Bringing your pet with you to Turkey is a multi-step process. There are a number of appointments that you must make for your pet before you leave, including immunization shots and certification of good health. If you are flying with your pet in the cabin, bringing your pet to Turkey will be fairly straightforward. If you fly with your pet in the cargo hold, there may be significant periods of delay before you are allowed to take your pet home with you. There may also be steep fees to secure customs approval for your pet. Plan ahead for both delay and fees.
Call the airline pet department to make sure you can bring your animal with you on the flight in the cabin or cargo hold. Make sure to specify the type and number of pets you are bringing--different airlines have different regulations for animals. If possible, book tickets on an airline such as Turkish Air that allows pets in the cabins; pets in the cargo hold will be subject to additional paperwork. Also, make sure that you are prepared to meet the stated requirements if you would like to return to the United States with your pet. Some states have quarantine rules for certain pets, while others exclude the importation of some pets altogether.
Make an appointment to get your pet immunized. Animals such as cats or dogs need rabies vaccines before entering Turkey. You will also need to book an appointment with a state-approved veterinarian a few days prior to your flight so the animal can get a certificate of good health (Form 7001). This certifies that the animal is fit to travel--an airline requirement--and that the animal is healthy--a prerequisite to bringing an animal into Turkey.
Purchase a pet carrier, if you do not already own one. Generally, the carrier must be able to be stackable and give the animal room to stand up and turn around.
Notify the airline one week before the flight that you are bringing a pet with you. There will be an extra charge and they will need to contact the airport you are flying into to notify that a pet is coming in.
Bring your pet to the gate on the day of the flight if your pet is booked in the cabin. If your pet is booked in cargo, bring your pet to the cargo drop off.
Go through customs when you arrive in Turkey. If your pet is with you, then you go through gate customs with your papers. There will be no extra fee. If your pet is in the cargo area, you will need to go through cargo customs to get your pet. You may have to pay fees to access your animal from this customs department--note that these fees are not controlled by the airline and will not be included in the airline's price. Also, if your pet is in cargo customs, you may have to seek administrative approval to bring your pet in. These approvals and cargo release costs may cost more than 500 Turkish Lira.
