Moving Abroad With Pets? Why Portugal Is Leading the Way in 2026

For anyone dreaming of a life abroad, there is one detail becoming harder and harder to ignore: your pets.

Because while once the fantasy of relocating centred around sea views, sunshine and a slower pace of life, today’s movers are asking a far more practical question too, can the dog come?

Increasingly, the answer is shaping where people choose to live next. And right now, Portugal is pulling ahead as one of the most appealing destinations for pet owners planning an international move.

According to Lisbon-based buyer’s agent Goldcrest, enquiries from relocating clients with pets are on the rise, with many citing Portugal’s relatively straightforward entry process, no-quarantine policy for compliant arrivals, and genuinely pet-friendly way of life as major deciding factors. In other words, it is not just a beautiful place to land, it is a place where pets can slot into daily life with surprising ease too.

That matters more than ever in 2026, as pet travel continues to boom. Amadeus recently named pet travel as one of the six key trends shaping the year ahead, while research found that 27 per cent of pet owners in the UK and the United States travelled internationally with their pets for the first time in 2025. What was once a niche concern is quickly becoming a mainstream part of relocation planning.

And if you have ever looked at your dog curled up on the sofa and thought, well, obviously you are coming with me, Portugal starts to make a lot of sense.

Why Portugal feels different for pet owners

There are countries that technically allow pets, and then there are countries where pets feel woven into the rhythm of life. Portugal seems to fall firmly into the second camp.

From long coastal walks to leafy city parks and café terraces where dogs are often greeted with a smile rather than suspicion, it offers the kind of everyday ease pet owners actually notice. Lisbon and Porto, in particular, combine city living with accessible green space, outdoor culture and veterinary care that makes settling in feel less daunting.

There is clearly a strong culture of animal ownership too. According to the European Federation of Companion Animal Food, Portugal ranks fourth in Europe for household dog ownership, with 39 per cent of households owning at least one dog. That sort of statistic says a lot. Pets are not treated as an afterthought here. They are part of family life.

For people moving from busier, less flexible urban environments, that can be a huge draw.

The practical side matters too

Of course, even the most pet-loving destination loses its shine if the admin is a nightmare. Fortunately, Portugal’s entry rules are considered comparatively manageable, provided owners get organised.

Healthy pets arriving from compliant countries can enter without quarantine, which is one of the country’s biggest advantages. For many owners, that alone will tip the scales. The idea of putting an animal through a long separation period after travel is enough to put some relocations off entirely.

That said, “easy” does not mean casual.

Portugal follows EU animal health rules, so documentation needs to be correct and carefully timed. Dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from EU countries need an EU pet passport, an ISO-compliant microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. Travellers arriving from non-EU countries, including the UK and US, need an official Veterinary Health Certificate issued within ten days of travel by an accredited veterinarian, as well as proof of microchipping and rabies vaccination.

Owners must also notify the Portuguese veterinary authority, DGAV, at least 48 hours before arrival by emailing the relevant Travellers’ Entry Point at Lisbon, Porto or Faro airport.

And from April 2026, that paperwork is likely to come under even sharper scrutiny. EU authorities are tightening enforcement of documentation standards, meaning mistakes that may once have slipped through could now cause delays or complications at the border. In particular, owners need to make sure that microchipping is done before rabies vaccination, as the sequence is critical.

It is the sort of detail that can sound minor until it becomes a problem.

Homes are being judged through a pet lens too

Goldcrest says the rise in pet-owning buyers is also influencing what people want from property.

This makes perfect sense. A move abroad is not just about whether you can get your pet into the country. It is about whether daily life will actually work once you are there.

As a result, more buyers are prioritising homes with outdoor space, easy access to parks or coastal walking routes, and developments or landlords with clear pet policies already in place. The dream, it seems, is not simply a beautiful apartment in the sun, but somewhere the dog can trot happily to a morning café stop too.

Barbara Queirós, Head of Real Estate at Goldcrest, puts it simply: “Sometimes a move abroad can happen sooner than expected. If relocating with pets might be on the horizon in the coming months, getting their vaccinations and paperwork ready in advance is a simple step that can save stress later. It may feel like extra admin for something you may not need, but being prepared ensures your pets can join you smoothly. Here in Portugal, we’ll be ready to welcome them.”

Why this matters now

There is a bigger shift happening here. Relocation decisions are becoming more emotional, more lifestyle-driven and, in many cases, more holistic. People are not just asking where they can afford to live or where the weather is good. They are asking where their actual life will work best — routines, wellbeing, family, animals and all.

That is where Portugal is winning.

It offers the climate and beauty people expect, but it also delivers something arguably more valuable: practicality with warmth. For pet owners, that combination can be the difference between a destination looking good on paper and genuinely feeling livable.

So yes, the pastel buildings, Atlantic light and long lunches help. But for many movers in 2026, Portugal’s real luxury may be this: your pet gets to come too, and the transition does not have to feel impossible.