Table Of Contents
I run an export and import business, so I deal with DGFT policy as a working reality, not a theory.
People keep asking me which pets are banned in India.
The honest answer surprises most of them because the viral lists floating around the internet conflate two completely different rules and get the authority wrong.
So let me lay out the real position, the way it actually works at the port and on the DGFT portal.
Who Actually Controls Pet Imports Into India
Pet imports are governed by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), which sits under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
The key document is DGFT Trade Notice No. 22/2022-23 dated 19 December 2022.
This is the rulebook everyone at the counter works from.
Only Cats And Dogs Count As “Pets” For Import Purposes
Here is the first thing that trips people up.
For import purposes, India recognizes only cats and dogs as pets.
Nothing else.
A rabbit, a parrot, a hamster, a turtle, or any other animal is treated as a live animal under a different and much stricter route.
More on that below.
Baggage Rules – When You Can Bring Up To Two Pets Without DGFT Authorization
If you are moving back to India for good, the rules are reasonable.
You can bring up to two pets as part of your passenger baggage without any DGFT authorization.
The catch is that this concession applies only if you transfer your residence to India after at least two years of continuous stay abroad.
Only cats and dogs qualify under these baggage rules.
When You Need A DGFT Import Authorization
You need a DGFT import authorization in three situations:
- Your stay abroad was less than two years.
- The pet is not traveling as your accompanied baggage.
- The pet does not qualify under the baggage rules for any other reason.
For dogs specifically, import is allowed only for a short list of purposes:
- A pet dog with a valid pet book and records in the importer’s name.
- Research organizations import dogs with the recommendation of the official animal ethics committee.
- Dogs for internal security use by the defense and police forces.
Import is allowed only through six entry points: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Kolkata.
Where required, the animal may be held at the government quarantine station at the port for a stipulated period.
You will also need:
- A health certificate from a vet in the exporting country.
- Proof of vaccination, including rabies.
- An advance No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the port quarantine service.
What Is Actually Banned Under DGFT Rules
This is the real banned list, and it has nothing to do with breeds.
- Commercial import of dogs for breeding, sale, or any other commercial activity is not permitted. The pet route is for genuine pets, not for stock.
- Newborn puppies are effectively not importable under the standard pet route (they cannot meet vaccination and health certificate requirements).
- Short-duration import for tourists is generally not permitted. You cannot fly in for a holiday with your dog and expect a clean entry.
- Any species protected under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, is prohibited outright.
- Any species listed under CITES (the international convention on trade in endangered species) is subject to strict controls. For a private person, this effectively closes the door.
This is where exotic animals sit. Primates (monkeys, lemurs), big cats, most snakes, monitor lizards, crocodilians, exotic parrots, macaws, cockatoos, pangolins, and similar protected mammals are not casual pet imports.
They are either prohibited or locked behind permits that a private owner will rarely receive.
The 23 “Ferocious Breeds” Circular – What Really Happened
Now to the list that sent everyone searching.
In March 2024, a circular named twenty-three dog breeds as dangerous to human life.
Most articles wrongly credit this to DGFT.
It actually came from the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (on the animal welfare side), not the trade side.
It was not an important rule.
The circular asked states and union territories to stop issuing licenses for the sale, breeding, and keeping of those breeds, and asked existing owners to sterilize their dogs.
It also did not survive contact with the courts.
The Karnataka High Court struck down the circular.
The central government later informed the Bombay High Court that it would not enforce it.
As things stand, there is no active, enforceable nationwide ban on these breeds.
For the record, the breeds named in that 2024 circular (including mixed and cross breeds) were:
- Pitbull Terrier
- Tosa Inu
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Fila Brasileiro
- Dogo Argentino
- American Bulldog
- Boerboel
- Kangal
- Central Asian Shepherd Dog
- Caucasian Shepherd Dog
- South Russian Shepherd Dog
- Tornjak
- Sarplaninac
- Japanese Tosa and Akita
- Mastiffs (as a group)
- Terriers (as a group)
- Rhodesian Ridgeback
- Wolf Dogs
- Presa Canario
- Akbash Dog
- Moscow Guard Dog
- Cane Corso
- Bandog
Notice that the original wording used broad groups such as “Mastiffs” and “Terriers”.
That loose drafting was one reason the list faced legal challenges.
Important point for importers: Even setting the breed circular aside, you still cannot commercially import any dog into India for breeding or sale, of any breed. The DGFT rules already block that. The breed circular was about domestic keeping and selling, a separate issue.
Exotic Animals, Birds, Reptiles, And Small Mammals: The Cargo + License Route
So what about people who legally keep exotic birds, reptiles, or small mammals?
Anything that is not a cat or a dog can only be imported as air cargo, not as baggage.
The importer must hold a DGFT license and an Importer-Exporter Code.
The species must not be one that the government treats as endangered or protected.
In plain terms, a hobbyist cannot bring in an exotic bird in a carrier.
A properly licensed importer can move certain species through cargo, but only within the limits of the Wildlife Protection Act and CITES.
This is the part most pet blogs skip because they are written for pet owners, not for people who actually handle import paperwork.
Step By Step: How To Apply For DGFT Import Authorization
If you need a DGFT authorization, here is the actual process:
- Get an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) first if you do not already have one. The application is filed against it.
- Go to the DGFT website → Services → Import Management System → Import Authorization of Restricted Items → Apply for a new authorization. The form is ANF-2M.
- Use the correct classification code: ITC HS code 01061900.
- Keep your documents ready:
- Passport
- Travel ticket or airway bill
- Proof of ownership
- Health certificate from the exporting country
- Vaccination records (including rabies)
- Apply early — two months ahead of travel is the sensible minimum, because the quarantine NOC sits on top of the DGFT step.
One warning: Applications filed for trading or breeding purposes, or filed on behalf of another person or entity, are rejected. The authorization is personal to the genuine owner.
Important Warnings
- Only cats and dogs qualify under the pet baggage and authorization routes.
- Everything else (rabbits, birds, reptiles, small mammals, etc.) must go through the cargo-and-license route and is subject to much stricter scrutiny.
- Always verify the latest requirements on the official DGFT portal, as policies can be updated.
Bottom Line
Most of the “banned pets in India” content online is built on a breed list that came from the wrong ministry and no longer stands.
The rule that actually matters is simpler and stricter at the edges.
India allows you to import cats and dogs as genuine pets under specific conditions through six ports, provided they have proper health clearance.
It blocks commercial dog imports, newborn puppies (practically), casual tourist imports, and anything protected under wildlife or CITES rules.
Everything that is not a cat or a dog goes through the harder cargo-and-license route.
If you are planning a move and want to bring your animal with you, build in time, get the DGFT authorization right, and clear the quarantine certificate before you fly.
That is the difference between a smooth arrival and an animal stuck at the port.
Disclaimer: This article is based on DGFT Trade Notice No. 22/2022-23 and relevant court orders as of 2024–2025. Rules and procedures can change. Always cross-check the latest official guidelines on dgft.gov.in before making travel or import plans.
About Author
