Bringing a dog or cat to Türkiye

1. 01
   Non-commercial limits
   At most 2 pets per passenger in total (cats, dogs and birds together; or 10 aquarium fish), and the pet must travel with the passenger. Customs grants this per passenger. VSKN pages state the 2-animal limit as an absolute maximum and ask for a separate set of documents for each animal.
   Source:T.C. Ticaret Bakanlığı (Ministry of Trade) — consolidated working copy of the Decision (opens official site: 4458 sayılı Gümrük Kanununun Bazı Maddelerinin Uygulanması Hakkında Karar (Council of Ministers Decision 2009/15481) — articles 58–61 and Annex 9 (passengers' personal effects list))· checked 24 Sep 2026
2. 02
   Microchip
   ISO 11784 microchip (HDX or FDX-B) readable by an ISO 11785 reader; if the chip does not meet the standard, the owner must bring a reader. Implant it before (or on the day of) the rabies vaccination — a vaccine given before the chip date is not valid.
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
3. 03
   Rabies vaccination
   Rabies vaccine that is inactivated (at least one antigenic unit per dose) or recombinant — not a modified live vaccine — made to the WOAH (OIE) manual. Given on or after the microchip date, recorded in the passport / certificate with its validity, and still valid on entry. A first vaccination counts 21 days after the manufacturer's primary protocol is completed; a booster given after the previous one expired counts as a first vaccination. The Turkish Embassy in Tokyo adds that the vaccine must be given after 3 months of age.
   • On or after the microchip — on or after the microchip date
   • At least 21 days before arrival — first vaccination (or a booster given after the previous one expired): valid 21 days after the manufacturer's primary protocol is completed
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
4. 04
   Rabies antibody (titer) test
   Rabies neutralising antibody titer of at least 0.5 IU/ml, on a blood sample taken by an authorised vet at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, tested in an EU-approved laboratory; carry the original report. The regulation says the sample must be taken 3 months before the movement (Trabzon VSKN: entry at the earliest 3 months after the blood-sample date). Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboğa VSKN instead say 90 days from the date of the test result for a first test — follow the later date to be safe. Not asked again for an animal whose passport records an acceptable titer and whose rabies boosters were kept up on time.
   • At least 30 days after the rabies vaccination — blood sample by an authorised vet
   • At least 3 months before arrival — the regulation's "3 months before the movement"; Trabzon VSKN counts entry at the earliest 3 months after the blood-sample date (Istanbul Airport's reading: see the waiting period step)
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
5. 05
   Waiting period
   Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboğa VSKN: after a first titer test, wait 90 days from the date of the test RESULT before travelling (not from the blood sample, as the regulation and the Trabzon VSKN count). Not needed on later trips if the rabies vaccination was renewed within its validity. Follow the later of the two dates to be safe.
   • At least 90 days after the test result
   • Only if: first titer test (not on later trips if rabies boosters were given within their validity)
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:İstanbul Havalimanı Veteriner Sınır Kontrol Noktası Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (opens official site: Traveling with Cat, Dog and Ferret / Kedi-Köpek-Gelincik Seyahati (Istanbul Airport VSKN; Turkish and English on the same page))· checked 04 Oct 2026
6. 06
   Health certificate
   Veterinary health and origin certificate on the Turkish model (Annex 2 of the regulation, bilingual Turkish / English), one per animal, issued by an official vet of the country of dispatch — or by a vet authorised by the competent authority and then endorsed by it. Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboğa VSKN say it must be issued within 2 days before travel; the regulation's model says it is valid for 4 months.
   • At most 2 days before departure — Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboğa VSKN; Tokyo embassy
   • At most 4 months before arrival — the regulation's model: valid 4 months after signature or endorsement, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is earlier
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:İstanbul Havalimanı Veteriner Sınır Kontrol Noktası Müdürlüğü, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (opens official site: Traveling with Cat, Dog and Ferret / Kedi-Köpek-Gelincik Seyahati (Istanbul Airport VSKN; Turkish and English on the same page))· checked 04 Oct 2026
7. 07
   Pet passport
   A pet passport (identity document) issued by an authorised vet, identifying the animal and its owner and recording a valid rabies vaccination. VSKN pages list it with the titer report and the health certificate as the three documents to carry.
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
8. 08
   Other vaccinations
   The passport must show vaccinations and medicines against "other species-specific diseases". No Turkish source consulted names which ones; ask the VSKN of the arrival airport.
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
9. 09
   Minimum age
   No separate minimum age. In practice the standard route needs a rabies vaccine (after 3 months of age per the Tokyo embassy) plus the titer wait, so the pet is about 7 months old or more at entry. Unvaccinated animals under 3 months may be admitted only under health conditions set by the Ministry — VSKN Antalya: only together with their mother, with a passport, no titer test.
   !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
   Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
10. 10
    Port of entry
    Entry only through border gates designated by the Ministry. The designated list was not found online; the Ministry runs Veterinary Border Control Points at the airports of Istanbul (IST), Istanbul Sabiha Gökçen (SAW), Ankara Esenboğa (ESB), Antalya (AYT) and İzmir Adnan Menderes (ADB), and at several land and sea border posts (see the entry points). The customs guide says vets are assigned at air, land and sea gates.
    !Sources disagree — confirm with the authority
    Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
11. 11
    Arrival inspection
    Official vets at the border (VSKN) check the documents, the animal's identity (microchip) and the animal, in coordination with customs; the pet may enter only after this check. A pet that flew in the hold is handed over after the official check. At Sabiha Gökçen the VSKN office is in the international arrivals hall, 24/7.
    Source:Resmî Gazete No. 28133 (Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock, now Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry); file hosted by the Antalya Airport VSKN (opens official site: Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pet animals) — Resmî Gazete print)· checked 04 Oct 2026
12. 12
    Customs declaration
    Present the veterinary health report, the vaccination record and any identity document to customs. Up to 2 pets per passenger are free of customs duties (see the limits on the number of pets); no duty amount for more animals is published.
    Source:T.C. Ticaret Bakanlığı (Ministry of Trade, customs) (opens official site: Yolcu Beraberinde Getirilen Hayvanlar (customs FAQ — animals brought by passengers))· checked 04 Oct 2026

Dog from Germany: 12 requirements.

In short: Microchip, rabies vaccine, rabies titer test (EU-approved lab) with a ~3-month wait before entry, the Turkish model veterinary health certificate from the origin authority, pet passport. Max 2 pets per passenger. No quarantine if compliant. Same for every origin country, including the EU.