Paws, Passports & Practical Tips

Our beloved companions, with whom we share our lives, bring us joy and happiness, fill our lives with wonderful moments through their unconditional love, and become an inseparable part of our family…

As we share our homes and our lives with them, of course we want them by our side when we travel, too. But when it comes to travelling between countries, especially between England and Türkiye, we can face procedures that may seem quite complicated at first.

Which documents are required?
When should the rabies vaccination and antibody test be done?
Can our cat or dog travel with us in the aircraft cabin? Can they travel in the hold?
Is it possible to travel to England via France or the Netherlands?
And perhaps most importantly: how far in advance should we start preparing?

With the right information and timely planning, this process that can feel daunting becomes much easier to understand and manage.

The story of Achille and Ares
I adopted my darling boy Achille from Türkiye, choosing a slightly more demanding route instead of the easy one. By bringing Achille to England via France, I had the opportunity to learn and experience first-hand the preparations and procedures required for international travel.

There is also Ares, our cat, whom I found in Istanbul when he was still tiny enough to fit in the palm of my hand, close to death beside a rubbish bin, and adopted. That day he was a tiny soul in need of love and care; today he is our family's chubby, comfort-loving member!

We tried hard to help him lose a little weight, but honestly, we did not do very well. What can he do? After a life that began beside a rubbish bin took a completely different turn in a home where he is wrapped in love, he has become thoroughly fond of comfort. He eats, drinks, sleeps and enjoys life!

We want to bring Ares with us, too. But when we came up against the common 8 kg cabin limit, I discovered Vueling, which accepts cats and dogs weighing up to 10 kg including their carrier. Of course, this option is not available on direct flights to England. We are now planning a suitable flight and onward route via Europe. If all goes well, our cat boy will join us in the spring.

Who is this guide for?

That is why, in this guide I prepared for Biz Bize UK readers, I wanted to bring together information that anyone might need:

• ·People who want to travel from England to Türkiye with their cat or dog;Those who will return to England after their holiday;
  Those bringing their furry companion from Türkiye to England for the first time.

My aim is not only to list the official procedures, but also to explain as clearly as possible why each step is needed, when it should be completed, the different travel options, and important details to keep in mind during the journey.

Because the health, safety and comfort of our companions will always be my top priority on these journeys.

1. Where should we begin?

When we decide to travel with our furry friend, the first things that usually come to mind are the plane ticket, the carrier, or what the journey will be like. In reality, we may need to start preparing much earlier.

Some steps can be completed within a few days, while others can take months, particularly because of the rabies antibody test and mandatory waiting periods.

My first recommendation: speak to our vet and plan our travel timeline before buying our plane ticket.

Microchip: our companion's identity
The first step is the microchip. A microchip is a small electronic device placed under our companion's skin by a vet, carrying a unique identification number. This number allows identity, vaccination and travel documents to be matched.

Please note: The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination or on the same day, before the vaccination is given. Otherwise, the earlier vaccination may not be accepted for travel.

Rabies vaccination: a basic travel requirement
Rabies vaccination is one of the most important health requirements for international travel with cats and dogs.

The first rabies vaccination can be given from 12 weeks of age.
For entry into England, we must wait at least 21 full days after the first vaccination, depending on the type of vaccine.
For travel from countries where an antibody test is required, this period can be much longer. England also requires an antibody test for arrivals from Türkiye.

We must also keep track of the rabies vaccination's validity date. A delayed booster may mean that some procedures and waiting periods have to start again.

What is a rabies antibody titre test?
The name may sound technical, but its purpose is simple: the test measures whether the rabies vaccine has produced a sufficient immune response in our companion.

At least 30 days after the first vaccination, our vet takes a blood sample and sends it to an authorised laboratory.
The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.

However, getting a suitable result does not mean we can travel immediately:

England: For a companion travelling from Türkiye for the first time, a three-month wait is required from the date the blood sample was taken.
Türkiye: Entry rules for accompanied pets specify a 90-day waiting period from the date the first test result is issued.

We should remember that the two countries calculate the waiting period from different dates.

If a suitable test result was obtained previously and rabies vaccinations have been renewed before they expired, the test may not need to be repeated. I therefore recommend keeping test results and all vaccination records carefully.

2. Travelling from England to Türkiye

Suppose we live in England and want to spend our summer holiday in Türkiye. Of course, we want to take our cat or dog with us. In what order should we proceed?

1. Speak to our vet. Have the microchip, rabies vaccination and antibody-test records checked. Complete any missing steps according to our travel date.
2. Check our rabies antibody test. We must have completed the test required by Türkiye's entry conditions and finished the waiting period. I would like to repeat that anyone taking the test for the first time should start preparations months in advance.
3. Arrange our official health certificate. The document used for cats and dogs travelling from England to Türkiye is the Export Health Certificate, or EHC 3818. An authorised Official Veterinarian completes it. According to Türkiye's guidance, the health certificate must be issued within two days before travel, so we should plan the appointment carefully.
4. Contact our airline. Before buying our own ticket, we need to find out whether our furry friend is accepted on the flight. Some airlines accept small companions in the cabin, while others carry them only in the hold or as air cargo. The number of animals accepted on one flight may also be limited.
5. Entry into Türkiye. On arrival, the microchip, vaccination records, antibody test and health certificate may be checked. Under Türkiye's rules, one passenger may travel with a maximum of two pets.

3. Returning to England after a holiday in Türkiye

After a lovely holiday, it is time to go home. There is one point I particularly want to emphasise: the documents we prepared to enter Türkiye may not, by themselves, be enough to return to England. I therefore recommend arranging the return requirements, if possible, before leaving England.

Antibody test
First, we should make sure our rabies antibody test is valid. A suitable rabies antibody test is required for our companions travelling from Türkiye to England. If a valid result was obtained previously and rabies vaccinations were renewed on time, the test may not need to be repeated.

Travel document
A Great Britain pet health certificate is required for a direct return from Türkiye to England.
This document must be endorsed by the competent official veterinary authorities in Türkiye. This can be done through the provincial or district directorates of agriculture and forestry in our area.
An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued in England can be used for return from certain countries only. We should not assume it is automatically valid for a direct return from Türkiye.

Important: If we plan to travel with our companion by entering another country before coming to England (for example, via Belgium or France), we also need to obtain the health certificates required by those countries.

Tip: Some provincial and district agriculture directorates in Türkiye may require all vaccination and medication details to be recorded in a Turkish pet passport. I recommend obtaining a Turkish pet passport for our companion and keeping their health history complete there, too.

Mandatory tapeworm treatment for entry into England
Dogs entering England must receive tapeworm treatment from a vet, except for certain country exemptions.

Timing: Treatment must be given at least 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before arrival in England.
Active ingredient: The treatment must contain praziquantel or an equivalent active ingredient proven effective against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis.
Record: The medicine's name and manufacturer, the date and time it was administered, and the vet's signature and stamp must be recorded in the official travel document.
Cats: This requirement does not apply to cats.

This is a very important detail: if a tapeworm medicine that does not contain these ingredients is used, there is a high chance of problems when returning to England. Routine treatment for internal parasites may not always meet England's mandatory tapeworm-treatment requirement. We should therefore tell our vet specifically that we want the treatment required for entry into England.

4. Internal and external parasites: what to remember before travelling

We should care about our companions' general health as much as their rabies vaccination and official documents. In some areas, including Türkiye, diseases carried by ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and other parasites can cause serious health problems. I recommend reviewing both internal and external parasite prevention with our vet before travelling.

Internal parasites: Appropriate prevention and, when needed, treatment should be planned for intestinal worms and tapeworms. We should remember, however, that not every internal-parasite medicine meets England's mandatory tapeworm-treatment requirement.
External parasites: Protection against fleas and ticks should be tailored to the risks in the area we will visit.
Diseases carried by mosquitoes and sand flies: In some parts of Türkiye, there may be a risk of diseases such as heartworm and leishmaniasis. We should ask our vet about prevention suitable for the destination and season.

These preventive measures are not all mandatory in the same way for entry into every country. Some are official entry requirements, while others are recommended to protect our companions' health.

Caution: Some external-parasite products that are safe for dogs can be poisonous to cats. We should not use medication without veterinary advice.

5. Bringing a cat or dog from Türkiye to England for the first time

Now consider another situation: we live in Türkiye and have decided to move to England. Of course, we do not want to leave behind our cat or dog, who is part of our family. In this case, we should begin preparing, if possible, four to five months in advance.

1. The microchip and a valid rabies vaccination must be in place.
2. At least 30 days after the first rabies vaccination, a blood sample must be taken for the antibody test and the result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml.
3. We must wait three months from the date the blood sample was taken.
4. The required export documents and the health certificate accepted by England must be prepared by the authorised veterinary authorities in Türkiye. If a Great Britain pet health certificate is used, our companion must enter England within ten days of the certificate being issued.
5. If we have a dog, the required tapeworm treatment must be completed within the correct time window.
6. Finally, we must use an entry route approved by England.

Remember: Having all of our companion's health documents completed does not mean they can enter England on any flight. The mode of transport must also comply with England's entry rules.

6. Air travel: in the cabin, in the hold, or as cargo?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions. In fact, there are three different ways to transport pets:

1.⁠ Method :⁠In cabin (PETC)
Where is the pet? In a carrier under the seat in front.
Is the owner on the same aircraft? Yes.
Note: The weight limit varies by airline.

2.⁠ ⁠Method :In the hold, accompanied passenger (AVIH)
Where is the pet? In a suitable live-animal area separate from the passenger cabin.
Is the owner on the same aircraft? Yes.
Note: The crate must be large enough for the pet to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.

3.⁠ Method :⁠Air cargo (Manifest Cargo)
Where is the pet? As cargo.
Is the owner on the same aircraft? Not required.
Note: A separate cargo booking, transport document, and collection and arrival procedures are required.

Cabin travel and weight limits
For example, under Turkish Airlines' general cabin policy, our companion and carrier together must not exceed 8 kg. However, each airline and route may have different rules.

Is there an option for companions over the 8 kg limit? Yes, some airlines have higher cabin weight limits. For example, on certain flights Vueling accepts cats and dogs in the cabin weighing up to 10 kg including the carrier. The carrier's maximum dimensions are 45 × 39 × 21 cm.

However, this service is not available on flights to England. Therefore, if we are planning to travel via Europe, we should check both the flight route and the onward transport method to England.

This is one of the options I have researched for Ares. Of course, his weight including the carrier must remain under the limit, and he needs to be able to move comfortably inside it.

An important detail about direct flights to England
Pets arriving in England, Scotland and Wales on commercial flights must travel as air cargo. This means that even if a small dog or cat meets the cabin weight limit, it cannot travel in the cabin with us on a direct flight to England. Exceptions apply to approved assistance dogs and certain private charter flights.

When travelling from England to Türkiye, cabin travel or travel in the hold as an accompanied passenger may be considered if the airline's and destination country's rules allow it.

7. Travelling to England via France or the Netherlands

There are alternatives for those who do not want to travel to England directly as air cargo. One option is to fly first to France or the Netherlands and then complete the rest of the journey by land or sea. When I adopted Achille from Türkiye, I also chose to bring him to England via France.

Via France: We can fly from Türkiye to Paris, drive to Calais in a private vehicle and cross the Channel Tunnel to Folkestone. Another option is the Calais–Dover ferry. Ferry companies may have different conditions for accepting pets; some routes require travel by car.
Via the Netherlands: After flying from Türkiye to Amsterdam, it is possible to continue to England using suitable ferry connections. Routes such as Hook of Holland–Harwich, IJmuiden–Newcastle or Rotterdam–Hull may be considered.

Before booking, we should make sure that the ferry company accepts our companions and that the route is approved for entry into England.

What should we consider when travelling via Europe?
Travelling via France or the Netherlands does not remove England's entry requirements.
To enter the European Union from Türkiye, we also need a microchip, rabies vaccination, any required antibody test and the appropriate EU health certificate.
We should take the three-month waiting period into account, especially for companions travelling for the first time.
We should calculate the timing of the required tapeworm treatment for dogs according to the actual time of entry into England.
The European Union health certificate is not the same document as the one England requires. We should check the document requirements of both separately.

8. How far in advance should we prepare?

My recommendation is to start preparing at least four to five months in advance, especially for companions travelling internationally for the first time.

When? Four to five months before
What should we do? Check the microchip, rabies vaccination, whether an antibody test is required, and the travel route.

When? At least 30 days after vaccination
What should we do? Take a blood sample for an antibody test if required.

When? During the waiting period
What should we do? Research airline and alternative transport options; help the pet get used to the carrier or crate.

When? A few weeks before travel
What should we do? Arrange the health-certificate application and appointments with an authorised vet.

In the final days

Check the documents again. For dogs travelling to England, tapeworm treatment must be given 24–120 hours before entry.

Our pre-travel checklist

Before setting off, we should be able to answer “yes” to all of the following questions with confidence:

Are the microchip and identification details correct?
Is the rabies vaccination valid?
If required, have the antibody test and waiting period been completed?
Is our official health certificate ready?
Are the vaccination and medication details recorded in the Turkish pet passport?
Have we reviewed our internal and external parasite-prevention plan with our vet?
If our dog needs mandatory tapeworm treatment, was it given on time and with the correct active ingredient?
Do we meet the document requirements of the countries where we will transit?
Have we received approval from the airline or transport company?
Is our carrier suitable?
Is our route into England approved?
Do we have the original versions and digital copies of all documents with us?

9. Where can we find reliable information?

International travel rules can change from time to time. When preparing, we should not rely only on information on social media; we must check official sources.

For England
GOV.UK – Bringing a cat or dog to England
GOV.UK – Listed and unlisted countries
GOV.UK – Rabies antibody test
GOV.UK – Mandatory tapeworm treatment for dogs
GOV.UK – Approved travel routes
GOV.UK – Health certificate for entry into England
GOV.UK – EHC 3818 for Türkiye
GOV.UK – Adoption and commercial import rules

For Türkiye
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Taking cats and dogs abroad
Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Accompanied pet and ornamental animals

For the European Union
Your Europe – Rules for travelling with pets

Airline example
Vueling – Conditions for carrying cats and dogs in the cabin

Final words
Travelling between countries with our furry companions may seem complicated and a little demanding at first. But with accurate information, timely preparation and good planning, we can manage the process much more easily.

For me, the health, safety and comfort of our companions are always at the heart of all these preparations. Whether we are going to Türkiye for a short holiday, moving to start a new life in England, or thinking of opening our family home to a pet in Türkiye who is waiting for a home… what matters is putting their needs and safety first.

And finally, I would like to mention something very close to my heart:

Please consider adopting instead of buying.

There are countless cats and dogs somewhere waiting to find a loving home. Perhaps one of the loveliest companions in our lives is waiting to meet us.

I wish us all many wonderful journeys with our furry friends, filled with health, safety and love.

This guide was prepared on the basis of official rules available as of October 2026. Unless otherwise stated, the term “England” in this article refers to Great Britain, comprising England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has different entry rules. Before travelling, the current legislation, official documents and transport conditions in the relevant countries must always be checked. This guide is not a substitute for veterinary or legal advice.