Seamless Travel with Pets: Introducing the Indian Pet Passport

The thought of travelling without their furry companions can be quite disturbing for pet parents. Whether it’s a family vacation, an abroad visit or a simple domestic trip, leaving pets behind can make you anxious. 

While India does not currently offer an official ‘pet passport’ document, the name encompasses a bundle of documents that are necessary to travel from and to India with a pet. The Indian pet passport often eliminates the need for your pet to observe a quarantine period. 

What is an Indian Pet Passport?

The Indian Pet Passport is not a single document, unlike the UK or EU passports. However, it is a bundle of documents that is essential for your pets to eliminate the need for long quarantine periods. An Indian Pet Passport is essential to ensure that your pet is fit and healthy to travel to and from India. Here are a few components of the Indian Pet Passport.

• Microchip

This is a foundational step. Your pet must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant, 15-digit, non-encrypted microchip. This unique identification number is crucial for tracing your pet and is linked to all its official documents. Ensure your veterinarian provides documentation of the microchip implantation.

• Vaccination Records

Up-to-date vaccinations are critical for your pet. For dogs, this typically includes rabies, distemper, parvovirus, leptospirosis and canine hepatitis. Cats require rabies, Feline Panleukopenia, Feline Rhinotracheitis and Feline Calcivirus. The rabies vaccination is particularly critical and must be administered at least 30 days and not more than 12 months prior to entry. These records signed and stamped by a registered veterinarian are a core part of the pets travel history.

• Health Certificate

A licensed veterinarian in the country of origin must issue a health certificate for the pet within a few days of departure. This certificate attests to your pet’s good health, fitness for travel, and freedom from contagious diseases. 

• No Objection Certificate

For importing pets into India, a No Objection Certificate(NOC) from Animal Quarantine and Certification Services(AQCS) is essential. Similarly, for exporting pets from India, an Animal Health Certification from AQCS is required. For certain scenarios like bringing more than two pets or commercial purposes, a license from Directorate General of Foreign Trade(DGFT) might also be needed.

• Other Documents

Depending on the destination and reason for travel ,you might require to furnish certain other documents as well. These documents include proof of ownership, a declaration attesting to transfer of residence (if relocating), travel insurance, and specific parasite treatments.

Travelling with Your Pet to India

Travelling with your beloved pet to India or sending the pet ahead requires careful planning, especially when it comes to air travel. Selecting the right airline for the entire journey is crucial. Before you book, always verify the airlines’ specific pet regulations. These policies differ significantly, impacting whether your pet can travel in the cabin with you, any size or breed restrictions, and if they will need to travel in the cargo hold. While more expensive, a private jet charter offers luxury of your dog or cat traveling in the cabin, regardless of their size. 

Airlines and Pet Travel to India

Most airlines welcome pets on their flights to India, but its crucial to remember that pet rules are not universal. Each airline has its own set of guidelines, which can include approved breeds, size and weight limit for pets and even the maximum number of animals allowed on a single flight. 

Timeline and Cost of Your Pet’s Passport

Getting all the necessary documentation, often referred to as the Indian Pet Passport can take up to a month or more. While obtaining your pet’s microchip, general immunisations and health certificate can be done relatively quickly, by scheduling a vet appointment. 

• You need to wait for at least 30 days after your pet’s rabies vaccine before you enter India.
• Obtaining a No Objection Certificate(NOC) typically takes 5 working days.

The Indian Pet Passport refers to entire collection of documents and procedures needed for your pet to travel in India. The cost can vary significantly based on factors like your home country, your destination in India, veterinary practices your choose and your pet’s species and current status.

Conclusion

The Indian Pet Passport streamlines international travel forpets to India by consolidating all the essential documents. This comprehensive approach ensures smoother customs procedure, promotes responsible pet ownership and guarantees the safety and wellbeing of the pets through out the travel duration.