401/21/2020-CUS. Ill
1/142503/2026
Circular No. 11/2026-Customs
F. No.401/21/2020-Cus.lll
Government of India
Ministry of Finance,
Department of Revenue
(Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs)
Room No. 16049, Kartavya Bhavan-01, New Delhi
16-03-2026
To
All (Pr.) Chief Commissioners of Customs/Customs(Preventive)/ Customs &
Central Tax,
All (Pr.) Commissioners of Customs/Customs (Preventive),
All (Pr.) Director Generals under CBIC.
Madam/Sir,
Subject: Facilitation in import of pet dogs and pet cats along with
stranded Indians in war-hit Middle East countries - regarding.
Attention is invited to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry &
Dairying, Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying (DAHD) Office
Memorandum dated 12.03.2026, issued from File No. L- 110102(1)7222/2021-
trade (E-20510), on the above cited subject (Copy enclosed).
The DAHD has informed that considering the unique and extraordinary
situations in war-hit Middle East countries wherein pre-export requisite formalities
to export of pets into India may not be fulfilled, the import of pet dogs and / or pet
cats along with stranded Indians, is being facilitated as one time relaxation
measure. The Relevant portion of the O.M. is reproduced for ease of reference:
(1). Pre - Import conditions:
(i) . The declaration of the owner that the pet dogs and / or pet cats is
residing with him / her at least for the past one month.
(ii) . The owner should produce the pet vaccination certificate / pet book /
pet passport indicating the history of the vaccination. The requisite
vaccinations due / delayed shall also be considered.
(Hi). In case the pet dog and / or pet cat is lifted from nearby neighboring
countries, then the owners are advised to get the pet animals checked
from the veterinary authorities of respective country, in case available at
airport or nearby.
i/142503/2026
401/21/2020-Cus.lll
(2). Post- Import conditions:
(i) . The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with proper
official veterinary health certificate with vaccination details issued by
nearby neighbouring countries shall be given final Animal quarantine and
certification Services (AOCS) clearance from the airport, after examination
of documents and clinical examination by AQCS.
(ii) . The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with proper
updated vaccination certificate shall be given final Animal Quarantine and
Certification Services (AQCS) clearance from the airport, after examination
of documents and clinical examination by AQCS.
(Hi). The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with vaccination
certificate / pet book / passport and the last vaccination is not completed and
is due / delayed by 15 days, or the pet dog and / or pet cat which are being
imported without any veterinary health certificate or vaccination certificate,
shall be vaccinated for rabies (cost to be borne by the owners as per actual)
at the port of entry and be given final Animal Quarantine and Certification
Services (AQCS) clearance from the airport, after examination of documents
and clinical examination by AQCS.
(3) Cost of quarantine:
In case of any abnormal findings during clinical examination by AQCS, the
pet to be quarantined at concerned AQCS and all the expenditures towards
post-import quarantine of pet dog and/or pet cat including quarantine
charges, vaccinations, medications etc. shall be borne by the owners as per
actual /prevailing applicable charges by AQCS at minimal.
Further, the OM has mentioned that this facilitation will not be considered and
quoted as a precedent in future as this circular is issued for facilitating entry of pet
dogs and/or pet cats belonging to stranded Indian nationals from the war zone by
the Government of India. It is also mentioned that for applicable requirements of
other Departments or agencies such as DGFT, Customs etc for import of pet dogs
and/or pet cats into India, the concerned Department or agency may consider to
take appropriate action in this regard.
The above facilitation measure by DAHD may be brought to the notice of the
trade / airlines / carriers by issuing suitable Trade / Public Notices. Suitable
Standing order / instructions may be issued for the guidance of the field officers.
Difficulties faced, if any, may be brought to the notice of the Board
immediately.
Hindi version follows.
OSD (Cus-lll)
Email: uscus.3-dor@qov.in
Copy to: - (for information and necessary action)
- The Webmaster, CBIC.
Fi le No: L- 1'l 0 1 02(1)1 2221 2021 -rrade (E-205 1 0)
8T{ds*fiR
Government of lndia
EIFFI qroEI, qgcrd-d 3it{ ffi d?rtrq
Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying
cercrild3it{}qfi8fir4
Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying
7fr r+a, a-S fffir- i'1 o oo1,
Krishi Bhawan, New Delhi-'l'10 001,
kai+/ Dated the 12h March, 2026.
OFFICE ME
RANDUM
Subject: Facilitation in import of pet dogs and pet cats along with
stranded lndians in war-hit Middle East countries - regarding.
ln exercise of the power conferred by the Live-stock lmportation Act,
1898, this Department regulates import of livestock which are liable to be
affected by infectious or contagious disorders. The procedures for import of
livestock into lndia has been notified vide S.O. 1495, dated 11th June, 2014.
Further, the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) for import of live animals
into lndia were issued vide this Department's O.M. dated 15 July 2020.
Considering unique and extraordinary situations in war-hit Middle East
countries wherein pre-export requisite formalities to export of pets into lndia
may not be fulfilled, the import of pet dogs and / or pet cats along with stranded
lndians, is being facilitated as one time relaxation measure as under;
(1). Pre - lmport conditions:
(i). The declaration of the owner that the pet dogs and / or pet cats is residing
with him / her at least for the past one month.
(ii). The owner should produce the pet vaccination certificate / pet book / pet
passport indicating the history of the vaccination. The requisite vaccinations
due / delayed shall also be considered.
(iii). ln case the pet dog and / or pet cat is lifted from nearby neighbouring
countries, then the owners are advised to get the pet animals checked from the
veterinary authorities of respective country, in case available at airport or
nearby.
(2). Post- lmport conditions:
(i). The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with proper official
veterinary health certificate with vaccination details issued by nearby
neighbouring countries shall be given final Animal euarantine and certification
Services (AOCS) clearance from the airport, after examination of documents
and clinical examination by AQCS.
Page 1 of 3
(ii). The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with proper updated
irl".i"rt[. ceiiticate stritt ue given final Animil Quarantine and Certification
Se*ic.s (AOCS) clearance tro"m tne airport' after examination of documents
and clinical examination bY AACS
(iii). The pet dog and / or pet cat which are being imported with vaccination
I"iin""i" I pet b-ook / passport and the last vaccination is not completed and is
or" i-J"l"vLa by 15 bays, or ine pet dog- and / or q:t cat which are being
ffi"rtJ ;ifi;rt'any veterinary neatin certi-Rcate or vaccination certificate, shall
be vaccinated for rabies lcost'to be borne by the owners as per actual) at.the
Dort of entry and be given finai Rnimat Qujrantine and Certification Services
Aiiiai;i;;,;;"" t.i' tn" "i'po't,
attet ex"mination of documents and clinical
examination bY AQCS.
(3) Cost of quarantine:
ln case of any abnormal findings during clinical examination by AQCS'
tne peiio ue quaraniined "t
con"ernei AOCSlnd all the expenditures towards
;;.i-iil;
q,]rrantine of peidog and / or pet cat including quarantine charges'
vaccinations, medications "L
-in"fi be borne by the owners as per actual /
pi"rrif.g
"ppfi"able
charges by AQCS at minimal.
With regard to applicable requirements of other Departments or
Aoencies such as oire"toili"-c"nerai of Foreign Trade, customs etc for
#ooi; r"t;";; "nJiot
p"t cats into lndia' the concerned Department or
ft:;;r;;'";;:i0"r.
to t.r"'"ppropriate decision in this resard'
This facilitation will not be considered and quoted as a precedent in
irtur". n in".ituation in rtrioOre East countries is changing fast and in dynamic
flux with lots of uncertainty, ihi" o'M is issued for specific and unique moment
for facilitating entry of pet do.gs;;a / or pet cats,belonging to stranded lndian
nationals from the war zone by the Government ot lnola'
This issues with the approval of the competent authority
w,%,u
$zrmzrrtl
(Dr' Gaoan Garo)
eTfd3lE-fdt@Tcro
Joint Commissioner (Trade)
To,
All Reqional Officers / Quarantine Officers
Animai Quarantine Certifi cation Services
ililii M;rri / eengaturu / Chennai / Kolkata / Hvderabad
Page 2 of 3
Distribution for kind information and necessary action to;
Copy also for kind information to;
'1) PS to the Hon'ble Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying.
2) PS to the Hon'ble Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and
Dairying (SPSB).
3) Sr. PPS to the Secretary, DAHD.
4) PPS to the Additional Secretary UJ), DAHD.
1)Foreign Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, South Block, New Delhi.
Email: psfs@mea.gov.in
2) Commerce Secretary, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce
& lndustry, Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi. Email: csoffice@nic.in
3) Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, New Delhi.
Email: secy. moca@nic. in
4) Director General, Directorate General of Foreign Trade, Vanijya
Bhawan, New Delhi. Email: dgft@nic.in
5) Joint Secretary (Customs), Central Board of lndirect Taxes & Customs,
Department of Revenue, New Delhi. Email: jscus@nic.in
6) Director (Customs), Department of Revenue (dircus@nic.in)
7) NlC, DAHD with a request to upload on the Department and AQCS's
website.
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