Dear Passengers,
We provide a hygienic and safe environment on our flights so that you can explore the world in comfort. You are welcome to wear your mask during the flight. In addition to the most up-to-date information regarding countries and states that specifically require masks, you can learn about the measures taken by Turkish Airlines on the travel updates page.
Pets can travel safely and comfortably: For an additional fee paid at the airport, your pets can enjoy discovering new destinations with you.
Please note that in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, you must obtain a health certificate for your pet from your veterinarian before you travel abroad from Türkiye. (Veterinary Health and Ricin Certificate of Cats/Dogs/ Ferrets with the Passenger Intended to Movements to the Repuclic of Turkey). Otherwise, you will not be accepted to the flight.
In accordance with the decision of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, any dog (PETC, AVIH/AVI, SVAN) travelling from countries considered high risk or which has been in high-risk countries within the last 6 months as of 14 July 2021 is temporarily restricted from entering the States due to the possibility of rabies. For detailed information, please review the heading of “Pets with special conditions”
You can travel with a pet by paying the pet transportation fee applicable to your route. For more information, see the pet transportation fees tables.
Pets cannot be transported on Turkish Airlines flights that have final destinations in the UK, including connecting flights.
To transport a live animal on our flights, the reservation must be made and confirmed no later than 6 hours before the flight departure time. Please note: in accordance with aircraft type, there is a capacity limit on the number of animals that can be carried per aircraft. A maximum of two pet cages are accepted for each passenger (except for transfers via the Turkish Cargo unit). However, it should be noted that only one cage is allowed to be transported in the cabin, the other cage will be treated as "AVIH", or both will be transported in the aircraft hold as AVIH. For our rules regarding having more than one pet in a cage, you can review the heading "Pets sharing crates". Exceptionally, we accept only 1 cage per passenger (maximum 2 same species/siblings in the same cage) on flights to the USA from Moldova and Ukraine. Passengers can complete check-in procedures for pets at check-in counters. The passenger’s name, surname, address, telephone number, number of animals and the name of the pet or pets must be available on a label affixed to the cage or container. Have a vaccination card that contains identification information for cats and dogs, and a flight certificate for birds with you. It is important to note that the rabies vaccines listed on the vaccination card must have been given at least 30 days and no more than one (1) year prior to the flight date. Make sure that pets are clean, odorless and calm-looking. Pets that are in poor health and appearance are not accepted for transportation. Please be reminded that transportation of pets is not included in baggage allowance and is subject to additional baggage fees. You can review the heading "Pets with special conditions" for the types of dogs that are prohibited/dangerous to be transported on our Incorporation's flights.
If your pet does not weigh more than 8 kg with its cage and the cage dimensions do not exceed 23 cm high, 30 cm wide and 40 cm long, we can transport your pet in the cabin of the aircraft. We transport your pets in the cabin section in hard-case cages or specially produced soft-case cages/bags. The cages/bags must have ventilation holes with a diameter of 2.5 cm on a minimum of three sides for adequate air circulation. It should be noted that the lids/zippers of live animal cages and bags must be kept closed throughout the flight. The cage must be hard-case for pets over the specified weights and dimensions to travel safely in the aircraft hold. Please note that other than the plastic carriers, we can also carry your pets in specially produced hard- or soft-side bags (soft cases).
Pregnant animals and puppies or kittens under 10 weeks old are not permitted on Turkish Airlines flights. We cannot transport puppies or kittens under 10 weeks of age or which are still nursing, or mother dogs or cats which are still nursing. Puppies or kittens between 10 to 12 weeks of age may be transported upon approval from a veterinarian.
Full liability of passengers is assumed regarding compliance to health, safety, animal management, and all conditions and permits mandated by governments, regulations, entry and exit permits, health certificates of countries plus restrictions of states, regions or relevant authorities. Requests for traveling with pets may be rejected at airport even if the related reservation is confirmed.
Cats and dogs or cats and birds are not permitted on the same plane, whether or not they are separated by cabins. Dogs and birds may be carried in different cabins, or in the same cabin at the furthest distance possible.
In cases when passengers have provided a medical report prior to the flight stating that they are allergic to animals, pets will be accepted in the cabin according to specific conditions:
Cats, dogs and small singing birds (e.g., parakeets, canaries) kept as pets may be transported in the cabin with the passenger. Conditions set below are taken into consideration when pets are brought onboard:
Parrots and pigeons (With the exception of those on CITES List-1) must be transported in the aircraft hold (AVIH). Except for parakeets and canaries, we cannot accept other small bird species into the cabin and we transport them through Turkish Cargo.
Cats with respiratory problems (Birman, Exotic, Persian, Himalayan, Burmese, etc.) and dogs (Affenpinscher, Pekinese, 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.) are carried in the cabin together with the passenger (PETC) provided that the weight of the animal with the crate does not exceed 8 kg and the measure of the crate does not exceed of 23 cm height, 30 cm width and 40 cm length.
A service animal is a dog, regardless of breed or type, individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of a qualified individual with a disability, including a physical, sensory, psychiatric, intellectual or other mental disability. Only dogs are accepted as service animals for our flights.
We accept service dogs on Istanbul-USA and USA-Istanbul flights in accordance with U.S. DoT regulations. Passengers traveling with a service dog are required to provide related documents and obtain a booking confirmation at least 48 hours before departure. In addition, passengers travelling with SVAN on these routes are required to complete the U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation and U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation forms at least 48 hours before the flight and send them to istoccyhm@tgs.aero and svan@thy.com for exit from the Istanbul station and usaops@thy.com for exit from the United States. You may not be accepted to the flight if these forms are not submitted. Click here to download the relevant forms.
DOT Service Animal Transportation Form (updated with OMB control number)
Service Animal Relief Attestation Form (updated with OMB control number)
Seeing Eye Dogs, Hearing Dogs, Medical Alert Dogs and Rescue Dogs in the SVAN category may accompany the passenger free of charge in the cabin on all routes. Psychiatric Service Dogs may fly for free only on flights between Istanbul and the United States. For connecting flights before and after these routes, the dog may be transported in a crate in the passenger cabin or in the aircraft hold for an additional charge. This fee is calculated according to the baggage concept applied and is collected at the first departure point. Passengers travelling with a Psychiatric Service Dog who have a connecting flight must carry an empty crate with the appropriate dimensions. Carrying an empty crate is not subject to a fee. For passengers arriving from the United States with a connecting flight from Istanbul, the empty crate may be checked in at U.S. airports. The crate will be presented during the boarding of the connecting flight from Istanbul. After placing the dog in its crate, we ensure that it travels in the passenger cabin or in the cargo area of the aircraft in accordance with our rules. Psychiatric Service Dogs arriving in Istanbul from other airports and continuing to the United States may be transported, in the crate, in the passenger cabin or aircraft hold from the first exit points, in accordance with our rules. During the boarding of Istanbul to United States flights, the empty crate will be transported to the aircraft hold.
SVAN dogs must be trained and certified. Please ensure that the dog’s training certificate, vaccination card, pet passport - identification card and all other documents required according to the rules of the destination country are up-to-date and available. If documents are missing, the SVAN may not be permitted on the flight or may be transported, in the crate, in the passenger cabin or depending on the availability of the flight, if it is in a cage, can be transported in the cabin as PETC or in the aircraft hold as AVIH.
A SVAN dog may not be permitted in the cabin or on the flight if it behaves aggressively during check-in and/or boarding; is not well-maintained and clean; exceeds a certain size; causes a safety hazard; and/or if the crew states that the dog may cause interruption of services or may be transported, in the crate, in the passenger cabin or depending on the availability of the flight, if it is in a cage, can be transported in the cabin as PETC or in the aircraft hold as AVIH. Passengers traveling with SVAN in the cabin may select seats that are not located in rows with emergency exit doors or infant stroller apparatus.
On flights other than to the USA and as a condition of permitting service dogs to travel in the cabin, we require passengers travelling with a service dog to provide documentation that the animal will not need to relieve itself, or that the animal can relieve itself in a manner that does not create a health or sanitation issue during the flight. Acceptable documents:
If the SVAN is on the list of animals that are not allowed to enter the country at the destination station, it will not be accepted to the flight.
SVAN dogs must be clean, and wear a vest and/or an identifying harness. Throughout the flight, the dog must be seated in front of the passenger’s feet and the extension of its leash or harness should be attached to the passenger’s belt. It is strictly forbidden for SVAN dogs to sit on passenger seats. When traveling with SVAN dogs, passengers are required to bring a muzzle, in case of barking, bared teeth, etc.
Please note that we may have to change your seat due to safety reasons and the passenger is liable for any damages the SVAN dog might cause.
If the crate exceeds the specified dimensions for the cabin 8 kg, it will be transported in the aircraft hold. To ensure that your pets travel safely in the aircraft hold, the cage you will use must be hard-cased. We do not accept soft-case cage/bag in the aircraft hold.Make sure that the cages are as large as to help your pet travel comfortably, stand on foot, turn around itself, and are suitable for lying position, they get air, are watertight and have a lateral locking system. If you have a waiting period of 4 hours or more, or if your flight time is over 8 hours, please remember to provide food and informative instructions attached to your pet's cage, as well as an automatic drinker for your pet's nutritional or special needs. Please also make sure that a label displaying the pet's information is affixed to the cage.
Pilots make the final decision on whether pets can be transported in the aircraft hold. If the pilot informs staff that ventilation conditions in the aircraft hold are unsuitable, the pet cannot be transported in the aircraft hold.
For cat breeds (Birman, Exotic, Persian, Himalayan, Burmese etc.) and dog breeds (Affenpischer, Pekinese, 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 and Bull Mastiff (English Mastiff, etc.) if they are not suitable for transportation in the cabin, we can carry them in the cargo section of our aircraft, provided that the reservation and boarding procedures are done through Turkish Cargo.
We can transport the dangerous dog breeds American Bulldog, Bandog Tosa Inu, Caucasian Ovcharka, Dogue de Bordeaux, Doberman (Pincher Doberman and all Doberman breeds), Presa Canario, Rottweiler, Mastiff (except Bull Mastiff), Wolf Dog Mixed-Breeds only if accepted by Turkish Cargo.
We do not transport pets in the soft cases in the aircraft hold and please make sure that the pet can get up, turn around and lay down comfortably while in the crate.
Please ensure that you have all documentation required for your pet by the destination country with you. Otherwise, we will be unable to transport your pet. Please remember that some countries do not allow pets to enter, exit or transit with passengers. In accordance with the rules of the destination country, the valid vaccination card, pet passport - identity card and all other documentation required for service dogs to be accepted on flights must be made available at all times by passengers. We are unable to carry service dogs if these documents are incomplete or missing.
In accordance with the decision of the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, any dog (PETC, AVIH/AVI, SVAN) from countries considered high risk or which has been in high-risk countries within the last 6 months as of 14 July 2021 is temporarily restricted from entering the States due to the possibility of rabies.
Passengers who want to travel to the USA with their dogs under these conditions must send the documents requested by the CDC to CDCanimalimports@cdc.gov at least 30 working days (6 weeks) before the date they want to enter, and get a written approval. Let us remind you that the application approval document must be presented at the check-in and boarding points on the day of the flight. The dogs of our passengers who want to enter the USA without a written approval will not be accepted, and the dogs of these passengers will be sent back by the country authority. Matters related to return are the responsibility of you, our passengers. You can find detailed information on the subject, high-risk countries, points to enter the country with CDC permission, and other information from the links below.
CDC approval is not required for dogs with a minimum age of 6 months who have not entered high-risk countries within the last 6 months. Please review this page for the criteria that must be met in order to enter the United States without the need for CDC approval.
You can review this page for general application rules.
You can access the list of high-risk countries on this page.
On this page, you can access the necessary application conditions and the points allowed by the authorities to obtain an entry permit.
We recommend that you check the rules of the destination country regarding pets. For your pet to be permitted onto the aircraft, you must carry your pet's vaccination card, its ID details and other documents required by the destination country.
Animals which are indigenous to Türkiye and under protection, such as the Sivas Kangal, Angora cats and Van cats, may be transported on the condition that permission has been granted by the relevant directorates of the Ministry of, Agriculture and Forestry.
Transportation of pets in the cabin is governed by the relevant country's laws relating to the entry/exit and transit of live animals. For more information, please review the TIM/TIMATIC sources.
Due to international aviation rules, unfortunately we cannot admit some kinds of pets to flights. We cannot transport the dangerous dog breeds such as Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Pitbull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Pitbull Terrier, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro.
Within the frame of CITES-1, the African gray parrot (scientific name: Psittacus Erithacus) is not accepted on our flights.
In the cabin, two animals of the same species, that are used to being together, may be transported in the same crate. It is possible to carry two birds, two cats or two dogs familiar with each other in the same crate, provided that the maximum weight limit of 8 kg is not exceeded.
A maximum of three animals (kitten/puppy) that are 10 to 24 weeks old and born of the same mother may be carried in a single crate in the aircraft hold. Animals of the same species (each weighing maximum 14 kg for dogs and each weighing maximum 10 kg for cats, similarly sized and familiar with each other) may be transported in a single crate. If each animal weighs more than 14 kg (dogs) and 10 kg (cats), each must have their own crate.
In the aircraft hold a maximum of two adult animals of the same species (each weighing maximum 14 kg for dogs and each weighing maximum 10 kg for cats, similarly sized and familiar with each other) may be transported in a single crate in the aircraft hold. If each animal weighs more than 14 kg (dogs) and 10 kg (cats), it must have its own crate.
Turkish Airlines bears no responsibility for any health issues your pet may experience during or after the flight.
The carriage of pets is not included in free baggage allowance and is subject to fees. Fees and terms and conditions regarding pet carriage on AnadoluJet flights may vary. Please see the tables for more information.
