moving two cats with me to India. import requirements?

Question

I'm considering a possbily long term move to India from the US and would like to bring my 2 cats with me. Does anyone have information on India's pet import requirements, specifically quarantine period?

Answer 1

Hi Sonia...here's a website that lists all the information you will be required to follow in order to import domestic pets into India: http://www.cbec.gov.in/cae/trvlers-info.htm

Be sure to also check with the airline in advance as each carrier has their own set of restrictions to allow pet transport as well.

IX. Can Pet Animals and Plants be brought as a part of baggage?

Plants and domestic pets like dogs, cats, birds etc. may be imported. Import of plants, animals and birds is governed by strict health certificate regulations and quarantine and necessary licences. Please inquire with your airline or travel agent or Embassy for details on this matter.

In general pet animals brought by passengers may be allowed to be brought into the country only against an import sanitary permit issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying or against an import licence to be issued by the DGFT as is done in the case of other live animals in terms of Circular number 9/2002-Cus dt.30.1.2002 as mentioned below. However, following representations from passengers as well as from the field formations, it has now been decided (ref. Circular Number 94/2002-Cus dt.23.12.2002) that import of TWO pets per passenger (only dogs and cats) may be allowed at one time subject to the production of the required health certificate from the country of origin and examination of the said pets by the concerned Quarantine Officer. In such cases, the passengers may not be asked to produce the import licences or import sanitary permits as prescribed in Circular Number 9/2002-Cus dt.30.1.2002. The format of the required health certificate has been provided along with the Annexures to the Circular Number 94/2002-Cus dt.23.12.2002. However, the licence regulations as prescribed by Circular number 9/2002-Cus dt.30.1.2002 will be applicable in case of pets other than cats or dogs or if their numbers exceed two cats and/or dogs per passenger.

The health requirements for Dogs and Cats are as follows:

1. Dog - A health certificate from a veterinary officer authorised to issue a valid certificate by the Government in the country of export to the effect that the dog imported -

a) shows no clinical sign of diseases including rabies, canine distemper, parvo virus infection, leptospirosis etc..

b) has been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer of vaccine licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number and the date of vaccination must be shown on the veterinary certificate)

2. Cat - A health certificate from a veterinary officer authorised to issue a valid certificate by the Government in the country of export to the effect that the cat imported

a) shows no clinical sign of diseases including rabies, feline enteritis, feline pan leukopenia, leptospirosis etc..

b) has been vaccinated for rabies (in case it is more than three months of age) within the time limit recommended by the manufacturer of vaccine licensed and approved by the exporting country (name of the vaccine, batch number and the date of vaccination must be shown on the veterinary certificate)

Circular Number 9/2002-Cus dt.30.1.2002

(not applicable in case of import of two cats and/or dogs per passenger as amended by
Circular Number 94/2002-Cus dt.23.12.2002)

Subject: Import of Pets by Passengers - Regarding.

I am directed to refer to Boards instruction issued vide letter F.No.450/44/2001-Cus.IV(Pt.II) dated 24th September 2001 on the above mentioned subject, wherein it was provided that clearance of live animals, whether as pets or otherwise, may be permitted only against a valid import licence from DGFT and after obtaining clearance from the Animal Quarantine authorities. It has been brought to the notice of the Board by the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying that the said instructions are not being followed by the field formations and that one or two live animals are allowed clearance as pets by the Customs without insisting on the requirement of import licence.

2. It is hereby reiterated that bona fide pet animals brought by passengers may be allowed to be brought into the country only against an import sanitary permit issued by the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying or against an import licence to be issued by the DGFT as is done in the case of other live animals.

3. Necessary instructions may please be issued to all concerned for compliance of the above requirements.

QUARANTINE: http://dahd.nic.in/rtia2005/animal_quarantine.htm

Answer 2

hi
what do you want first the good news or the bad ( worked for blue cross for some time as a volunteer)
well the bad :? bringing pets to india (unless in your hand baggage ) is really though . the put it in a primitive quarintine facility for 15 to 90 days and feed it very less. most domestic pets are dead by then and the death is attributed to disease which is not true .

the good is you can bribe the officials and get your pet certified to be good on arrival and take it home with you. you need a c&f agent to negotiate the price or you might end up paying more . keep your pets vaccinated and carry proof with you that is all that is needed.
best of luck

Answer 3

You need to call the Indian Embassy. They will tell you what you need to know and do in order to bring your pet into their country. In fact, anytime you need to take your pet overseas, the first thing you must do is call that country's embassy. All of them have protocols - some simple, some a bit more complex. I know this becuase I have "dragged" my pet with me on overseas trips. But its not as hard as it sounds because after you get the requiements from the embassy, your next stop is your VET who has mechanisms to facilitate all the "must do's" and the "must haves" - from documentations to shots to flight arrangements.

Answer 4

The embassy would be a good contact. Also the airline you are using probably have personnel who are familiar with the requirements for importation of pets.