Bringing Your Pets into Turkey:

Essential Guidelines and Tips

Traveling to Turkey with your pets is possible, provided you adhere to the required procedures and paperwork. Here’s a comprehensive guide to ensure a smooth journey for your furry friends.

Requirements for Bringing Pets to Turkey

1. Microchipping and Vaccination
• Microchip: Your pet must be microchipped before traveling.
• Rabies Vaccination: Administer the rabies vaccine on the same day as the microchipping.
2. Rabies Titer Test
• After 30 days from the rabies vaccination, a blood sample should be taken by your local vet and sent to a state-approved laboratory for a titer test to ensure the efficacy of the vaccination. This process may take around a month.
3. Home Quarantine
• A home quarantine period of three months is mandatory after the titer test.
4. Parasite Treatment
• 48 hours before departure, treat your pet for parasites and get the pet passport updated and stamped by a local vet.
5. Health Certificate
• Obtain a health certificate from the State Agriculture Department and ensure the microchip scans correctly.
6. Travel Arrangements
• Pets must travel within five days of receiving the health certificate.

Using Pet Transportation Companies

It is recommended to use a reliable pet transportation company to ensure all procedures are strictly followed. These companies can also provide suitable carriers and handle customs clearance.

Travel Options

1. Air Travel
• Turkish Airlines is the primary airline for pets traveling between the UK and Turkey, typically via Istanbul. Pets under 10 kilograms can travel as excess baggage in the cabin with the passenger.
2. Overland Travel
• Many pet owners prefer flying their pets into Belgium or The Netherlands for easier onward travel due to the availability of multiple airline carriers.

Documentation and Customs

1. DEFRA Export License
• Required for pets departing from the UK, completed by a UK government vet.
2. Customs Clearance in Turkey
• Costs approximately $700 for two pets, covering various fees including IMP documents, customs clearance, storage, and veterinary charges.

Tips for Traveling with Pets

• Bring pet food for the journey.
• Be prepared for potential delays at customs.
• Periodic health checks by a vet may be required while in Turkey.

Pet Supplies in Turkey

Pet supplies are readily available in towns, cities, and resorts. Larger supermarkets like Migros offer a range of pet food, though special nutritional foods can be pricey. Buying in bulk or preparing homemade food can be cost-effective.

General Animal Welfare in Turkey

While Turks do like animals, they often keep working animals rather than pets. Street dogs and stray cats are common, and animal welfare organizations are limited. Many ex-pats adopt strays, contributing to animal welfare.