India requires a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Animal Quarantine and Certification Station (AQCS) before any pet can enter the country. All dogs and cats need a USDA-endorsed health certificate, current rabies vaccination, and ISO microchip. Pets undergo a mandatory 15-day quarantine unless documentation is fully compliant on arrival.
Companies Listed
15
Quarantine
Yes (15 days)
Common Pets
dogs, cats
Requirements
7 documented
Key Import Requirements
No Objection Certificate (NOC) from AQCS required before arrival
Apply to AQCS at least 3 weeks before travel with flight details
ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit microchip required
Current rabies vaccination required
USDA-endorsed health certificate required
15-day quarantine if documents and health check are satisfactory
NOC takes approximately 5 working days to obtain
Import requirements by pet type
Requirements for relocating a pet to India vary significantly by species. Below are the rules for birds, horses, and exotic pets — dogs and cats are covered in the key requirements above.
Birds
Generally not permitted
Pet birds cannot be brought into India as accompanied baggage. India's relaxed pet-baggage rule covers only dogs and cats (up to two), so birds are excluded. A bird could in theory enter only as cargo under a DGFT licence, which is impractical for private owners, making private pet-bird relocation effectively not possible.
The relaxed pet-under-baggage rule covers only dogs and cats (up to 2), not birds (per AQCS baggage rules)
Importing a bird would require a DGFT import licence / Sanitary Import Permit and entry as cargo, not accompanied baggage
India's avian-influenza measures ban captive/pet birds only from countries reporting notifiable Avian Influenza (an origin-based restriction), not an absolute all-country ban on captive birds
CITES-listed species (most parrots) face additional wildlife restrictions under the Wildlife (Protection) Act
Treated as not allowed for private owners because the pet-baggage rule is limited to dogs and cats, leaving only an impractical cargo/DGFT-licence route for birds. Note the correction: India's standing AI prohibition lists captive/pet birds only under the affected-country ban, not the all-country ban (the all-country ban covers domestic and wild birds 'excluding poultry and captive birds'). Confirm current status with AQCS/DAHD and DGFT before any planning.
Horses
Import permitted
Horses can be imported into India but are heavily regulated. Importers need a DGFT licence (live animals are restricted), recommended by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying after risk analysis, plus an AQCS No Objection Certificate. Horses require pre-export isolation abroad and, on arrival, a minimum 21-day government quarantine with extensive disease testing.
Obtain a DGFT import licence (horses are on the restricted list), recommended by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD) after risk analysis
Exporting country and horse must be certified free of African Horse Sickness for the preceding two years
At least 30 days pre-export isolation in an approved government quarantine station in the exporting country
Special veterinary health certificate (Form A) in English, signed by an accredited official veterinarian, plus passport/identification certificate
Submit test reports and health certificate to AQCS at least 7 days before embarkation to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC)
Minimum 21-day quarantine at a Government Quarantine Station on arrival
Testing for African Horse Sickness, EVA, Glanders, CEM, EIA, Dourine and West Nile Virus; positive or doubtful animals may be deported or destroyed at the importer's expense
Requirements reflect DAHD/AQCS equine import health standards (Form A certificate, AHS-free certification, 30-day pre-export isolation, 21-day on-arrival quarantine and the listed disease panel). Exact advance-notice windows, notified entry airports and fees can change; confirm the current import health standard with AQCS/DAHD before shipping.
Reptiles
Generally not permitted
Importing reptiles as pets into India is effectively impractical. Reptiles cannot enter as accompanied pet baggage (that rule is dogs and cats only); non-CITES reptiles may technically enter only as air cargo under a DGFT licence, and CITES-listed species (most tortoises and many reptiles) are restricted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act. For ordinary pet owners, private reptile relocation is not realistically achievable.
Reptiles cannot be imported as accompanied pet baggage; only dogs and cats qualify for the baggage rule
Non-CITES reptiles may only enter as air cargo with a DGFT import licence
CITES-listed species are restricted under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 (CITES species placed in Schedule IV after the 2022 amendment)
Exotic-species ownership is subject to registration rules under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Marked not effectively allowed: there is no pet-baggage route for reptiles, CITES species are restricted/prohibited, and even non-CITES species require a cargo DGFT licence that is impractical for individuals. This is a practicality assessment for private owners, not a blanket legal ban on all reptiles. Confirm species-specific status with DGFT and MoEFCC.
Pet-type requirements researched and last updated June 2026. Always confirm current rules with the destination’s government authority before booking — regulations change frequently.
How much does it cost to ship a pet to India?
A full-service move to India typically costs $2,220–$5,230 for a medium dog, covering the airline cargo fee, IATA crate, vet and USDA documents, import permit, customs clearance. Typical process time: 8–12 days.
