Bringing Pets From Turkey | Help Street Cats and Dogs

BRINGING PETS FROM TÜRKİYE

As a charity that rescues and helps street cats and dogs in Türkiye, we receive numerous enquiries from people regarding how to bring a cat or dog out of Türkiye. Drawing on years of experience sending rescue animals from Türkiye to the UK, EU, USA and Canada, we have compiled this guide. The purpose of this guide is to offer prospective adopters insight into the process involved.

If you adopt a pet from us, you don't have to worry about the process below at all. We will take care of everything. All you need to do is open your home for one of the cats or dogs in need.

TOURISTS/VISITORS TO TÜRKİYE WANTING TO ADOPT A STREET CAT OR DOG

If you happen to fall in love with a street cat or dog and would like to adopt, it's possible. You may not be able to take them home with you immediately, but you can place them in boarding while the animal is being prepared travels. Please use our Contact page to get in touch and we can share contact details of people who can help you reunite with the cat or dog. Please note that we DO NOT facilitate the adoption or travel preparations process for the pet. We simply connect you with people who can help you in this regard.

PET TRAVEL PREPARATION

THE UNITED KINGDOM AND EUROPEAN UNION

🔸Pet Passport - issued by any of the veterinary clinics.

🔸Pet Microchip

🔸Rabies Vaccination: All dogs and cats must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

🔸Rabies Titre Test: A rabies titre test is required for all cats and dogs entering the United Kingdom. The test can only be done 30 days after the Rabies Vaccination.

🔸Your pet can enter the UK no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the Rabies Titre Test. The entire process takes about 4 months before you can bring your pet into the UK or EU.

🔸Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only: Dogs must undergo tapeworm treatment not less than 24 - 120 hours before check-in for travel to the UK.

CATS - USA AND CANADA

Pet Passport
Pet Microchip
Rabies vaccination administered at least 30 days before travel.
FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) first dose and booster.
Export Health Certificate obtained by the Tarım Office in Türkiye.
There is NO need for Rabies Titer Tests for cats entering the United States or Canada.

DOGS - USA

Import Permit

Effective July 2021, all DOGS entering the United States from countries classified as high-rabies without a current rabies vaccination administered by a US-based veterinarian must either apply for an import permit or enter the US at an airport with a government quarantine facility.
If an import permit is secured, your dog can enter the US without quarantine. More information on how to get import permits and the latest entry requirements can be found using this link https://www.cdc.gov/importation/bringing-an-animal-into-the-united-states/dog-origin.html#non-high-risk
Follow the CDC requirements for US entry
Pet Passport
Pet Microchip
Rabies Vaccination: Dogs that have never been vaccinated against rabies must be vaccinated at least 28 days before arrival.
Rabies Titer Test (FAVN) - A rabies titer test is required to enter the United States from all high-rabies countries to avoid quarantine. If a valid rabies titer test administered at least 45 days before travel.
If not 45 days before, your pet will need to enter an Animal Quarantine Facility in an approved port of entry.
- Dogs entering the United States from these high-rabies countries will require a rabies certificate and should be vaccinated for rabies no sooner than 3 months of age and wait for 28 days before entering the United States. To avoid quarantine or when applying for an import permit, dogs should also have a rabies titer test 30 days after their rabies vaccination and more than 45 days prior to import. Titer must be from an approved lab drawn at least 45 days and no more than 1 year before arrival.
Vaccination Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis DHPPi+L.
Export Health Certificate obtained by the Tarım Office in Türkiye.

DOGS - CANADA

Follow the Canadian dog import rules. For more information can be found using this link
https://inspection.canada.ca/importing-food-plants-or-animals/pets/eng/1326600389775/1326600500578
Canada is very sensitive to dogs entering the country under 8 months old. Make sure the dog is over 8 months old.
Pet Passport
Pet Microchip
Rabies Vaccination. There is no waiting period after the vaccination is administered. However, it’s best to vaccinate the dog at least 30 days before the travel date.
Vaccination - Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis DHPPi+L.
Export Health Certificate obtained by the Tarım Office in Türkiye.

VACCINATION AND TESTS

🔸Cats: FVRCP (Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis, Calicivirus, Panleukopenia) first dose and booster.

🔸Dogs: Distemper, Hepatitis, Parainfluenza, Parvovirus, Leptospirosis DHPPi+L, first dose and booster.

These vaccinations are called Karma Aşısı in Turkish.

🔸It's also advisable to test dogs against Heartworm, Ehrlichia, Leishmania, Anaplasma (4 lü Test), and Canine Parvo, Corona and Giardia (3 lü Test).

🔸Both cats and dogs should be up to date with worming and flea treatments.

🔸A Brucellosis test is advisable for dogs, as some UK vets won't register the dog without evidence of this test.

🔸Goes without saying, your pet should be spayed or neutered before leaving Türkiye.

TRANSPORT OPTIONS

THE UNITED KINGDOM

Please note that you cannot fly your pet with you or using a flight volunteer directly into the UK. Pets can only enter the UK by car, train or ferry.

If you wish to fly your pet into the UK directly, your pet can only enter the UK by plane via manifest cargo (see Transport Option 3 section below).

🔸Option 1a

Fly the pet to Paris and take the Eurotunnel, also known as Le Shuttle, from Calais to Folkestone.
- Pets cannot be taken on the Eurostar passenger train from Paris or Brussels to London.
- Eurostar trains are for foot passengers only, while Eurotunnel Le Shuttle allows the transportation of vehicles and pets.

🔸Option 1b

Fly your pet to Amsterdam and take the ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich International Port.

🔸Option 2

Use a Pet Transport Service that can drive your pet all the way from Türkiye to your address in the UK. It takes about 5 days to drive.
It’s safe and Defra approved transporters. It costs about £1,200 for a dog and about £800 for a cat.
Using this option is also hassle-free in terms of obtaining Export Health Certificates as the transporter handles all the paperwork.
We can share the details of the transporter we use for our rescue animals. Get in touch with us via the Contact page for more information.

🔸Option 3

Please note that pets are not allowed to fly into the UK directly by plane as in the cabin or hold section of the aircraft.
The pet would have to travel as manifest cargo, meaning that the pet can’t travel in the cabin or as luggage.
There are only two airports in the UK to which you can fly with your pet: London Heathrow and Edinburgh
You’ll have to engage the services of an agent in Türkiye to organise this and also need a handling agent here in the UK to handle the UK arrivals. Paperwork is handled by the agents. This option can cost up to £1,500 per cat and about £3,000 per dog.
Agents
- Türkiye - Dynamic Int'l (Dcargo) is an Istanbul-based Air Cargo Company https://www.dcargo.com
- United Kingdom - JCS Pet Travel https://www.jamescargo.com/pets can act as the agents for UK clearance
- There are other agents you can use. You should research and get quotes.
- Please Note that you will need two separate agents - one in Türkiye and another in the UK

Paris to UK via the Calais Eurotunnel to Folkestone

Organise transport from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to Calais Eurotunnel.
Take the Eurotunnel from Calais to Folkestone. You need to bring your pet to the pet reception at either Calais. Simply follow the paw print signs to the Pet Reception building, located before check-in on the Calais Terminal.
Another alternative is the Le Pet Express Shuttle, which offers a service for pet owners traveling without a car, picking them up at the rail station in France and dropping them off in the UK.
If you don’t have a car or anyone picking you up at the airport, you can either organise a pet taxi or someone to meet you at the airport and drive to Calais Eurotunnel.
Please note the pets have to travel in a car on the train. There are pet taxis that offer this service. You should research these and get quotes.

Amsterdam to UK via the Ferry from Hook of Holland to Harwich International Port

Organise transport from Amsterdam Schiphol Airport to Hook of Holland port by train or taxi.
You can take your pet from Hook of Holland to Harwich on the Stena Line ferry. The ferry offers pet-friendly cabins where you can bring up to 2 pets per passenger, and there are also kennels available.
Traveling on foot - If you are traveling on foot, you must book the onboard kennel for your pet; otherwise, your pet may not be permitted to travel.
Traveling by car - If your pet is traveling inside your vehicle, you must ensure that your pet at all times remains inside your vehicle, and the ventilation inside your vehicle is good, and your pet's welfare is well catered for.
Onboard kennel - Pets can travel inside your vehicle; however, it is recommended that dogs should be placed in the kennel.

THE EUROPEAN UNION

You can fly your pet from any of the airports in Türkiye to your destination airport in any European city. You can also drive your pet from Türkiye to your European destination country. Alternatively, you can engage the services of a pet transporter.

UNITED STATES AND CANADA

Fly your pet using Turkish Airlines from Istanbul to your destination airport. You can either fly your pet yourself or find a flight volunteer to escort your pet.

EXPORT HEALTH CERTIFICATE - Also known as Health Certificate

For your pet to leave Türkiye, you need to obtain an Export Health Certificate from your local Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, Gıda ve Kontrol Genel Müdürlüğü (Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry General Directorate of Food and Control).
- These offices are simply known as Tarım Offices (İl / ilçe Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı).

Export Health Certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue.
Note on Export Health Certificate - VERY IMPORTANT: If you are entering the UK via the EU, you must obtain two sets of Export Health Certificates - one to enter the EU, another for the UK. You must specifically ask for this, as the Tarım offices don’t issue this automatically. They look identical, just different heading on the certificate.
For the EU, USA and Canada, you just need the one Export Health Certificate.
Make sure that the information on Export Health Certificates matches the pet’s information on the Pet Passport.

TARIM OFFICE PROCEDURE

What you need to bring with you to the Tarım Office:
- Pet Passport - detailing out Microchip, Rabies Vaccination and other vaccination
- Titre Test Report
- Cat or the dog - their microchip will be scanned at the Tarım Office
It’s advisable to book an appointment with Tarım Office in advance and allow up to 3 hours for the process.
The person who is traveling with the pet needs to go to the Tarım Office.
If the passenger is a flight volunteer, then the pet's ownership needs to be transferred to the person who is accompanying the pet. You may have to get a notarised letter from the owner giving permission to the person (flight volunteer) to travel with your pet.
If the person traveling with the pet is not a Turkish Citizen, you will need to do the transfer of ownership at the vets using this link https://dijital.gib.gov.tr](https://dijital.gib.gov.tr and need a temporary tax ID.
Try not to go to the Tarım Office on a Friday if your flight is on Monday. If things are not in order, then you can’t get it fixed over the weekend.

For the UK - You should have Pet Passport, Export Health Certificate for the EU, Export Health Certificate for the UK and Declaration for the UK before leaving Türkiye.

TURKISH AIRLINES PET RESERVATION AND BOARDING OF PETS PROCESS

To transport your pet on a flight, a reservation must be made with the airline and confirmed before the flight departure time.
If you are reserving a pet onto a flight volunteer ticket or on behalf of someone, always get the flight ticket number to quote when you call the Turkish Airlines. Turkish Airline ticket numbers usually start with 235.
Ideally, reserve your pet on the flight as soon as you’ve purchased your tickets.
A maximum of two pets are accepted for each passenger.
The pet’s flight fare is paid on the day of the flight, and the cost is determined by the weight of the pet.

Passengers traveling with in-cabin pets must be kept in a carrier that fits underneath the seat in front of the passenger.
If your pet weighs more than 8 kg with its cage, then the airline will transport your pet through the cargo section of the aircraft. To ensure that your pets travel safely in the aircraft hold, the cage must be hard-cased.

ISTANBUL AIRPORT PROCEDURE

Go to a check-in desk with the pet.
Do the checking as per normal, and the pet will be weighed along with paperwork inspection, Export Health Certificates and Pet Passport.
Then go to the Turkish Airline sales desk to pay for the pet’s flight fare.
Arrive at least 3 hours before the flight. It takes some time to complete both passenger and pet check-in processes.
If your pet is a cat, try to put a harness on for the airport procedure as the security may ask you to take the cat out of the carrier, which can stress the cat and escape.
It’s better to have some sort of see-through carrier for the cat.
Dogs will go to the cargo section.

DISCLAIMER

Please note that we can't guarantee the validity of all the information or the latest requirements or any changes to the rules. This guide is intended to help you navigate the process of bringing a pet into the UK, EU, USA and Canada, but it may not cover every specific detail. As we receive feedback, we will endeavor to update this guide accordingly.