The Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs (CBIC) on March 16, 2026, issued circular regarding the Facilitation in import of pet dogs and pet cats along with stranded Indians in war-hit Middle East countries.
The communication highlights a one-time relaxation granted by the Government of India, through the Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD), to facilitate the import of pet dogs and cats belonging to stranded Indian nationals returning from war-affected Middle East countries. Recognizing the extraordinary circumstances, certain pre-export formalities that are normally mandatory have been relaxed to ease the entry of pets into India.
Under the relaxed pre-import conditions, pet owners must provide a declaration confirming that the pet has been with them for at least one month. They are also required to produce available vaccination records such as a pet book or passport, even if vaccinations are delayed or incomplete. In cases where pets are brought from nearby countries, owners are advised to have them checked by local veterinary authorities, if feasible.
For post-import procedures, pets with valid veterinary health or vaccination certificates will be granted clearance by Animal Quarantine and Certification Services (AQCS) after document verification and clinical examination at the airport. If vaccination records are incomplete, delayed, or unavailable, pets will be vaccinated (at the owner’s cost) at the port of entry before receiving clearance. In cases of abnormal findings, pets may be quarantined, with all related costs borne by the owner.
The relaxation is strictly a temporary and exceptional measure and will not serve as a precedent for future imports. Additionally, compliance with requirements of other authorities such as DGFT and Customs remains applicable, and relevant departments may take appropriate action as necessary.
[Circular No. 11/2026-Customs]
