BRINGING A CAT FROMGermany →to Türkiye

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.

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.

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 date

first vaccination (or a booster given after the previous one expired): valid 21 days after the manufacturer's primary protocol is completed

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.

blood sample by an authorised vet

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)

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.

• · first titer test (not on later trips if rabies boosters were given within their validity)

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.

Istanbul Airport and Ankara Esenboğa VSKN; Tokyo embassy

the regulation's model: valid 4 months after signature or endorsement, or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is earlier

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.