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

Health Certificate

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)

Do Layovers Speed Up Pet Customs in Portugal?
Overview of pet customs and check-in process 

Breed Restrictions

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

Pet 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.

Travel Requirements

Pets must enter Japan through a designated Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) port. These include:

• Narita (NRT)
• Haneda (HND)
• Kansai (KIX)
• Chubu (NGO)
• Fukuoka (FUK) (limited)
• New Chitose (CTS)

Pets typically travel as manifest cargo and must be transported in an IATA-compliant travel crate. Starwood can coordinate routing and ensure the crate meets all international standards.

Pet Travel vs. Human Travel to Portugal
Key differences and important details for smooth travel for you and your pet 

How Starwood Can Help

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.

What’s the Process for Moving a Pet from Portugal?

Once you submit your quote request and confirm your booking, a dedicated pet travel specialist will guide you through the process of importing your pet from Portugal to the United States. We assist with coordinating required veterinary documentation, preparing airline travel kennels, and arranging arrival logistics so your pet’s journey is safe and well organized. On the day of travel, we monitor your pet’s arrival and keep you informed throughout the customs clearance process to ensure everything goes as smoothly as possible.

It’s important to note that our import services cover arrival arrangements and customs clearance within the United States. Export requirements from Portugal—including veterinary certificates and any local compliance steps—must be completed prior to travel. Additionally, depending on your pet’s travel history and vaccination status, certain pets entering the United States may require additional CDC documentation.