Can you bring a pet into Turkey?

Rules for travelling to Turkey with a cat, dog, bird or aquarium fish. A passenger may bring a total of 2 cats, dogs or birds, or 10 aquarium fish; a veterinary check at the border is mandatory and pets cannot be sent by post or courier.

As a passenger Conditions apply Only cats, dogs and birds — a total of 2 animals — or 10 aquarium fish may enter with the passenger. Details ↓

By post or courier Not allowed Pets cannot be sent by post or express courier; they may only enter with a passenger. Details ↓

Bringing it with you

Only cats, dogs and birds — a total of 2 animals — or 10 aquarium fish may enter with the passenger. Entry is not possible until the veterinary check at the border crossing is completed.

Allowance2 animals (cat/dog/bird) or 10 aquarium fish

Documents

Veterinary health report
Certificate of origin and vaccination
Identification and description document, if any
Microchip (ISO 11784) record

Good to know

Checks are carried out by veterinarians at the air, land and sea border crossings of entry.
Depending on the country, a rabies antibody titration test may be required; entry is possible no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample is taken.
An animal with missing documents may be placed in quarantine.

Legal basis: Decision 2009/15481, Annex 9 B/f-9 · Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

Sending it by post or courier

Pets cannot be sent by post or express courier; they may only enter with a passenger.

Legal basis: Decision 2009/15481, Annex 9 B/f-9 · Ministry of Trade Passenger Guide

Veterinary requirements for cats and dogs

Besides the customs allowance, the animal must meet the health requirements of the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. The Ministry's requirements for cats, dogs and ferrets are:

Identification: the animal must be identified by a clearly readable tattoo or a microchip. The microchip must comply with ISO 11784 and be readable by an ISO 11785-compliant reader; if needed, the person responsible for the animal must provide the reader at inspection.
Rabies vaccination: an inactivated or recombinant vaccine listed in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) manual. The vaccination date cannot be earlier than the microchip date; a booster not given within the validity period of the previous vaccination counts as a first vaccination.
Rabies antibody titration test: a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination is tested in an EU-approved laboratory; the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. Entry into Turkey is possible no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample is taken.
For an animal whose vaccinations are up to date and whose passport records an acceptable titre result, the test is not required again.
For an animal leaving Turkey and returning, the 3-month waiting period does not apply if an acceptable titre result was obtained before leaving Turkey.
Entry of unvaccinated cats and dogs younger than 3 months depends on health conditions set by the Ministry according to the rabies situation of the country of origin.

The Ministry's example timeline: rabies vaccination on 1 April → earliest blood sample on 1 May → earliest entry on 1 August. The vaccination day counts as day 0.

Documents to carry at the border

Pet passport — showing that the rabies vaccination is valid and that other species-specific vaccinations and treatments were given
Original rabies titration test result
Veterinary health certificate — issued by the official veterinary authority of the country of origin; valid for 4 months after signature or until the vaccination expires, whichever comes first

The documents must be issued separately for each animal. Cats, dogs and ferrets travelling with a passenger may enter only through border crossings designated by the Ministry (Regulation, Art. 10); when planning your trip, check that your arrival airport or border crossing is on that list. The check is carried out by the veterinarian at the border crossing; the animal cannot enter Turkey until the veterinary check is complete.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bring a pet into Turkey as a passenger?

Yes, with conditions. Only cats, dogs and birds — a total of 2 animals — or 10 aquarium fish may enter with the passenger. Entry is not possible until the veterinary check at the border crossing is completed.

Can a pet be sent to Turkey by post or courier?

No. Pets cannot be sent by post or express courier; they may only enter with a passenger.

What is the Turkey customs allowance for pets?

Allowance: 2 animals (cat/dog/bird) or 10 aquarium fish.

Do I pay customs duty on a pet?

As a passenger, no customs duty is due within the Annex 9 allowance. Allowance: 2 animals (cat/dog/bird) or 10 aquarium fish. It cannot be sent by post or courier.

What documents do I need for a pet?

As a passenger: Veterinary health report, Certificate of origin and vaccination, Identification and description document, if any, Microchip (ISO 11784) record.

Does my dog need a rabies titer test to enter Turkey?

According to Turkey's Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, a rabies antibody titration test is done on a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, in an EU-approved laboratory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml; entry is possible no earlier than 3 months after the blood sample. The test is not required again for an animal whose vaccinations are up to date and whose passport records an acceptable titre result.

How early should I prepare to bring my cat or dog to Turkey?

At least about four months: rabies vaccination, then a blood sample at least 30 days later, then entry no earlier than 3 months after the sample. The Ministry's example: vaccination on 1 April, blood sample on 1 May, earliest entry on 1 August.