All terms and conditions

Turkish Airlines passengers can enjoy safe, comfortable flights with their pets. For more information and to review pet transportation fees for various routes, please click here.

• Only ticketed passengers can purchase pet transportation rights.
• Passengers must verify the information provided during the online pet carriage purchase when they check in for the flight.
• Purchases made via online channels can be performed up to six hours before the flight.
• Passengers who purchase pet carriage rights must sit in standard window seats and front row seats.
• Seat selection is provided free of charge at checkout for passengers who have purchased pet carriage rights. If passengers select 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.
• In cases where the seat selection is not suitable for transporting pets, passengers must contact the Turkish Airlines sales office or call center.
• Pets are not permitted on Turkish Airlines’ flights to the UK, including connecting flights.
• Online pet transportation tickets are not available for unaccompanied minors.

• Only cats, dogs, and small birds (parakeets, canaries) may be transported in the aircraft cabin.
• Some breeds of cats and dogs with respiratory problems may be transported in the cabin if they meet the specified size and weight requirements.
• Cats: Birman, Persian, Himalayan, Burmese, Scottish Fold, British Shorthair, Exotic Cat Breeds, etc.
• Dogs: Affenpinscher, Pekingese, Pug (all breeds), Shar Pei, Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, Lhasa Apso, Tibetan Spaniel, Chow Chow, English Toy Spaniel, English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Brussels Griffon, Bull Mastiff, English Mastiff, etc.
• For pets traveling in the aircraft cabin: The total weight, including the pet carrier, cannot exceed 8 kg; and the carrier must be no more than 23 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 40 cm in length.
• Due to security requirements, certain dog breeds are not permitted in the aircraft cabin. These breeds include the American Bulldog, Bandog, Tosa Inu, Caucasian Ovcharka, Dogue de Bordeaux, Doberman (Pinscher Doberman and all Doberman types), Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Mastiff (except Bull Mastiff), Wolfdog Hybrids, Anatolian Shepherd, Boerboel, and crossbreeds of these breeds. These breeds may be transported in the cargo hold only if accepted by Turkish Cargo.
• In accordance with international aviation regulations, the following dog breeds and their mixes are not permitted on Turkish Airlines flights: Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, and American Bully.
• For flights departing from Türkiye and arriving abroad, a Health Certificate must be obtained from a veterinarian authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry for animals that are native to Türkiye and under protection (Tiftik goat, Sivas Kangal, Ankara Cat (Turkish Angora Cat), Van cat) and presented at the counter before the flight.
• The dimensions of your pet’s carrier must allow your pet to move around comfortably. The animal must be able to stand, turn around, and lie down in the carrier.
• It is recommended that you do not give your pet any sedatives before the flight. Animals that have been given sedatives will not be accepted for travel.
• The total weight of a pet traveling in the cabin, including its carrier, cannot exceed 8 kg, and the dimensions of the carrier cannot exceed 23 cm in height, 30 cm in width, and 40 cm in length. Animals that meet these conditions must be transported in specially manufactured soft-sided carriers or bags. The carrier/bag lid or zipper must remain closed throughout the flight and be placed under the seat in front.
• For pets traveling in the aircraft’s cargo hold, the total weight of the pet and its carrier cannot exceed 50 kg; and the dimensions of the carrier cannot exceed 75 cm in height, 75 cm in width, and 125 cm in length. Pet carriers (AVIH) transported in the cargo compartment must have hard surfaces and lateral locking systems.
• If your pet’s carrier dimensions exceed 75 cm in height, 75 cm in width, and 125 cm in length, the pet can be transported via Turkish Cargo.
• For two animals traveling in the same carrier in the cabin, the animals must be the same breed (two dogs, two cats, or two birds) and must be accustomed to each other. The total weight of the two animals and their single carrier cannot exceed 8 kg.
• Carriers must be made of waterproof material capable of safely transporting the pet and designed to prevent leaks. Pets transported in the cargo compartment must have a collar around their neck.
• In the aircraft hold: Two dogs weighing up to 14 kg each may be transported in the same carrier, provided they are of similar size and/or accustomed to living together and/or of the same breed with a maximum of two adults. Two cats weighing up to 10 kg each may travel in a single carrier under the same conditions. Up to three kittens or puppies of the same litter, aged 10-24 weeks, may also be accepted in the same carrier. Pets weighing more than 14 kg must be transported alone in a carrier.
• A Veterinary Health Certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry is required for cats, dogs, and birds traveling from Türkiye to other countries. The relevant species can only be transported on flights departing from Türkiye.
• A vaccination certificate containing identification information for cats and dogs, and a health certificate for birds, must be presented prior to the flight. Cats and dogs over three months of age must receive a rabies vaccination once a year. The booster vaccination is administered 21 days after the first vaccination, unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer. Unless the manufacturer specifies a different interval, the vaccination should be repeated annually. The protective effect of the rabies vaccination lasts for the duration specified in the manufacturer’s product information. The validity period of the vaccination is indicated on the veterinary health certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and this certificate must be presented during check-in.
• All pets (except birds) must be microchipped. Microchipping is only mandatory for animals registered in Türkiye.
• Before traveling with domestic animals, you must ensure that the animal’s physical examination and health status are assessed and documented; that the animal’s documents and system records are compliant; and that the animal’s chip number matches the number on the documents. Additionally, when preparing the veterinary health certificate issued by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, dangerous or prohibited breeds that require prior exit permission must be examined and controlled. Requirements for entry may differ based on the destination country; for example, the animal may require a Rabies Antibody Titer Test. As of December 27, 2023, rabies titer reports from the Etlik Veterinary Control Center Research Institute are confirmed with a QR code. Reports issued prior to that date remain in effect and are considered valid as long as the animal receives regular vaccinations. The certificate is provided by an official veterinarian authorized at the Provincial/District Directorate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, following a review of the specific requirements for the country. Additionally, the certificate is verified by Turkish Airlines during the check-in and ticketing processes.
• If the waiting time is four hours or more, or the flight time is eight hours or more, pets traveling in the aircraft hold must have automatic waterers in their carriers. In addition, food must be provided in a container that cannot spill and can be refilled as needed.
• A maximum of two pet carriers per passenger (excluding Turkish Cargo shipments) is permitted. Only one of these carriers may be in the cabin; the other carrier must be transported in the aircraft’s cargo hold. Alternatively, both carriers may be transported in the aircraft’s cargo hold.
• Only applicable to flights departing from Moldova and Ukraine and arriving in the USA: One carrier (containing a maximum of two animals of the same species) per passenger is accepted.
• Parakeets and canaries may be transported in the cabin. Pigeons and parrots (except those listed in CITES Appendix 1) can be transported in the aircraft’s hold; other small bird species other than parakeets and canaries can be transported with Turkish Cargo.
• Passengers with allergies to cats, dogs, or birds must document their allergy with a medical certificate when booking their flight. For more information, please visit our “Pets Allowed on Board” page.
• Kittens/puppies younger than 10 weeks or not yet weaned from their mother’s milk, as well as nursing mothers, and kittens/puppies between 10-12 weeks of age may travel only with veterinary approval.
• As of October 1, 2021, certain breeds of cats and dogs with respiratory issues are restricted from traveling in the aircraft hold. For more details, please review the sections titled “Transport in the cabin” and “Transport in the aircraft hold compartment”.
• The conditions for accepting dogs into the United States were updated by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and are in effect as of August 1, 2024. Detailed information can be found on the “Country-Specific Rules” page.
• Psychiatric Support Dogs (PSD) are accepted only on flights departing from Istanbul to the United States or departing from the United States to Istanbul. Pet transportation rules will apply on connecting flights before and after these routes. For connecting flights departing from/arriving in the United States, PETC/AVIH fees are charged at the first point of departure. PSD/SVAN reservations cannot be made through the Turkish Airlines online channels (mobile app and website). For more information, please refer to the “Service Animals” section.
• Pregnant pets are not suitable for travel.
• Pets must be clean, odor-free, and calm. Animals in poor health may travel only with veterinary approval.
• The pet owner is responsible for any changes in the pet’s health during or after the flight.
• The pet will not be permitted on the aircraft unless the entry requirements of the destination country, carrier size and weight limits, permitted breed conditions, and microchip and vaccination certificate requirements are met in full. For more information, please visit our website.
• Passengers traveling with pets are advised to arrive at the airport with time to spare, taking into account the waiting time before check-in.

• The right to transport a pet cannot be transferred to another passenger or used on a different flight.
• Passengers who change or cancel their flights will not be refunded pet transport fees, but they may repurchase the service for their new flight if available.
• In cases of flight cancellations or changes beyond the passenger’s control (involuntary), the pet transportation fee will be automatically refunded. Refunds are not permitted in cases where the change is at the passenger’s request (voluntary).
• Pet transportation may not be available for safety, security, or operational reasons. In such cases, Turkish Airlines will offer the passenger the most suitable alternative options.