What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents according to Türkiye pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport will include proof of microchip, rabies vaccination, rabies titer test, and international export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
Animals Eligible for These Regulations
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.
Pets in Türkiye
Pets play a significant role in many households in Türkiye, and the country’s pet culture is diverse and well-developed. Dogs are popular and cats are extremely popular and often treated with special reverence. Street cats, particularly in cities like Istanbul, are well-cared for by the community.
Türkiye has a robust network of veterinary clinics, particularly in urban areas. There are regulations in place for pet ownership, including requirements for vaccinations, microchipping, and registration of dogs. However, stray cats and dogs are a significant issue, particularly in urban areas. Owners should take steps to protect their pets from parasites sometimes carried by stray animals and fully vaccinate them against contagious diseases.
Many parks and public spaces are pet-friendly, providing areas for pets to exercise and socialize. Some cities also have dedicated dog parks.
Flying a Pet to Türkiye
Turkish Airlines accepts pets in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo, is based in Istanbul, and has a comprehensive network of destinations that are served. Other commercial airlines that offer services for pets that fly to Istanbul Airport are Aegean Airlines, Aeroflot, Air France, Asiana, British Airways, China Eastern and Southern, Emirates, Ethiopia, Etihad, flydubai, Gulf Air, KLM, Kuwait Airways, Oman, Qatar, Saudia, Thai Airways, Transavia, Uzbekistan Airlines to name a few. This is the second busiest airport in the European Union. Pets transiting Türkiye should remain on the same airline.
Flights to Türkiye should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
Find a Licensed Veterinarian
Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
Quarantine for Pets Entering Türkiye
Quarantine will not be imposed on your pet if the following regulations are met. Pets not meeting import regulations will be quarantined, returned to the origin country or euthanized. All costs are the responsibility of the importer.
Türkiye Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to import a pet dog or cat to Türkiye (formerly Turkey) must be completed in the country of origin. Complete steps 1-6 in the order given.
Step 1: Pet Microchip
Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. First, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Second, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database. Third, most countries require that pets be microchipped and compliant microchips may be difficult to find should your pet ever leave the country.
Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Türkiye. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
Step 2: Vaccinations
All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to entering Türkiye. Multi-year rabies vaccinations are recognized if indicated as such on the veterinary health certificate (step 5). The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Other Vaccinations
Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parvovirus. Cats must be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by veterinary health procedures of the origination country.
Step 3: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
All dogs and cats entering Türkiye must have a rabies titer test. Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Pets entering Türkiye without a rabies titer test are subject to 21 days of quarantine at the importer’s expense.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 4: Parasite Treatments
According to all preventative measures to ensure public health and the safety of your pet, treatments for internal and external parasites should be administered prior to entering Türkiye.
The treatment of pets for internal parasites, especially Echinococcus multilocularis, as well as external parasites (fleas and ticks) should be discussed with your veterinarian who will administer according to disease status of the origination country. These treatments are required.
The administering veterinarian must record these treatments on the health certificate or issue a record of treatment.
Step 5: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate (sometimes known as a Certificate of Veterinary Inspection) for live animals entering their country. The certificate should include the following information:
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel, does not have any open wounds in the process of healing, and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A government veterinarian in the origination country must endorse the health certificate within 48 hours of entry.
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
Step 6: Import Permit
Pet dogs and cats entering Türkiye with their owners do not need an import permit. Commercial imports will require an import permit.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Türkiye
Puppies and kittens should not be vaccinated for rabies prior to three months of age. The minimum age of import to conform to regulations is 7 months.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned from Import to Türkiye
Türkiye does not permit the import of the following breeds or their crosses: Pit Bull Terriers, Japanese Tosa, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Rottweiler, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Neapolitan Mastiff, Spanish Mastiff, Dogue de Bordeux, Roman Fighting Dog, Bandog Tosa Inu, Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff or similar, mongrel breeds.
Entering Türkiye by Air
Pets can enter Türkiye at a variety of airports and land inspection posts. For international travel, Istanbul Airport is the most common destination airport. Pets can enter in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies.
Pet owners should select flights with earlier arrivals and during normal business hours, if possible, so as to ensure veterinary inspectors are available to clear their pet.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Two pets per person can enter tax-free as long as they don’t arrive unaccompanied (air cargo). The owner must be present at customs clearance or have issued their representative or agent a Power of Attorney and either an original passport or notarized copy indicating that they arrived in Türkiye within 30 days of their pet.
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
Advance notice
Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Türkiye, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.
A government veterinarian will provide further examination if your dog or cat is not in apparent good health when entering Türkiye. All costs associated with further inspections or treatments will be borne by the importer.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Türkiye
Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Türkiye. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.
Türkiye has imposed trade restrictions on U.S. origin domestic and wild birds (for any intended use) from the states of California, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, and Washington, due to Avian Influenza.
Exporting Resident Pets from Türkiye
Pet owners planning to export their resident pets from Türkiye must visit the local branch of the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock with their pet at least 48 hours before departure. Owners should bring their pet’s shot records to get a Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets for Exportation from the Republic of Türkiye.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is crucial if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate in and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Türkiye?
Have a comment about importing a pet to Türkiye? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
Please note that the accuracy of comments made below by users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.
Current Information
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Türkiye pet import requirements.
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