G09E - Dog/cat Licence & Pet Certificates

All dogs, cats and ferrets permanently resident in Portugal must be registered and licensed annually. Pet animals entering national territory must be registered with SIAC (Companion Animal Information System), provided that they remain in national territory for a period equal to or greater than 120 days. This means that if you bring in a dog or a cat from another country it should be registered on arrival. Before a dog or a cat can be registered it must be vaccinated against rabies. This must be done by a Vet who will issue an anti-rabies vaccination certificate. Dogs, cats and ferrets must have microchip identification.

Take the rabies and/or chip certificate, the ID and Fiscal Number (Número de Contribuinte) of the registered keeper to your local Parish Council Office (Junta de Freguesia) who will then issue the licence. The licence is valid for a year from the date it is issued and that allows your pet to circulate on the public road. At renewal you must present the same documentation. The fee for the annual licence varies slightly from area to area, generally between 5-15 euros.

Go to your local Vet and register the microchip in the Portuguese database.

Owners must communicate to the local “Junta de Freguesia” the pet disappearance, death, change of owner, change of residence or loss of health bulletin. The possession of any identified animal found on the public road or in any other location must be communicated as well. 

There is also a website encontra-me where a lost or found pet can be registered, it is the largest and most accurate database of missing animals in Portugal.

Also, non-compliance with the following procedures constitutes an infraction with a fine from 25 euros to 3.740 euros for individuals or up to €44,890 for collective people (art. 14 of DL 314/2003 from December 17th):

• Lack of licence

• Lack of muzzle or leash

• Circulation of dogs and cats in public places without a collar or breastplate with the name and address (or telephone) of the holder

• Lack of registration

Dogs that are in the category “dangerous dogs” (explained below) have a different licence procedure. Please ask at your local “Junta de Freguesia” for further information. 

Certificates issued in other qualifying countries 
Government-authorised veterinary surgeons in other qualifying countries will issue their own official PETS certificate. This certificate should be available from all countries taking part in the PETS pilot scheme at the appropriate veterinary surgeons. 

Certificate of treatment against tapeworm and ticks 
When an animal has been treated against ticks and the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, veterinary surgeons will have to complete an official certificate certifying that the treatment has been administered. The certificate should be handed to the pet owner. These certificates will be made available to veterinary surgeons.

Pet owners leaving the UK are also being advised that they may need separate Export Health Certification for their pet to show that it meets the health requirements of the country (or countries) that they are visiting or travelling through. These requirements may be different from those of the Pet Travel Scheme. 

Travelling with pets and other animals in the EU
EU rules make it easy to travel to another EU country (in this case the 27 EU countries + Norway and Northern Ireland) with your dog, cat or ferret. These rules also cover travel to the EU from a country or territory outside the EU.

With a few exceptions, your pet can travel with you to another EU country or from a non-EU country to an EU country if it has:

• been micro-chipped (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets) or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011

• been vaccinated against rabies.

• had treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis, where your destination area is free from this tapeworm (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland)

• a valid European pet passport, when travelling from an EU country or Northern Ireland to another EU country or Northern Ireland or an EU animal health certificate, when travelling from a non-EU country.

Members can find more detailed information here.

Travelling to a non-EU country
If you’re travelling to a non-EU country, you’ll need to get an export health certificate (EHC). You’ll also need to complete an export application form (EXA) if you’re in England, Scotland or Wales.

The export health certificate and the export application form for each country and pet will tell you how to apply.

An EHC checks that your pet meets the health requirements of the country you’re travelling to.

You must nominate an official vet who will be sent the EHC. They’ll check your pet has met the correct health and identification requirements before you travel.

Check the rules of the country you’re travelling to for any additional restrictions or requirements before you travel.

Dangerous dogs 
The Portuguese law regarding dangerous dogs classifies them in two categories, Dangerous and Potentially Dangerous. A dangerous dog is a specific dog that has bitten, attacked or in other way hurt somebody or has seriously injured or killed another animal outside the property of its owner or, one that has been considered dangerous by the competent authorities, as a risk to the safety of people and animals. 

A potentially dangerous animal is an animal that, due to the characteristics of its species, such as aggressive behaviour, size and strength may risk the safety of people and animals. The list of potentially dangerous dogs is:

• Fila Brasileiro
• Dogo Argentino
• Pit Bull Terrier
• Rottweiller
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Tosa Inu

The Decree Law nº 315/2009, of October 29th, states by Law nº 46/2013, of July 4th and by Law nº 110/2015, of August 26th, provides that the owners of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs are obliged to attend training specially created for that type of dogs. It also provides that owners of dangerous and potentially dangerous dogs are required to undergo training, preferably between 6 and 12 months of age.

For this purpose, owners must fill in an application form and send it by email to the PSP Command in their area of residence, please see the list of address here.

If you own one of these dogs make sure they wear a muzzle when they are out, that they have all their vaccinations and are microchipped and also that you have an insurance covering any damage “responsabilidade civil”. All of this is required by law and will keep you and your dog(s) away from problems. 

Any person bitten by any dog should immediately go to the nearest hospital or medical centre, there they will try to find out who the owner of the dog is, in case you do not know. They need to check if the dog has all required vaccinations and the doctor’s report will also be used if you intend to report a dog to the authorities. 

If you have any situations about dangerous dogs you need to report to the authorities, make sure you have proof of what you are complaining about. For example, call the police if you witness another dog being killed or any property damaged, if anyone is hurt, make sure they go to the doctor and get a report. All of these things will strengthen your case when you speak to the “Ministério da Agricultura” (which is the legal authority to take action in these cases, they will however ask for evidence).