For a dog or cat leaving India, organise the destination requirements first, then book the AQCS export appointment. A local vet’s fitness certificate and AQCS certification are different documents.
Start with the destination, not the flight
Open the destination guide and identify the animal’s eligibility, identification, tests, official forms and arrival arrangements. Ask the receiving authority about transit stops and whether the owner must travel close to the pet’s arrival date.
Build one working schedule with your vet. Put the longest waiting period first. A certificate issued near departure cannot make an earlier vaccination or blood test happen sooner.
What AQCS asks you to prepare
The published export checklist asks for the pet to attend examination, a registered vet’s fitness certificate, microchip and vaccination records, owner passport and ticket copies, and an airway bill for cargo. Add an authority letter if a representative attends, the destination’s specific requirements, and two 4 × 6-inch pet photographs. Bring originals and copies.
Official sources: AQCS: export requirements for dogs and cats
Book the appointment around the actual departure
AQCS asks owners to arrange the appointment in advance and describes submission seven days before embarkation. Its published export certificate validity is ten days from issue/examination. Confirm the appointment and exact certificate required with the relevant station; also meet any tighter destination or airline deadline.
Official sources: AQCS: export requirements for dogs and cats
Check the identity trail
Use the same microchip number, owner name and pet description across the records. Ask the vet to scan the chip and compare it with the lab report and certificate before signing. Keep a clearly labelled folder for each animal.
A useful final review is to read the journey backwards: what must the arrival officer see, which official must endorse it, and what evidence does that official need? This exposes missing steps before the airport.
Before leaving for the airport
Keep the signed originals accessible, plus offline scans and the carrier’s written acceptance. Confirm the handover location, reporting time and who will receive the pet at arrival. An AQCS certificate does not itself reserve an airline pet space.
Your document checklist
| Document | Who provides it | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Destination health-certificate model | Destination authority / official veterinarian | Use the current route-specific model. |
| Veterinary fitness, chip and vaccination records | Registered veterinarian | Identity and dates must agree. |
| Owner travel and cargo records | Owner / operating carrier | Match the actual itinerary. |
| Export examination and certificate | AQCS | Confirm appointment and validity with the station. |
Common questions
Is a vaccination booklet the AQCS export certificate?
No. Keep the vaccination evidence and the official export document as separate parts of the travel folder.
Can I use one form for every country?
No. Take the current destination model to the certifying authority and check its endorsement instructions.
Want help putting the journey together?
Discuss your route, dates and pet’s needs with Anist.
Request a travel callbackSubmitting a request does not confirm a booking. Government clearance and carrier acceptance are separate.
