How to Bring Your Pets into Turkey?
Bring Your Pets into Turkey
What documentation do I need to take my pet to Turkey?
It is possible to bring two pet cats and dogs from the UK to Turkey and vice versa if all the necessary paperwork is in order and they have received all the required vaccinations.
In general, you’ll need to give your pet four months before they can travel and, as a guide, do the following:
How do I take my pet to Turkey?
You must follow these steps to take your cat or dog to Turkey.
- Microchipping is mandatory for dogs and cats
- Vaccination against rabies is required (it can be done on the same day as microchipping).
- After 30 days of vaccination, your vet needs to take a blood sample and send it to a state-approved laboratory in your home country for a titer test to ensure the vaccine works. You’ll get the results in about two weeks, but give it a month.
- Then it’s three months of ‘home quarantine‘. For pets travelling from Turkey, ensure 90 days have passed since the vet’s blood test. Upon leaving the UK, animals can travel before the 90-day waiting period, but they may be required to complete a home quarantine in Turkey, arranged at the local customs office when they arrive.
- Suppose your pet is departing from Turkey 48 hours before departure. The pet will need parasite treatment (worming, fleas, ticks), a passport (or equivalent), etc. passbook in Turkey) will have to be updated and stamped by the local veterinarian, and a Health Certificate obtained from the State Agriculture Department by the mode of travel (air or land). At that time, the microchip will be tested to ensure it is detectable. Your local veterinarian can arrange it. For pets leaving the United Kingdom, a DEFRA export licence must be obtained and completed by a UK government veterinarian, and similar health checks and parasitical treatments will be required.
- All participating countries must stamp the passport or passbook to verify the animal’s health.
- There are now five days left for the pet to reach its destination.
What do you need to know about taking your pet to Turkey?
- Using a pet transportation company. The above procedures must be followed strictly, so you should use a reliable agency. Pets can be transported by air from the UK with the help of various pet transport companies. Some pet owners fly into Europe, like Belgium or The Netherlands, for onward travel to the UK.
It is also possible to transport pets overland to the United Kingdom.
- Make sure you do your research before booking a flight. Turkish Airlines is the only airline that transports pets to and from Turkey. A specialist transportation company is highly recommended when transporting pets by air from the UK. Most people fly their animals to Belgium or the Netherlands for overland travel from Turkey. The procedure is more straightforward, and there is a more excellent selection of airlines than Turkish Airlines alone.
- Under 10 kilograms, animals can travel with passengers in the aircraft as excess baggage, but you’ll need to check with the airline about what they consider a suitable carrier.
- Make sure your pet is vaccinated. Making sure you have the proper immunizations and paperwork in order is critical. Plan your trip up to four months in advance.
- Purchase a suitable pet carrier. It is likely that each airline has its requirements, as stated above, so it is essential to verify these before booking. When you use a pet transportation company, you’ll be able to provide suitable carriers and know the rules about air travel and overland travel.
- Upon arrival, you will be required to clear customs. Clearance costs for pets entering Turkey will likely be around $700 (for two pets), covering IMP documents, stamps, customs clearance, storage, and veterinary fees. These costs are on top of what pet transportation companies charge, but they can recommend an agent. Other things to consider are how long customs clearance will take, whether this facility is open on weekends and whether there are animal hotels nearby if you need them.
Travelling with pets in Turkey
Bring pet food if your pet is flying in the cabin. Give the airline assistant feeding instructions and food when checking your pet into cargo.
Expect a wait at your destination airport while your pets’ paperwork is checked. You may be lucky, but if you’re travelling during the high season or when the airport is busy, there might be a delay.
You may need to get your pets checked by a vet periodically while in Turkey. To make sure they stay healthy and follow procedures.
Pet supplies in Turkey
Pet supplies are available in most towns, cities, and resorts. Especially in areas with many ex-pats, big supermarkets like Migros sell dried and canned pet food.
It can be expensive to buy brand names and special nutritional pet foods. Pet owners often buy pet food in bulk, look for special offers, or make batches home by buying cheap meat, tripe, or offal.
Turkey’s Animal Welfare
Turks like animals but don’t keep pets as we do in the UK. Animals with us, such as chickens, goats, cows, sheep, etc., are kept and owned by them. Many people own dogs but they are typically kept outside and used to protect other livestock or their homes. Street dogs and stray cats are familiar sights around Turkey’s towns, cities, and resorts. Turkey does not have a large number of animal welfare organizations or charities. Turkey needs help controlling strays with little in place to limit future numbers. Foreigners and ex-pats sometimes find animal welfare in Turkey disturbing and challenging, so many adopt local stray cats and dogs.