Taking your dog or cat from Dubai to India
Every step for this route, dated backwards from your flight and sourced to India’s own authority. Build the timeline first; the detail is below it.
[ quick answer · 2 september 2026 ]
Pets enter India under the baggage rules through AQCS. The owner must qualify for Transfer of Residence (2 years abroad plus proof of relocation), apply for an Advance No Objection Certificate on the ATITHI 2.0 portal at least 7 working days before embarkation, and carry a microchip certificate, a rabies vaccination given more than 1 month and less than 12 months before travel, and an official health certificate. Healthy pets get the final NOC at the airport; a pet showing clinical signs is quarantined 15 days.
Every document, who issues it, when, and what it costs
| Step | Who issues it | Timing rule | Cost (AED) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Confirm Transfer of Residence eligibilityfailure point | AQCS | The owner’s name on the health certificate must match the name on the ticket. | 0published | aqcsindia.gov.in · ImportPetUnderBaggage |
| ISO microchip implanted and scannedfailure point | Your vet | ISO 11784/11785, 15 digits. It must be implanted before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccination. | 150–300estimate | aqcsindia.gov.in · india dogs guidance |
| Rabies vaccination, more than 1 month and within 12 months of travelfailure point | Your vet | AQCS: dogs (3 months and older) and cats must be vaccinated against rabies more than 1 month but within 12 months before actual embarkation. | 150–350estimate | aqcsindia.gov.in · ImportPetUnderBaggage |
| MOCCAE veterinary health certificate with AQCS Annexure 1.1.1 | MOCCAE | The AQCS annexure is completed by your vet and endorsed by MOCCAE. Owner name and address in the UAE and in India must appear on it. Valid 30 days from MOCCAE issue. | 100published | moccae.gov.ae · animal health certificate |
| Advance NOC applied for on the ATITHI 2.0 portal (7 working days before)failure point | AQCS | Submit at least 7 working days before embarkation with the vaccination and microchip certificate, health certificate with Annexure 1.1.1, ticket and passport. AQCS issues the Advance NOC within 1 working day of a complete application. Apply yourself; do not share portal credentials. | 0–150estimate | aqcsindia.gov.in · india dogs guidance |
| IATA-compliant crate bought and acclimatised | IATA LAR / airline | Sized to IATA Container Requirement 1: the animal must stand, turn and lie down naturally. Give the pet at least 2 weeks to get used to it. | 400–1,500estimate | iata.org · pets |
| Manifest cargo booking confirmed with the airline | Airline cargo | Some carriers on the Gulf to India routes accept small pets in the cabin; Emirates carries pets as cargo only. Confirm the carrier will accept the Advance NOC before booking. | 1,500–6,000estimate | skycargo.com · 3502 eksc emiratespets |
| Arrival examination and final NOC at the port of entry | AQCS | AQCS staff examine the pet and originals at the airport and issue the final NOC on the spot for a healthy animal. | 0–300estimate | aqcsindia.gov.in · india dogs guidance |
Total estimate excluding an agency and excluding our fee: AED 2,300–8,700 for a dog. Published figures are the authority’s own; estimates are typical Dubai clinic and carrier prices and vary.
Cabin or cargo, and who will take which breeds
Emirates carries cats and dogs as cargo only. Several carriers on Gulf to India routes accept small pets in the cabin under their own weight and crate rules; the airline will not lift the pet without a valid Advance NOC, so confirm the carrier accepts the NOC before booking.
Banned or restricted for this route
No breed is banned from import by the destination on this route. Airline snub-nosed restrictions still apply from Dubai, and India’s 2024 advisory on 23 breeds varies by state; check with AQCS before booking.
Run any breed through the free breed checker.
Three ways Dubai to India usually fails
Not eligible for Transfer of Residence
Two years of overseas stay and visa cancellation or relocation proof are required. Without them the pet needs a DGFT licence, which is a different and slower route.
The vaccine timing
The rabies vaccine has to be more than 1 month old and less than 12 months old on the day of embarkation. A booster the week before travel resets the clock.
The name mismatch
The owner’s name on the health certificate must match the name on the ticket exactly. It is the most common reason an Advance NOC is rejected.
An honest answer for this route
Yourself, with the Plan · AED 1,499
You attend every vet visit and the MOCCAE examination anyway. With the dates and the documents in hand, the Dubai to India route is manageable on your own if your flight is more than 6 weeks out.
Yourself, checked · Assured AED 3,499
Same route, but a UAE-licensed vet partner checks each document at 3 checkpoints and we submit the MOCCAE certificate. Sensible when the windows are tight: on this route, the Advance NOC and the name on the certificate matching the ticket.
An agent, or Handoff · AED 6,999
If your date is inside the minimum, your breed is restricted, or you cannot attend the airport day, an agency or our Handoff tier is the right call. We say so rather than sell you the Plan. Either way, read what airport day at Dubai looks like before you decide.
Dubai to India: what people ask
Do I need a NOC to bring my dog into India?
Is there quarantine in India?
Does India need a rabies titre test?
How long does it take?
Last verified
2 September 2026
Every rule re-checked against the authority page at least quarterly.
Vet review
In progress
A UAE-licensed vet is reviewing these corridors. Until they have signed, every rule links to its official source so you can check it yourself.
