A pet move is its own import project. Start with the route that applies to your animal, purpose, number of pets, residence move, and arrival port, then build the document chain with your veterinarian, airline, AQCS, and any DGFT route that actually applies. A booking, a sent application, or an airline reply is not the same as clearance.
Move the pet, not the guesswork
Read these in order. If one answer is unknown, keep it marked pending and ask the real owner of that decision. Do not fill the gap with a generic pet blog, an old relocation story, or a promise from a party that does not control the clearance.
Dog or cat under the baggage rule?
Route signal: AQCS describes a baggage route for an owner transferring residence with up to two dogs or cats. Other cases can involve re-import, DGFT authorisation, or a different process.
First move
- Write down species, number of animals, owner, purpose, origin, arrival port, and whether the owner is transferring residence, returning a pet to India, or making a short visit.
- Compare those facts with the official AQCS baggage page and DGFT pet guidance.
- Ask AQCS or the relevant authority to confirm the route for the actual case before paying for a non-refundable movement.
“Please confirm which AQCS or DGFT category applies to this animal, purpose, number, and arrival port before we book.”
Build the clock from the real departure
Planning signal: AQCS and airline steps sit on different clocks. The flight schedule, advance NOC, official documents, cargo or accompanied baggage decision, and arrival examination must agree.
First move
- Choose the intended port from the current AQCS route and check whether the airline accepts this animal on this route.
- Ask for the current advance NOC process and submission window. The AQCS cat SOP says to submit at least 7 days before embarkation and says the airline will not lift the pet until advance NOC is obtained in that route.
- Keep the flight, NOC, certificate validity, vet appointment, and arrival examination dates in one written timeline.
“Please confirm the current submission window, required port, document validity, and whether this airline booking is conditional on advance NOC.”
Make every name and date line up
Document signal: The official AQCS baggage checklist asks for identity, residence-transfer, travel, health, ownership, and journey records. The exact set depends on the confirmed route.
Build the packet
- Keep the owner passport, visa or other proof, proof of at least two years abroad where the baggage route requires it, and proof of transferring residence.
- Ask the origin authority for the official health certificate and keep vaccination records with it. The owner name must match the travel record, and the certificate needs the requested origin and arrival addresses.
- Keep the owner ticket, airway bill or journey details, bill of entry if applicable, declarations, and authorisation letter if someone else is filing.
“Here is the current document list we understand. Please mark each item confirmed, pending, or not applicable to this route.”
Ask for the certificate the route accepts
Health signal: The AQCS baggage page says a dog aged three months or older and a cat must have rabies vaccination more than one month but within 12 months before actual embarkation, with details officially certified or recorded in the official health certificate.
First move
- Give the veterinarian the confirmed route, intended embarkation date, species, age, number, and destination addresses.
- Ask which vaccination, microchip, examination, testing, and competent-authority certificate details are required for that route. The AQCS cat SOP lists vaccination and microchip certificates among its supporting documents.
- Keep the original health documents with the travel packet and ask who must retain or inspect each original on arrival.
“Please confirm the exact health certificate format, vaccination window, microchip record, tests, and original documents for this route.”
Plan for an examination, not a handover
Arrival signal: AQCS describes examination of the pet and original health documents at the quarantine station or port. The result can be provisional, final, on hold, or a quarantine path under the applicable protocol.
First move
- Carry the pet and original documents to the designated AQCS point named for the route and keep the contact details of the receiving officer or representative.
- Ask what provisional clearance, final NOC, physical examination, testing, or quarantine state is actually recorded.
- Keep the person receiving the pet, the local veterinarian, and the housing plan ready only after the current clearance state is known.
“Please tell us the recorded arrival state, the next examination or testing step, who owns it, and what is still pending.”
Secure the welcome before the lease
Home signal: A pet-friendly listing is not the same as written permission from the landlord, society, building rules, airline, or insurer.
Before you commit
- Ask for written confirmation of pet permission, building or society rules, any pet deposit, access limits, lift rules, balcony or terrace rules, and cleaning or damage expectations.
- Locate a local veterinarian and emergency route, and keep the imported health record ready for the first care conversation.
- Make a calm arrival plan for transport, food, rest, noise, toilet needs, and the first night without promising that the pet will settle on a fixed timetable.
“Please confirm the pet permission and building conditions in writing before we accept this home.”
Keep the signal honest
Use the official pages on the day you file
A calm pet move is a chain of real confirmations: route, documents, vet, airline, AQCS, arrival, and home. Keep each answer attached to the person or authority who owns it.