portugal, or planning an extended stay on the Iberian coast, our team manages the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Airports Serving Lisbon
Recommended
LIS
Portugal’s main international gateway
- Distance from city center4 miles (7 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes
- Direct flights from US hubsYes, from select major hubs
- Best forNearly every pet relocation to Lisbon
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Why airport choice matters
Humberto Delgado Airport sits inside the city, which keeps the final drive short after a long flight. It also has a veterinary Travellers’ Point of Entry, the office that checks pets arriving from outside the EU. That office is closed from midnight to 6:00 a.m., so a pet landing overnight waits for its check. If your pet connects through another EU hub first, EU entry checks happen there instead. Starwood times the routing so your pet clears entry during open hours and reaches you without extra waiting.
Traveling to Lisbon with Pets
What Are the Requirements to Bring My Pet to Lisbon?
Portugal follows the European Union’s pet travel rules. Getting the steps in the right order is what lets pets enter without quarantine.
It starts with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785 standards. The chip must be implanted and scanned before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine won’t count for EU travel. Your pet then needs a rabies vaccination, followed by a wait of at least 21 days. Some vaccine manufacturers require 30 days. For pets vaccinated in the US, the EU treats a first rabies shot as valid for only one year, even if it’s a three-year vaccine. Pets traveling from the United States don’t need a rabies antibody blood test, and Portugal doesn’t require tapeworm treatment for dogs.
The next piece is the EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues it, and the USDA endorses it. For Portugal, the USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate, so the original paper document has to travel with your pet. New EU non-commercial certificates took effect October 1, 2026, and new commercial certificates took effect October 17, 2026. Under the new non-commercial certificate:
- The document is valid for 30 days after your vet issues it.
- USDA endorsement must happen within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU.
- Once in the EU, the certificate can be used for travel within the EU for up to six months, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.
Portugal adds one step most EU countries don’t: an advance arrival notice. The owner or authorized person, not the airline, must send Portugal’s arrival form to the veterinary Travellers’ Point of Entry as early as possible and at least 48 hours before landing. Pets that arrive without it risk being refused entry.
Once you’ve settled in Lisbon, plan for Portugal’s pet registry. Dogs, cats, and ferrets that stay in Portugal for 120 days or more must be registered in SIAC, the national companion animal database, by a SIAC-accredited veterinarian. Dogs classed as potentially dangerous must be registered by the municipal veterinarian instead.
Commercial vs. non-commercial pet travel to Lisbon
Your pet can travel under a non-commercial certificate if both of these apply:
- You’re on the same flight, or someone you authorize travels with your pet within five days of your own trip.
- You’re moving five or fewer pets.
A commercial certificate is required if no owner or authorized person can travel with the pet, if you’re moving six or more pets, or if the pet is changing owners. Commercial certificates require a veterinary exam within 48 hours of departure.
Here’s the reassuring part: when these steps are completed correctly and in sequence, quarantine is not required. Pets that arrive with missing or incorrect paperwork can be quarantined or refused entry at the owner’s expense. This is exactly why timing and sequencing matter, and it’s where working with a pet relocation specialist makes the most difference.
Which Airport Should I Fly My Pet Into, and What Happens on Arrival?
Humberto Delgado Airport Lisbon (LIS) is the airport for any Lisbon relocation, about 4 miles north of the city center. It has direct service from select US hubs, so many pets can fly in without a European connection.
On arrival, your pet’s microchip and health certificate are checked at its first EU airport. At Lisbon, that check happens at the veterinary Travellers’ Point of Entry, which is closed between midnight and 6:00 a.m. Pets flying as cargo must also clear customs before they can be collected. Starwood files Portugal’s arrival notice and coordinates clearance through our handling partners, so your pet moves from the aircraft to your new home as quickly as possible.
What Airlines Fly Pets to Lisbon, and How Should I Choose a Route?
Pets reach Lisbon on nonstop flights from select US hubs or through European connections. Not every airline accepts pets as cargo, and pet policies vary by route, so Starwood confirms each carrier’s current rules before booking.
The right route depends on your departure city, travel dates, your pet’s breed and size, and seasonal temperature restrictions. Snub-nosed breeds face extra airline limits. Arrival time matters too, since an overnight landing can mean a wait for the entry check. Starwood compares the options and books the safest, most direct routing available for your pet.
How Long Does the Process Take, and What Does It Cost?
For pets coming from the US, the minimum timeline is about 21 to 30 days after the rabies vaccination, depending on the vaccine. We recommend starting two to three months before your move. That leaves time for vet appointments, USDA endorsement, mailing the original ink-endorsed certificate, the 48-hour arrival notice, airline bookings, and seasonal restrictions.
Pets coming from countries the EU doesn’t list as low-risk need a rabies blood test and a three-month wait, so plan for at least four months.
Cost depends on your pet’s size, departure city, and routing. Use our cost calculator to get an estimate.
Why Choose Starwood for Pet Travel to Lisbon?
Starwood Pet Travel is an IATA-certified international pet relocation company and part of IVC Evidensia. Moving a pet to Portugal comes with specific challenges:
- New EU health certificates
- Original ink USDA endorsement
- Portugal’s 48-hour advance arrival notice
- SIAC registration after you settle
Our team handles all of it, from vet coordination and USDA paperwork to airline booking, customs clearance, and delivery to your door. Whether you’re moving to Lisbon for work, retiring to Portugal, or planning an extended stay, we manage the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Ready to start your pet’s journey to Lisbon? Request a free quote.
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