If you’re planning on relocating or traveling with your pet to Turkey, there’s an exhaustive list of things you need to plan ahead for. Proper planning should be done a month in advance to make sure you have everything in order.
The majority of these regulations and precautions apply to domestic dogs, ferrets and cats but if you have other pets you plan on bringing, they may be subject to different regulations.
NOTE: Regulations and requirements change. Please contact your travel destinations’ proper authorities before entering the country.
Pets Other Than Dogs, Cats & Ferrets
If you have a bird, you’ll be required to obtain an import permit. Additionally, there are some pets that won’t be required to have a rabies vaccination but will more than likely require a health certificate with other additional requirements depending on the pet. This list includes:
- Amphibia
- Mammals such as rabbits and rodents
- Reptiles
- Tropical fish
- Invertebrates
For specific information on the exact requirements of these pets, you’re advised to seek out information from your country of origin and your destination country.
Microchip Requirements and Standards
Every pet entering the country must have a microchip, there are no exceptions. Every microchip must be up to code ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.
Medical Information and Vaccines
These are a list of vaccines and additional medical information required for your pet’s entry.
#1 – Airline Health Certificate or otherwise known as the APHIS 7001. These need to be filled out 10 days before your departure.
#2 – There are additional vaccines for your dogs that must be completed within at least 4 weeks before travel. This list includes Parainfluenza, Leptospirosis, Parvovirus, Bordetella, Rabies, Hepatitis and Distemper.
#3 – Cats must have additional vaccines completed at least 4 weeks before travel which includes: Calicivirus, Panleukopenia, Feline Viral Rhinotracheitis and Rabies
To make sure these certificates are valid, make sure they’re authorized at least two weeks before your arrival.
Pets that are Banned from Entering Turkey
Not all pets will be permitted into Turkey, even with the required certificates. There’s a lengthy list of dog breeds that will not be allowed into the country and this list includes:
- Rottweilers
- American Pit Bull Terriers
- Bull Terriers
- American Staffordshire
- Japanese Tosa
- Neopolitan Mastiff
- Spanish Mastiff
- Dogue De Bordeux
- Roman Fighting Dog
- Bandog Tosa Inu
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Any and all mongrel breeds
If you have a question concerning your specific breed, you should contact the customs of Turkey and ask beforehand if your breed is permitted.
Obtaining a Health Certificate
If you’re travelling from the United States or Canada, you’re going to be required to have a Veterinary Certificate for Turkey. The vet who completes this certificate MUST be CFIA certified or recognized by the USDA. This certificate must be done 10 days prior to your flight to Turkey. For people travelling to Turkey outside of the United States and Canada should have a veterinarian recognized by the government to authorize and fill out these forms.
Turtles and Parrots
It’s important to check whether or not that your pet is not protected under the CITES regulations. CITES stands for (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora). More than 180 different countries enforce the CITES regulations and if your pet is protected by these regulations, you will need to check to see what additional permits are required.
Cats and Dogs Under 3 Months of Age
The most important requirement when importing a kitten or puppy under 3 months of age is to have a qualified veterinarian issue a health declaration that states the pet has not been in contact with any wild animals. They also may travel with their parent as long as the parent pet has met all of the qualifications. The county of origin for puppies and kittens must be in a country where there’s no outbreak of rabies and it’s strongly controlled.
Also, there are a few other additional requirements:
- Your pet must not have any internal or external parasites
- Your pet must be in good health
- Must not have any diseases that can transfer over to humans
- You’ll need permission from the Ministry before hand
- You must send in your passport for prior approval
Requirements for Entering Turkey by Flight
When your pets arrive, they will be examined at the airport and they must be free of any transferable diseases to humans. Be warned that if your pet isn’t in good health, there will be an additional examination in Turkey and you will be required to pay for it. If you’d like your pet cleared the same day as your flight’s landing, the pet must arrive before 11:30AM.
To avoid paying taxes on your pets, your pets must arrive accompanied. The owner of the pet is required to be present at customs or have a Power of Attorney on their behalf. You may also have a passport that shows you will arrive within 30 days of your pet’s arrival.
Will My Pets Be Quarantined?
Your pets will not be quarantined as long as a titter test has been successfully completed within 3 months prior to entering Turkey. You should note that if your pet doesn’t have a titter test done 3 months prior, it will then be subject to home quarantine for 4 months.
It’s important to have your veterinarian inform the laboratory doing the test of your destination country.
Is There Anything Else I Should Know?
As regulations do change, you should contact the proper authorities ahead of time to ask for required documentation or ask any questions you may have.
- Make sure you have the passport of the pet owner on hand at the time of arrival
- A Rabies Vaccine Certificate should be on hand
- An APHIS 7001 form will be required and it must be USDA certified
- An authorized import permit
