Pet import requirements for Turkiye

Turkiye at a glance

The detail

Highly Recommended. Highly Recommended. Republic of Türkiye is a country mainly located in Anatolia in West Asia, with a smaller part called East Thrace in Southeast Europe. Have the HAWB issued to ANK, IST, ADB, ESB, SAW, and ADA unless the airline assigns a different live-animal station.

Import requirements

No pets under 4 months old.

There is no clear Rule for animals giving birth during flight. When an in cident occurs, action is taken according to the decision made by the customs administration and border control of ficers at that time.

Owner should be travelling on the same flight & date.

Turkish Customs regulations only allow 2 pets for one person per AWB.

Owners with Passport

Pet passport / Health record

Microchip

Valid Rabies

Rabies Blood Test (30 Days after last rabies date)

Same day clearance depends on arrival time

Strongly recommend avoiding week-end arrival due customs and PET Hotel facility (excluding TK)

• Owner should be travelling on the same flight & date.
• Turkish Customs regulations only allow 2 pets for one person per AWB.
• Owners with Passport
• Pet passport / Health record
• Microchip
• Proof of Valid Rabies
• Rabies Blood Test (30 Days after last rabies date)
• Same day clearance depends on arrival time

Strongly recommend avoiding week-end arrival due customs and PET (s9 accommodation issue)

• Notarized Power of attorney for customs broker
• Tax office registration
• Proforma in voice
• Pet import certificate from Agriculture and Rural Ministry
• Pet passport / Health record
• Microchip
• Proof of Valid Rabies
• Rabies Blood test 30 Days after last rabies date
• Commercial consignments must be pre-approved from the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry
• CITES (if needed)

Turkiye applies restriction for bird entry due to AVIAN INFLUENZA, foot and mouth disease in Origin country or zones.

Identification and microchip

Microchip Required/PET Passport (microchip date before last rabies vaccination is recommended).

Rabies and vaccinations

Pets must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entry.

RABIES 30 days before the departure.

Tick and Echinococcus Treatment is not mandatory but is strongly recommended in case of a sudden change in the rule.

Tests and treatments

All pets (even coming from rabies free countries) travelling to Turkiye must have a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the most recent rabies vaccination (with the date of vaccination counting as day 0) and details of a successful serological test endorsed by EU Approved Laboratory. Pet will be rejected if testing is not done by approved laboratory.

If RABIES chain is not broken and completed timely, it keeps validity, the waiting period after serum taken date: + 90 days If a domestic animal of Turkish origin goes to another country and returns.

in this case, if there is a final report obtained before departure from Turkey showing that it has an acceptable anti-rabies antibody titer test,

the 3 (three) month period condition is not required.

To prevent fraud in blood tests for PETs leaving TURKEY, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has started a new practice. If desired, they will be able to verify the Rabies Antibody Titer Test results by entering the protocol number in the link below. Thus, fake Titer Tests will be prevented.

https://hbs.tarbil.gov.tr/Main/Antikortitre

Internal and External treatments within a month prior to import. (recommended)

Health certificate and permits

Official Health Certificate 48 hours before departure.

*With immediate effect, IST Airport Border Control Directorate no longer accepts foreign health certificates prepared according to the foreign country format. All PETs must enter with the document called EK-2.

EK-2- Health Certificate

Especially for manifested PETs, obtain preliminary permission from the Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point Directorate.

Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point Directorate

Address: Tayakadın Mahallesi Nuri Demirağ Cad. No: 33 ( Kargo Terminalı Acenteler Binası ) İç Kapı No: 205-209 numaralı odalar Arnavutköy/İSTANBUL

Tel: 0212 471 42 45

Fax: 0212 471 32 45

E-Mail: istanbul.vskn@tarimorman.gov.tr

Not required. But, one day before arrival, Veterinary Entry Document should be obtained from AGRICULTURE AND FOREST MINISTRY ATATURK AIRPORT VETERINER BORDER CONTROL POINT DIRECTORATE to expedite the clearance.

A new CITES must be taken before the clearance from the following department 1st Regional Directorate

• Address: Buyukdere Cad. Fatih Orman Kamps. No:265 Sariyer/ IST
• Tel: (0212)2625756(PBX)
• Fax: (0212)2625179
• E-mail: bolge1.dkmp@tarimorman.gov.tr

Health Certificate

Government Site for Forms

Quarantine

Quarantine facility is not available. Animal stays at import warehouse until customs decisions. Sometimes it takes days, even weeks.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Only 2 pets per person are allowed.

Restricted Breeds:

Pit-Bull Terrier, Japanese Tosaya, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Staffordshire, Roman Fighting Dog, Bandog Tosa Inu, Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, and similar dangerous breeds or mix breeds of such.

Turkiye applies restriction from certain areas of the world (countries or zones in the countries) for bird entry due to AVIAN INFLUENZA in Origin country or zones.

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly Recommended

IATA:

IST – ISTANBUL AIRPORT

ICAO:

LTFM

Ground:

EDIRNE – IPSALA

Tel: 90 (284) 616 15 73

Fax:90 (284) 616 15 85

E-Posta: ednkapipsgm@ticaret.gov.tr

EDIRNE - KAPIKULE

Tel: 90 (284) 215 21 50/

4100

Fax: 90 (284) 238 20 22

E-Posta: edntirgm@ticaret.gov.tr

ISTANBUL – GALATAPORT

Tel: 0 212 243 21 79

Faks: 0 212 243 21 39

E-posta: istkrkgm@ticaret.gov.tr

Airports listed on this destination file: ANK, IST, ADB, ESB, SAW, ADA.

For customs clearance, a professional PET clearance agent is strongly recommended due to pre-application, getting approval from the border control department, and customs clearance.

Due to facility and daily customs clearance practices, the best entry point is ISTANBUL AIRPORT

Unless otherwise is applicable, the best and cheapest way, to bring PET as in-cabin or with check-in baggage status.

If owners are forced to use manifested cargo way, they should work with an IPATA member agent for clearance.

Once pet/pets arrive at Istanbul Airport it takes 2~3 hours to get import documents and release order from Airline.

Animal rooms are available, but animal hotel is not available. Same day clearance depends on the arrival time & day.

With import documents and release order, first apply import declaration from Quarantine center. Quarantine vet will check the documents to see if there will be quarantine or not and then he/she approve the import declaration and customs clearance proceed.

It takes normally 5~6 hours to clear the pet after landing.

Pets arriving after 15:00 will be cleared with overtime payment

Weekend clearance is subject to pre-approval and overtime payment

Export notes

For non-commercial

• Microchipping before RABIES vaccination.
• +30 Days waiting period after RABIES vaccination.
• Health certificate prepared according to the destination country, 48 hours before departure.
• Blood test, if necessary.
• Making a reservation and obtaining confirmation in advance through an IATA licensed agency if manifested PET entry is mandatory at destination.
• If owner is out of TURKIYE, or unable attend the clearance formalities in TURKIYE, power of attorney from a public notary or Turkish Consulate (issuing agent provides a template)

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

For exotic animals animals only.

Animal Welfare

To prevent fraud in blood tests for PETs leaving TURKEY, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry has started a new practice. If desired, they will be able to verify the Rabies Antibody Titer Test results by entering the protocol number in the link below. Thus, fake Titer Tests will be prevented.

https://hbs.tarbil.gov.tr/Main/Antikortitre

Same

On 14th June 2021, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry disseminated a new circular letter stating that pets, such as dogs, cats, birds, and ornamental fish, which are cared for at home, have a health card and are not for commercial purposes, may travel with their owners. Upon returning from abroad, it was decided to provide 14 days of animal isolation with the animal owner.

Turkish Customs to lerate the manifest PET entries if certain conditions are met. If the owner of the animal is flying on the same plane with the PET, blood test is available and the health certificate is in accordance with the required norms and received 48 hours in advance, the quarantine control directorate provides the VETERINARY ENTRY Certificate VGB for PET entry. Customs clearance can be made based on this document received.

In advance of the relevant application with copy of the documents, and because of the long customs clearance procedures, the animal owners, or their agents overseas who will make this organization, we would recommend working with a local agency in Turkey.

Same day customs clearance depends on the arrival time of the aircraft, and it is necessary to try not to match the manifest PET entries to the end of the week.

Note: Border Quarantine Control Department has opened a new branch office at IST New Airport

Official contacts

ISTANBUL AIRPORT VETERINARY BORDER CONTROL POINT DIRACTORATE

Address: Tayakadnn Mahallesi Nuri Demirag Cad. No: 33 ( Kargo Terminali Acenteler Binasi ) Ic Kapi No: 205-209 numarali odalar Arnavutkoy/İSTANBUL

Tel: +90 212 471 42 45

Fax: +90 212 471 32 45

E-Mail: istanbul.vskn@tarimorman.gov.tr

T.R. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND FORESTRYAddress: Üniversite Mah. Dumlupınar Boulevard, No: 161, 06800, Çankaya/ANKARA

Tel: 0312 287 33 60 (PBX)

Republic Of Turkey Ministry Of Agriculture And Forestry

Eskisehir Road 9th

Km Lodumlu / ANKARA

Tel: +90 312 287-3360 (PBX)

Email: tarimbilgi@tarim.gov.tr

Website

Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Livestock

Caddebostan, Bağdat Cad. No:307,

34728 Kadıköy/İstanbul

Tel: +90 216 468-2100

Website

ISTANBUL AIRPORT VETERINER SINIR KONTROL NOKTASIN MUDURLUGU /ISTANBUL AIRPORT VBIP

Tel: 0212 471 42 45

Fax: 0212 471 32 45

Address: Istanbul Havalimanı Kargo Terminali Hava Kargo Acenteler Binası Kat:2 Oda No:205-206-207-208-209 Tayakadİn Mah. Arnavutkoy/Istanbul

WebsiteIstanbul City Nutrition, Agriculture and Livestock Directorate

Tel: +90 216 468-2100 ext. 1238

E-mail: hayvansagligi@istanbultarim.gov.tr

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture And Forestry

1st regional directorate (For CITES Applications)

Tel: +90 212 262 57 56 (PBX)

E-mail: bolge1.dkmp@tarimorman.gov.tr

• Contact the originating country's department of animal health to determine if import health requirements are on file for the destination country.
• If not, contact the originating country's Agricultural Officer at the Embassy or Consulate in the destination country. They should be able to provide the import health requirements in the language of the originating country.
• Alternatively, go to the source in the destination country and contact the country's Department of Animal Health.
• IPATA members

Republic Of Turkey Ministry Of Agriculture And Forestry

Eskisehir Road 9th

Km Lodumlu / ANKARA

Tel: +90 312 287-3360 (PBX)

Email: tarimbilgi@tarim.gov.tr

Website

Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Food, Agriculture and Livestock

Caddebostan, Bagdat Cad. No:307,

34728 Kadikoy/Istanbul

Tel: +90 216 468-2100

Website

Atatürk Airport Border Veterinary Control Directorate (also responsible from IST New Airport)

Tel: +90 212 471-4245

e-mail: ahl.vskn@gmail.com

Istanbul City Nutrition, Agriculture and Livestock Directorate

Tel: +90 216 468-2100 ext. 1238

E-mail: hayvansagligi@istanbultarim.gov.tr

Republic of Turkey Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry

1st regional directorate (For CITES Applications)

Tel: +90 212 262 57 56 (PBX)

E-mail: bolge1.dkmp@tarimorman.gov.tr

Current as of January 2024

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2026-01-24.

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