Effective May 1, 2020, due to COVID-19 health concerns, the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MINAF) has order pets entering Turkey to complete an in-home quarantine for 14 days.
Your pet must be microchipped or tattooed, be current on rabies vaccinations or show a negative titer test, have a Health Certificate Endorsed by an accredited Veterinarian (you cannot use your private Veterinarian) have your Health Certificate Endorsement by APHIS within 2 days of entry in Turkey.
This allows your pet to travel up to 4 months from the issue date as long as the rabies vaccine does not expire during your travel. 14 day in-house Quarantine is mandatory. Source: USDA/APHIS.
“Pets” are considered Dogs, Cats and Ferrets.
What Information is in a Pet Passport?
A Pet Passport/EU Pet Passport contains the documents required to travel with your dog.
- Ownership: Name, Address, Passport Number, Email, Telephone
- Physical Description of Pet: Species, Breed, Date of Birth, Height, Weight, Name,
- Veterinarian Information:
Microchip Data
Vaccination Records including medication used, lot numbers and date of treatments
Rabies Vaccination Certificate
Rabies Antibody Titer Test Results (if you are traveling from outside the EU, from high-risk rabies countries, your dog may need a Rabies Blood Test/Rabies Titer Test).
Parasite treatment records. Some Countries require.
Additional vaccination and treatment records
Veterinarian ID information with signature and official stamp and
Recent Pet photo 2” x 2”5cm x 5cm
Step 1 SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A USDA ACCREDITED VETERINARIAN.
At the appointment, the Veterinarian will fill out the approved USDA Health Certificate.
- Find a USDA Accredited Veterinarian in your state at the USDA/APHIS Portal Here. https://vsapps.aphis.usda.gov/vsps/public/VetSearch.do
- You may need more than one appointment for your pet such as boosters and 2nd dosage or to wait for a Rabies/Titer test results.
- Your Veterinarian will ensure the following requirements are in the Health Certificate:
A. YOUR PET MUST HAVE A MICROCHIP
1) All Dogs, Cats, and Ferrets must have a microchip implanted. We recommend your pet have a microchip in the standard ISO compliant microchip format. Most country inspection services; veterinarians and animal shelters word-wide use the ISO standard.
ISO Standard Microchip?
ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchips are 15 digits long. The pet’s microchip ISO compatibility can be confirmed with the microchip manufacturer.
Not an ISO Standard Microchip?
If the pet does not have an ISO compliant microchip:
The pet will need to travel with a microchip reader that can read the microchip OR contact the Veterinary Officials at the intended port of arrival to verify that they have a reader capable of reading the pet’s microchip.
OR
If a non-ISO compatible microchip was previously implanted and can still be read, then the Veterinarian can implant an ISO-compatible microchip in addition to the non-ISO one the pet currently has.
The number and the date of implantation of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate.
When recording the “Date of implantation and/or reading [dd/mm/yyyy]” of the microchip/transponder on the health certificate, IT MUST BE ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF THE PRIMARY RABIES VACCINATION. If your pet was vaccinated for rabies before the microchip was implanted, you pet must be revaccinated.
OR
B. Tattoo identification may be used instead of a microchip. The tattoo and location must be listed in by the Veterinarian in the Health Certificate.
B. RABIES VACCINATION IS MANDATORY
- Pets OVER 12 weeks of age must meet one of two criteria:
A. Be current on its Rabies Vaccination. This must be documented in the Health Certificate by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and Section V of the Health Certificate should be lined out and initialed by the Veterinarian. (list of USDA Accredited Veterinarians below in our link to the Health Certificate and how to get an Endorsement).
OR
B. Have a valid Rabies Titer test showing a negative result. Your veterinarian must attach the laboratory results to the Health Certificate.
- Pets UNDER 12 weeks of age must comply with 1 of 3 OPTIONS:
A. The owner declare at the border entry in Turkey that the pet will be put in a 14 day home quarantine;
OR
B. The puppy is accompanied with an ID card/Health Certificate and a Letter of Declaration from USDA Accredited Veterinarian stating that the pet has not been in contact with wild animals since its birth.
OR
C. The pet is accompanied by its birth mother, who is current on rabies vaccinations.
All vaccinations must be valid at the time of entry to Turkey (1 and 2 year Rabies Vaccinations are acceptable. 3 year Rabies Vaccination is not acceptable).
C. TICK AND TAPEWORM TREATMENT
- Tick Treatment: An ectoparasite treatment effective against ticks should be administered to the pet within 30 days
of travel and indicated by the signature of the USDA Accredited Veterinarian. - Tapeworm Treatment: An anthelmintic treatment effective against Echinococcus (i.e. tapeworms) should be administered
to the pet within 30 days of travel, and indicated by the signature of the USDA Accredited
Veterinarian.
STEP 2 SUBMIT DOCUMENTS TO THE APHIS ENDORSEMENT closest to your state via 1 of 3 Methods: Electronic, In-Person, Mail
- SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY: Your Veterinarian will submit the Health Certificate for Endorsement (final approval).
or - SUBMIT IN PERSON BY APPOINTMENT to the nearest Endorsement Office.
A. Find the nearest office at USDA/APHIS Endorsement Office locator.
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/wcm/connect/aphis_content_library/pet-travel/service-centers-endorsement-offices/pet-travel-service-centers
B. Five or less pets traveling to Turkey within 5 days of the owner or designated person, use the “Non-Commercial” Health Certificate. You can download the APHIS Health Certificate HERE.
C. Once the Health Certificate is endorsed by USDA/APHIS, you must enter the APHIS-assigned Certificate Number in the “Animal Health Certificate Number” section of the Declaration.
or
- REGULAR/EXPEDITED MAIL
A. Find the nearest office at USDA/APHIS Endorsement office locator:
B. Include a POSTAGE-PAID, RETURN ENVELOPE. The USDA will not pay for your postage. Send it by FedEX, USPS, DHL, UPS or other “overnight” delivery method to expedite. Most Offices process and return within 3 business days after they receive your documents.
C. Include Health Certificate, Import Permit, Pet Export Checklist, Vaccination Checklist And Other Test Results Required and Payment. Do not pay in Cash.
D. Once the Health Certificate is endorsed by USDA/APHIS, you must enter the APHIS-assigned Certificate Number in the “Animal Health Certificate Number” section of the Declaration.
- Five or less pets traveling to Turkey within 5 days of the owner or designated person, use the “Non-Commercial” Health Certificate. You can download the APHIS Health Certificate HERE.
- The completed health certificate must be endorsed (counter-signed and embossed/stamped) by USDA/APHIS within 10 days of arrival.
D. The final page of the EU Health Certificate contains a Declaration of Non-Commercial transport. Complete and sign before the pet travels to Turkey. The Declaration must accompany the pet and health certificate to Turkey.
E. The Health Certificate is valid for 30 days after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian completes and signs it.
F. Your pet’s Health Certificate allows you to travel up to 4 months from the date it is issued by the USDA/APHIS Accredited Veterinarian as long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Timeframe: How long will it take to receive my USDA Health Certificate Endorsement?
Health Certificates submitted in VEHCS or as a hardcopy document may take upwards of 3 business days after receipt for endorsement. Source: USDA APHIS.
- Cost:
The fee will be $121-$173usd for the 1st Pet on the Certificate. Each additional pet on the same Certificate will cost $7-$14usd.
- Keep copies of all your documents and tracking number if you mailed your documents to APHIS.
4. Banned Breeds:
Turkey does not permit the entry of these breeds or any pet cross-bred with these breeds:
Pit Bull Terriers, American Pit Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Mastiff, Rottweiller, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Dogue de Bordeux, Roman Fighting Dog or Bandog Tosa Inu.
FAQ:
- What happens if I travel with my pet and do not meet the requirements?
Failure to comply could lead to the immobilization of your pet in a quarantine facility or its return to the country of origin.
2. Am I required (as the owner or person responsible for the animal) to accompany my pet during the travel?
In principle, all animals should be accompanied by their owner. For justified and documented reasons, the transport of animals in a different mode of transportation from their owners is permitted as long as it is no longer than 5 days away from the owner.
What is a “Military Veterinarian”
A “Military Veterinarian” is defined as a Veterinary Corps Officer, or civilian GS-0701 series government veterinarian employed by the U.S. Army Veterinary Service working at military treatment facilities. It does not apply to Army Veterinary Service non-appropriated fund or Department of Defense civilian contract veterinarians.
APHIS endorsement is not required if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian, but the military veterinarian must issue it within 10 days of arrival in the EU.
Pet Passport policies change. Please check country-specific regulations before making travel arrangements: APHIS Travel with a Pethttps://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/pet-travel/
