Import of animals to Turkey

Turkey is a favorable place not only for staying, but also for transit. Precisely because the country is the destination of many international flights, it is important to familiarize yourself with the rules for importing pets to Turkey, even if you are only going to fly it with your pet in passing.

In this article, we will analyze what rules for the import of animals to Turkey exist in 2024. And also consider what needs to be done so that upon arrival at the airport you do not receive a refusal to transport a four-legged friend. 

Which animals can be imported to Turkey

The rules for the import of animals into Turkey are strictly regulated. The main reason is the undesirability of the spread of aggressive animal species and the emergence of potentially dangerous (invasive) species for the local environment. But is it possible to travel to Turkey with a dog? Yes, when transporting cats and dogs, it is allowed to carry no more than two animals per passenger. 

At the same time, it is allowed to transport two animals in one carrier if they are used to each other or are relatives. The place where the animals will be transported is determined by the weight of the pet and the weight of the carrier. If the total weight is less than eight kilograms, then the animal can be transported in the cabin, if higher — in the luggage compartment. The rules for fish are the same, but they can only be transported in the cabin in an amount of no more than ten pieces. 

These are the dogs that cannot be transported on an airplane:

• pit bull terrier;
• Japanese tosa;
• American Pit Bull Terrier;
• bull terrier;
• American Staffordshire Terrier;
• The Great Dane of Argentina;
• Brazilian fila;
• Rottweiler;
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier;
• The Neapolitan Mastiff;
• Spanish mastiff;
• Dog de bordeaux;
• The Roman fighting dog;
• bandog tosa inu;
• mastiff;
• Tibetan mastiff or similar;
• mongrel breeds.

Turtles and other amphibians can be transported both in the cabin and in the cargo hold. Additional permits and documents may be required for the import of exotic and rare animals. It is important to check whether the species does not fall under the protection of CITES. It is also worth consulting with representatives of the airline.

Necessary vaccinations and procedures

Transportation of animals to Turkey is impossible without appropriate procedures and vaccinations. The main problem when importing sick animals is the likelihood of creating a potential source of infection. Its appearance is easier to prevent than to catch and treat several hundred individuals from an incomprehensible infection. 

The same situation applies to rabies. Turks love animals and often let them bask in shops or shopping malls in the cold season. With such close interaction, people can also suffer from rabies. So do I need credits to Turkey? Of course, because they show the number of antibodies to the disease, but they are not the only ones needed.

Note. There is an important nuance in the official document of the Turkish government “Regulation on veterinary and sanitary conditions for the non-commercial movement of domestic and farm animals”. The owner of the animal must contact the competent authority of the country of destination or the country’s representative office in Turkey for the necessary information at least 6 months before the departure date. Therefore, it is always better to contact the competent authorities to obtain information on your specific case.

Chipping

A chip is a microchip hermetically sealed in a glass shell. Glass is biologically neutral and does not cause rejection reactions from the body. The injection procedure may be a little painful, but the subsequent presence of the chip in the body does not cause discomfort to the animal. On the other hand, in any modern veterinary clinic, you can get all the necessary information about a pet in a few seconds, including:

• unique identification number;
• who is the owner, his name, contact phone number and physical address;
• pet’s name, breed, age, color and special signs;
• medical information about vaccinations, vaccinations, medical indications and allergies.

Chipping is a prerequisite for the import of animals into Turkey. The microchip must comply with ISO 11784 or ISO 11785. The document confirming the chipping should include information about the chip number, the date of its installation and the location on the animal’s body. Chipping should be carried out before rabies vaccination so that all vaccinations are properly registered.

Vaccinations

So what kind of vaccinations can I get to Turkey with? The main thing is the rabies vaccination. It should be done no earlier than 30 days before the rabies antibody test. The test is carried out 30-32 days after vaccination, at least three months before entering the country. 

After receiving the test results confirming the presence of a sufficient level of antibodies, it is necessary to obtain an international health certificate, which is issued by the veterinary office. You will also need to get “Menşei Şahadetnamesi” at the municipality and “Pet Sağlık Formu” at the customs office 48 hours before the trip.

In addition, the animal must be vaccinated against: 

• leptospirosis;
• parvovirus;
• plague of carnivores (distemper);
• infectious hepatitis and parainfluenza (for dogs);
• panleukopenia, rhinotracheitis, calcivirosis (for cats).

There is a list of countries with an unfavorable epidemiological situation for rabies, and airlines, including Turkish ones, regulate the import of dogs to Turkey from such countries especially strictly. Entry usually requires:

• Tests showing rabies titers — the antibody index should be at least 0.5 IU/ml.
• The accompanying documents confirming the test and its results must be presented at the border control.
• The animal must be chipped before the antibody titer test is performed.​

But which rabies vaccines are recognized in Europe? All registered and certified in the European Union. The list includes Rabipur, Verorab, Rabisin, Nobivac Rabies and others vaccines.

Vaccination

The marks of the vaccinations carried out, including the date, type, series and number of the vaccine, as well as the signature and seal of the veterinarian must be in the veterinary passport. In addition to the mandatory vaccines (rabies), there are optional, but recommended ones. 

Among these are the vaccines against bordetellosis for dogs and the vaccine against the feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV). The pet must be vaccinated no earlier than 14 days before entering the country, and no more than a year before entry, so that the animal’s immunity has time to develop protection. 

Anthelmintic treatment 

Treatment against internal (helminths) and external (fleas and ticks) parasites should be carried out 24-120 hours before entering Turkey. The certificate of processing is included in the veterinary passport or provided as a separate document certified by a veterinarian.

What documents are needed to import cats and dogs to Turkey

How do I transport an animal to Turkey? First of all, you need to collect the necessary documents. The main document for a pet is a veterinary passport. It contains information about vaccinations, as well as data on pet treatments. 

The veterinary certificate (Animal Health Certificate) is in many ways an analogue of a veterinary passport. Depending on the destination, a traveler with a pet may need either one or the other. Let’s analyze both documents:

• Veterinary passport. It is mainly used in the European Union for travel between member countries. In fact, it is a medical card of the animal, but with the addition of information about its owner. It includes data on the state of health, vaccinations, and treatment.
• Veterinary certificate. It is used for international travel to countries outside the European Union. Certifies that the animal is healthy and meets the veterinary requirements of the destination country. It is usually valid for a short period (usually 10 days from the date of issue).

When traveling from the EU to a non-EU country, both documents may be required. If the destination is an EU country and the country of departure is not included in it, the main document will be a veterinary certificate.

Many veterinary medicines come with a special sticker. In the case of self-treatment of a pet, they must be pasted into the veterinary passport with a note of the date of processing. Here are the documents that a dog, cat and other animals should have:

• vaccination certificate;
• veterinary certificate (Animal Health Certificate);
• chipping;
• permission to import animals to Turkey;
• certificate of treatment against parasites;
• declaration of the owner. 

The declaration is drawn up in free form and signed by the owner. She confirms that the animal belongs to the owner and is imported for non-commercial purposes.

Veterinary documents must be certified with the signature and seal of the veterinarian. Moving with a dog to Turkey, as with any other animal, requires the translation of all documents into Turkish or English.

Rules for transporting animals to Turkey

The rules for transporting an animal are more strictly regulated than when transporting goods or people. First of all, it is worth noting that the transportation of an animal is an additional service, which has its own cost and nuances. The peculiarities are manifested both at the stage of booking tickets and in preparation for the trip. Even when choosing a suitable carrier for your pet, you need to take into account the requirements for it of the airline whose flight you are going to fly.

Booking and buying a ticket

It is better to book tickets as early as possible and immediately notify a company representative of your intention to take a pet with you. Especially if it is assumed that the pet will fly with you in the cabin. First of all, this is due to the fact that the number of places for animals in the cabin is limited and varies depending on the specific company. 

Before booking a ticket, you must familiarize yourself with the rules of a particular airline regarding the transportation of pets. Turkish Airlines, for example, provides detailed information on the allowed types of pets, carrier sizes and other requirements on its website.

Registration of insurance for a pet

Pet insurance in Turkey is not mandatory, but its registration is recommended, especially if the pet will be in the baggage compartment of the aircraft. It is worth noting right away that traveling in this way is safe for a pet. However, traumatic events such as storms and turbulent flows still happen.

Common insurance cases:

• injuries caused by workers (insufficient fixation of the container);
• injuries caused by weather conditions (turbulence, storms, etc.);
• illness during the flight.

The longer the flight lasts, the more rational the insurance becomes, because the probability of risks increases. In case of loss or damage to the pet container, the insurance company will pay compensation for the new container and for the treatment of the animal if it is injured.

Turkish Airlines offers the option to add pet insurance when purchasing a ticket through the website or mobile app. You can also get insurance through specialized insurance companies. As a rule, companies offer more flexible insurance terms by creating policies that cover specific incidents. For example, if you are sure that the animal will not be harmed, but it may get sick, you should only take out insurance in case of illness.

Transportation of animals in the cabin and luggage compartment of the aircraft

Depending on the weight with the carrier, the pet can be left with the owner in the cabin or placed in the luggage compartment. In most cases, the second option is used. Transporting pets in the luggage compartment of an airplane is a common practice. 

In the luggage compartment, as in the passenger compartment, temperature, pressure and ventilation are regulated. Therefore, you should not worry about your pet’s well—being; the only thing he will really experience is stress. In this case, veterinarians advise putting a thing with the smell of the owner in the carrier so that the animal feels a little better.

Cats, dogs and some small birds are allowed to be transported. But only if they are not antagonistic animals. That is, cats and dogs will not be allowed to be transported in the same cabin. At the same time, it is important that the pet is calm and does not cause inconvenience to other passengers. Airlines may refuse to transport aggressive or restless animals.  

Transportation of animals in the baggage compartment of the aircraft (AVIH) is allowed for animals whose weight, together with carrying, exceeds 8 kg. At the same time, depending on the airline and the model of the aircraft, the maximum weight can reach 50 kg. With the size of the carrier, everything is more democratic here: the maximum dimensions are 75 cm in height, 75 cm in width and 125 cm in length. However, it is better to clarify this issue with a specific airline.

Transportation of animals in the baggage compartment may require advance booking and confirmation from the airline. In this case, the main requirements are for carrying. It must provide adequate ventilation, be durable and manufactured without the use of flammable or toxic materials.

It is important that the animal must be prepared. He needs to be fed and watered, and preferably also walked a few hours before the flight. The bottom of the carrier must be covered with absorbent material. It is allowed to use an automatic watering can, but not to leave food.

What kind of carrier is needed

The main requirement of airlines is that the carrier meets all criteria. In addition to the standard regulations regarding its size, ventilation is an important criterion. The carrier must provide sufficient air access due to the holes located on several (three) its sides. The carrying material must be shock-resistant and wear-resistant.

The carrier should be spacious enough for the animal to stand, turn and lie in a natural position. To be placed in the cabin of the aircraft, it must correspond to the dimensions specified by the airline, for example:

• Turkish Airlines: 23 cm high, 30 cm wide and 40 cm long.
• Pegasus Airlines: 32 cm high, 32 cm wide and 50 cm long.

The carrier must be clean, dry and odorless. There should be an absorbing litter inside to absorb animal secretions.

The container must have a tag with the owner’s contact information and information about the animal. It is desirable that the bottom is waterproof and the doors are spacious enough to access the animal. No more than 2 cats, 2 dogs or 2 birds can be transported in one cage if they are a mother and offspring or offspring from the same mother.

Fares for transporting dogs and cats on an airplane

Turkish Airlines sets tariffs for the transportation of pets depending on their weight and place of transportation (in the cabin or in the cargo compartment). Transportation in the cabin for animals weighing up to 8 kg, together with a carrier, costs 375 ($11.5) Turkish lira. If the destination is Northern Cyprus, the price will be 650 ($19.8) Turkish lira.

The cost of transportation in the cargo compartment of the aircraft:

Price changes for flights to Ercan Airport (Northern Cyprus)

For international flights, fares may vary depending on the direction and weight of the carrying animal. For example, carriage in the cabin on international flights is 65 US dollars, and in the cargo compartment – from 130 to 190 US dollars, depending on weight.

Pegasus Airlines

The rules of transportation in Pegasus are slightly different. The main distinguishing feature is the ability to transport only cats and dogs. Other types of animals are allowed only on domestic flights. Permitted bird species can only be transported on domestic flights and only in the cabin. 

Rules for transporting animals on Pegasus Airlines:

• The export of wild, predatory and fighting dogs is prohibited. 
• Kangals can only be transported up to the age of six months. The list of prohibited breeds has been expanded to include Caucasian dogs, chow chows, mastiffs, mastino napoletano, pit Bull terrier, Presa canario.
• Pets inside the cabin (PETC) can be transported in the cabin on all Pegasus flights, with the exception of flights to England, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. 

For international flights, the cost of transporting an animal in the cabin costs €65.

Features of transportation of guide dogs

Guide dogs are dogs that have received special training to help people with disabilities. Due to these features, guide dogs are allowed to be transported in the cabin with their owners if they accompany a passenger with disabilities. It is important that there is usually no additional fee for a guide dog.

Before traveling, it is recommended to notify the airline in advance of the presence of a guide dog and provide all necessary documents for verification. These include:

• certificate of training of a guide dog;
• certificate of the owner’s health status;
• veterinary passport with current vaccinations;
• an active veterinary chip.

The guide dog must be on a leash and remain at the feet of the owner throughout the flight. A muzzle may also be required. If the dog does not meet the safety or behavior requirements, it may not be allowed to fly.

Frequently Asked Questions about importing animals to Turkey

Which animals should not be imported to Turkey?

The ban on the import of animals into Turkey applies to wild, exotic poisonous animals, as well as animals on the verge of extinction. Animals that are at the stage of pregnancy are also prohibited from importation.​ It is better to check with the airline for information about exotic pets such as ferrets and rabbits.

What breeds of dogs and cats are banned in Turkey?

These are the dog breeds that cannot be transported on an airplane: American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Great Dane of Argentina, Brazilian Fila, Rottweiler and Doberman. There are no breed restrictions among cats. Cats and dogs that have serious breathing problems, such as Persian and Burmese cats, pugs, can only be transported in the cabin.

Is it possible to transport an animal in transit through Turkey?

The animal can be transported in transit through Turkey. It is important that he has all the necessary documents, including a veterinary certificate and a passport with vaccination marks. It is also necessary to check the rules for the import of animals into the destination country.

What is the acceptable age of a pet to enter Turkey?

Animals must be over 3 months old and have valid vaccinations, including rabies vaccination. Puppies and kittens under 3 months of age are not allowed to be imported.

Do I need a photo of the animal in the veterinary passport?

The photo of the animal in the veterinary passport is necessary to identify the animal during the control.

How do I send an animal with another person?

To send an animal with another person, it is necessary to issue a power of attorney and provide all necessary documents, including a veterinary certificate, an animal passport and an import permit. At the same time, the person accompanying the animal must have all the original documents with him.

Can all breeds of dogs and cats be transported by plane?

The rules for the import of dogs into Turkey include a list of prohibited breeds. For example, it is forbidden to transport fighting dog breeds. Animals with serious respiratory problems may also not be allowed to be transported by all airlines. Be sure to check the rules of carriage with a specific airline before planning a flight​

How to transport a cat to Turkey?

In order to transport a cat or a cat to Turkey, it is necessary to get all vaccinations and vaccines no earlier than three months and no later than one year before the flight date. Then, when buying a ticket, you need to notify the company’s representatives of your intention to take the animal with you. It is important to prepare the carrier so that it meets the requirements of a particular airline. After that, you should provide the documents at the airport and go on a flight.

Author

Mikhail Konon is a copywriter

I write informative articles about real estate, investments, job search and taxes.

Источник