Coming into India is a different legal route from leaving it, and the first question isn't about the dog at all. It's about you: are you moving back after at least two years abroad, and how many pets are coming?
Step one: the legal route
- The baggage rule covers up to two pets, dogs or cats, for an owner transferring residence to India after at least two years of continuous stay abroad.
- Anyone else, a shorter stay abroad or more than two pets, needs a DGFT import licence first. DGFT says start about two months ahead, because its committee meets once a month.
- Dogs for breeding or any commercial use can't be imported, and neither can dogs as gifts.
Step two: the Advance NOC on ATITHI 2.0
Since the AQCS SOP of 10 August 2026, the Advance NOC for a pet under the baggage rules is applied for on CBIC's ATITHI 2.0 portal. Apply at least seven days before he boards. AQCS issues it within one working day, and airlines must not lift a dog or cat without a valid one.
Step three: the vet papers
- A rabies vaccine given more than one month and within 12 months before embarkation, for dogs three months and older, and for cats.
- An official health certificate from the origin country's vet authority, with your name exactly as it is on your ticket, and your addresses in both countries.
- No rabies titre test. India doesn't ask for one.
On arrival
Pets are cleared at six AQCS stations: New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad. A pet travelling as cargo must arrive within one month of the owner; earlier, or more than a month later, needs advance customs permission. A pet that fails the arrival check goes into 15 days of quarantine, with testing at the owner's cost.
At customs you'll need these originals:
- The applicable DGFT authorisation, customs permission or baggage-rule evidence
- The original official health certificate from the country of origin
- The original vaccination booklet or pet passport
After you land
Pet registration after arrival is municipal, and each city sets its own rule. We check the current requirement for the city where the animal will live and handle it where the local authority asks for registration.
Read on the AQCS and DGFT sites on 22 September 2026 (RESEARCH.md, section 4). Rules change, so we check the live position for your move.