Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Portugal is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:

• You can bring your own microchip scanner.
• You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
• If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Portugal.

The first rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted is called the primary vaccination and it should be a one year vaccine unless manufacturer specifications permit its use as a primary vaccination. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination had expired before being revaccinated, the next vaccination becomes the primary vaccination.

All vaccinations that are administered after the primary vaccination are called booster vaccinations.

If your pet is entering Portugal from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Portugal.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.

Portugal does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Once your pet has entered Portugal, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.

If your pet is entering Portugal from a high-rabies country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Portugal from a high-rabies country (click here), your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Portugal no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Portugal from a high-rabies country.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Portugal from any country.

Health Certificate

The type of health certificate required for your pet depends on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.

Non-Commercial Transport to Portugal from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering Portugal from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for Portugal. Endorsement by a government veterinarian must occur within 10 days of arrival.

If your pet is traveling from the United States, the veterinarian must be accredited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the health certificate must be endorsed by a State USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.

If your pet is traveling from Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must endorse forms issued by Canadian veterinarians.

If your pet is traveling to Portugal from another country, then the forms must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Non-Commercial Transport to Portugal from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Portugal from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.

No matter what country you are entering Portugal from, you or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets are traveling with or without their owner.

Commercial Transport to Portugal from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:

All dogs, cats and ferrets may enter Portugal commercially from EU countries, rabies-free or rabies-controlled countries. Dogs, cats and ferrets from other countries may only enter Portugal with or within 5 days of their owners or their owner's representative. In this case, non-commercial regulations will apply.

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel.

If your pet is traveling from the United States, the certificate must be endorsed by the local USDA office unless the certificate is completed by a military Veterinary Corps Officer or GS-0701 series civilian government veterinarian employed by the military.

If your pet is traveling from Canada, the form must be endorsed by the local CFIA office.

If your pet is traveling to Portugal from another country, then the forms must be endorsed by the government agency responsible for the import and export of animals.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Your pet must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in Lisbon or Faro. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival. 

Commercial Transport to Portugal from another EU Member State (including Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican):

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

If your pet is traveling to Portugal alone from another EU country, it must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country responsible for the import and export of pets. Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet's transport must be accompanied by an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry. The transport must be registered in the TRACES system.

Entering Portugal from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Portugal from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Portugal from Australia under the conditi on that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #5)

Entering Portugal by Air

All pets entering Portugal by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at international airports in Lisbon, Oporto, Faro, Funchal, Ponta Delgada, Terceira Island and Beja. Notice must be provided to notify border inspectors a minimum of 48 hours prior to arrival.

Pets should enter Portugal directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Portugal. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Pets can enter Portugal in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo. There will be an inspection fee upon arrival.

Puppies and Kittens

Non-vaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets are not permitted to enter Portugal from any country or EU Member State. Rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age and there is a 21 day wait for puppies and kittens arriving from EU Member States rabies-free countries or rabies-controlled countries. The minimum age for entering Portugal from high-rabies countries is 7 months of age. 

Banned Breeds

Pet owners must sign a Statement of Responsibility for dogs staying in Portugal for less than 4 months and a Notification document for dogs intending to reside in Portugal: Brazilian Fila, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Inu and Pit Bull Terrier. Exceptions will be granted for those with pedigree documentation. Owners must enter Portugal with their dogs.

These breeds must be neutered or spayed if staying in Portugal for longer than 4 months.

Exporting Pets Living in Portugal

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Portugal must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving the country. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a high-rabies country, your veterinarian should do a rabies titer test at least 3 months before you leave Portugal as you will need it to return.

Other Animals

Pet birds can enter Portugal from other World Organization of Animal Health (WOAH) member countries as long as their owners accompany them, (or travel within 5 days of their bird), they are identified (i.e. leg band or microchip), their number is no more than 5 personal pets not intended for resale or other commercial purposes. The following regulations will apply:

Your bird must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a licensed vet in the WOAH member country.

Your bird must be in isolation in the original country for 30 days before import and not exposed to any other birds.

OR

Your bird must be quarantined in Portugal for 30 days after entering the country.

OR

Within the last 6 months and not before 60 days before the trip, your bird was vaccinated, and at least on one occasion revaccinated, against avian influenza using a H5 vaccine approved for your bird's species and according to the manufacturer's instructions.

OR

Your bird must undergo isolation for at least 10 days before the trip and undergo a test to detect the Avian Influenza H5N1 antigen or genome carried out on a sample taken after the third day of isolation.

All birds, like dogs and cats, must enter Portugal at an approved Border Inspection Post. (see step #8)

Invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate and import permit to enter Portugal. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

 

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