EnglishYou got your Portuguese citizenship and made one of the bravest decisions of your life – you decided to relocate to Portugal!!! So what now? How do you make sure your pet is not left behind and will fly with you to Portugal? Our pets have long been part of our family! And the decision to take it with us is clear, but before that there are a few things that are important for you to know:
# What vaccines are required and what documents do you need to take care of?
The duty of dogs and cats to have a rabies vaccine in force is well known, in Israel is a mandatory vaccine, so this is not a special preparation before the flight abroad. The European Union is required to prove the effectiveness of the rabies vaccine – and bring a special certificate called anti-rabies. The process of submitting the documents takes between 90-120 days, so it is recommended to evaluate accordingly. The test for approval can be performed by your veterinarian. – 10 days before the flight you will need to go for an examination at the private veterinarian who will need to fill out a health declaration form. The document should be an official document of the Ministry of Agriculture. Pay attention! Puppies that have not been vaccinated against rabies and are under 7 months of age are not allowed to enter Portugal.
# The main question that arises for many in flying a pet, is where will the pet be during the flight?
When flying a dog or cat, there is an obligation to be in the cage, this is a requirement of the airlines, but if your dog weighs less than 8 kg, the airline allows you to board it with you on the plane. Of course every airline has its own terms, so you should check before facing the airlines.
# Wait, do all airports in Portugal allow pets? The answer is no! In Portugal, only Lisbon, Porto and Faro allow a dog to enter the airport and to make sure the authorities are aware (SEF) of the situation you are arriving with the pet, you will need to provide a 48 hour notice before arriving in Portugal.
# How much does it cost to fly a dog? Flying dogs or cats abroad requires the purchase of a plane ticket separately and the price varies from company to company.
#What about dogs that are considered dangerous? Dogs that are on the list of dangerous dogs need to be neutered before coming to Portugal. Breeds that are considered dangerous: Brazilian fillet, Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Ino and Pitbull. There may be exceptions if pedigrees for purebred dogs are presented and this should be clarified and comprehensive before the flight. One last detail you should know – when you land at the airport in Portugal, it is very important to have a check-up with a veterinarian and you should schedule with him before you arrive.
