Turkish Airlines passengers can travel with pets by paying the pet transportation fee determined for the route they travel. For more information, please review the pet transportation fee tables.
Pet transportation sales regulations
Only cats, dogs and small songbirds (budgies and canaries) can be carried as pets in the passenger cabins.
Only ticketed passengers can benefit from the pet transportation right purchase application.
Passengers who have purchased pet carriage rights through online channels must verify the information they submitted at the check-in counter. If there are discrepancies in the information provided, the pet may not be permitted on the flight.
Pets may be carried in the aircraft cabin if their weight, including their carrier, is no more than 8 kilograms. The carrier’s dimensions must not exceed 23 cm height, 30 cm width and 40 cm length.
Pets may be carried in the aircraft’s cargo section if their weight, including the carrier/cage is no more than 50 kilograms. The carrier/cage dimensions must not exceed 75 cm height, 75 cm width and 125 cm length,
Passengers must provide the appropriate cage required for transporting the pet.
In the case that two animals of the same species (e.g., two dogs, two cats or two birds), who are accustomed to each other, are sharing the same carrier in the cabin, the maximum weight of the carrier and the two animals cannot exceed the maximum weight limit of 8 kilograms.
Pets being transported in the cabin must be contained in specially designed soft-sided cages/bags. Cages/bags must have 2.5 cm diameter ventilation holes on at least three sides for adequate air circulation. Cages must be of sufficient capacity to carry the pet; the carrier must be waterproof and its floor must be sufficient to prevent leaks or other mishaps. Pet carriers and bags must be closed throughout the flight (lids zipped, etc.) and the carrier placed under the seat in front of the passenger.
If pets are being transported in the aircraft’s cargo section, their carrier must have a hard surface. Soft-sided carriers/bags are not permitted in the cargo area of the aircraft.
If the pet's carrier dimensions exceed 75 cm height, 75 cm width and 125 cm length, it can be transported via Turkish Cargo.
For Turkish Airlines flights, pet transportation rights can be purchased via online channels (mobile application or website) up to 6 hours before the flight.
Passengers who purchase pet carriage rights through online channels are required to sit in the standard window seat.
Seat selection is provided free of charge at checkout for passengers who purchase pet carriage rights. If passengers purchase seats for a fee, and then opt to purchase pet carriage rights via the ticket management or pet carriage purchase page, the prepaid seat fee cannot be refunded.
Passengers who have purchased a seat that is not suitable for carrying pets may not purchase pet carriage rights via online channels (mobile application and website). They must contact a sales office or the call center to make transactions.
Passengers may purchase pet carriage rights up to 24 hours before the flight via the ticket management page.
Passengers traveling with pets must allow sufficient time to check-in at the airport.
Pets cannot be transported on Turkish Airlines flights whose final destination is England, including connecting flights.
Turkish Airlines pet transportation fees and rules are applicable for connecting Turkish Airlines AnadoluJet flights.
For travel with more than one airline company other than AnadoluJet, pet transportation rights cannot be sold through online channels (mobile application or website). It is necessary to contact the sales offices for the rates, rules and conditions determined for these flights.
Pet carriage purchases cannot be made via online channels on behalf of unaccompanied child passengers.
Pet carriage purchases cannot be made via online channels on behalf of infant passengers.
Cats and dogs require a vaccination certificate containing their identification information. Birds require a flight certificate.
The rabies vaccine noted on the vaccination certificate must have taken place at least 30 days and no more than 1 year prior to the flight.
In accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, it is necessary to obtain a health certificate from the veterinarian before traveling abroad from Türkiye with pets. Otherwise, pets will not be permitted on the flight.
As of December 27, 2023, reports issued by the Etlik Veterinary Control Central Research Institute will be verified via the QR code in reports showing the rabies titre result. This mandatory verification procedure will be conducted during the check-in/ticketing phase for all cats and dogs travelling to the United Kingdom and countries in Europe. Cats and dogs will not be permitted on the flight if their reports contain unverified QR codes.For further inquiries regarding this topic, please email hayvanhayvansalurunlerihracat@tarimorman.gov.tr
Passengers with a waiting time of 4 or more hours and/or a flight duration of 8 or more hours are required to have automatic water dispensers in pet carriers transported in the aircraft’s cargo section. Pet food should be kept in the cage (in an automatic dispenser container or a no-spill container) for the animal’s comfort.
A maximum of two pet carriers per passenger are permitted on board (except for shipments via Turkish Cargo). However, only one carrier is permitted in the cabin. The second pet will be transported in the aircraft’s cargo section. Alternatively, both pets can be carried in the cargo section.
Only 1 carrier per passenger (maximum of 2 pets of the same breed in 1 cage) is permitted on flights departing from Moldova and Ukraine and arriving in the USA.
Budgies and canaries can be carried in the cabin. Pigeons and parrots (except those in CITES List 1) are transported in the aircraft’s cargo section of the aircraft. Other small bird breeds other than budgies and canaries can be transported via Turkish Cargo.
If a passenger declares with a medical report that they are allergic to cats, dogs or birds, pet reservations may be altered according to certain conditions.
Kittens/puppies less than 10 weeks old or unweaned, nursing cats or dogs, and cats/dogs between 10 and 12 weeks old will not be permitted on the flight unless they have veterinary approval.
As of October 1, 2021, cats and dogs with respiratory problems are restricted from being transported in the cargo section of the aircraft. For more information, please review the "Pets carried in the cabin" and "Transportation of pets in the cargo section of the aircraft" sections.
According to a decision made by the American health authority CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the rules and conditions for accepting dogs into the United States have changed on August 1, 2024. For more information, see the "Country Based Rules" page.
Cat breeds (Birman, Exotic, Persian, Himalayan, Burmese, Scottish Fold, etc.) and dog breeds (Affenpinscher, Pekingese, Pug (all breeds), Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Japanese Dog, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Little Spaniel, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bullmastiff, English Mastiff, etc.) with respiratory problems are permitted in the cabin (PETC) if the combined weight of the animal and its carrier does not exceed 8 kilograms, and the carrier does not exceed 23 centimeters in height, 30 centimeters in width, and 40 centimeters in length.
Certain dog breeds such as the American Bulldog, Bandog Tosa Inu, Caucasian Ovcharka, Douge De Bordeux, Doberman (Pincher Doberman and all Doberman breeds), Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Mastiff (except Bull Mastiff), Wolf Dog Hybrids, Anatolian Shepherd, Boerboel, and hybrids of these dog breeds cannot be transported in the aircraft cabin. These animals must be accepted by Turkish Cargo for carriage in the aircraft cargo hold.
Domestic animals such as the Sivas Kangal, the Angora Cat and the Van Cat, which are indigenous to Türkiye and under protection, are accepted for carriage on international flights departing from Türkiye, provided that approval is first obtained from the relevant directorates of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye
Psychiatric Support Dogs (PSD) are permitted only on flights departing from Istanbul to American stations or departing from American stations to Istanbul. For passengers traveling with a PSD on connecting flights before and after these lines, admission procedures are conducted according to the travel rules with pets. PETC/AVIH fees for connecting flights are collected at the first departure points from PSAN holder passengers departing from or arriving in the USA. PSAN/SVAN reservations cannot be made through online channels (mobile application and website). For more information, please review our "service animals" page.
Pregnant dogs and cats are not permitted on the aircraft.
Pets must be chipped. Confirmation of information in the system is obtained via the pet's chip information.
Pets transported in the aircraft cabin must be in carriers/bags that are big enough for the pet to stand, turn around and lie down.
In the aircraft’s cargo section, a maximum of three animals (cats/dogs) born from a single mother and aged 10-24 weeks can be transported in the same carrier/cage. Animals of the same breed, each with a maximum weight of 14 kg, close in size and accustomed to living together, can be transported in a single carrier/cage. Pets that weigh more than 14 kg must travel alone in their own carrier/cage.
Care is taken to ensure that pets are clean, odor-free and calm-looking. Pets that are found to have health problems are not permitted on the aircraft.
If the health condition of a pet accepted on board worsens during or after the flight, the responsibility lies with the pet owner and Turkish Airlines does not accept any liability in this regard.
Pets will not be permitted on the aircraft if not in compliance with the following: the conditions, rules and regulations of the destination country; the carrier/cage features and/or pet weight limits; chip and/or vaccination requirements, etc. In addition, animals that are not among the breeds allowed to be transported will not be permitted on the flight.
Pet transportation change and return rules
Pet carriage rights cannot be transferred to other passengers or to other flights.
Pet transportation fees purchased by passengers who change/refund their flights are automatically refunded. If passengers wish and are eligible, they may purchase pet carriage rights for their new flight.
In cases of flight cancellation or changes that occur beyond the passenger's will, the pet carriage fee is automatically refunded.
No assurance can be given for pet transportation in cases of safety, security and operational problems. In such cases, Turkish Airlines provides the most suitable alternative options for the passenger.