Bringing a dog or cat from Canada to Türkiye
Under Türkiye's rules, pets from Canada are in the group “All countries”. A dog from Canada needs a microchip, a rabies vaccine, a rabies titer test and an official health certificate. There is no quarantine if every rule is met. Plan for about 4 months (135 days) from the first vaccine to arrival.
About Türkiye: No country is exempt: every cat, dog and ferret needs a microchip, rabies vaccine and a titer test from an EU-approved lab, plus a 90-day wait after a first titer. Each passenger can bring at most 2 animals, and six dog breeds may not enter at all.
All countries Blood test
- Titer test
- Required
- Wait after blood test
- 3 months from the result
- Import permit
- Not required
- Quarantine
- None if rules are met
Minimum preparation: about 4 months (135 days) from the first rabies vaccine to arrival.
Step by step
Microchip, then vaccinate
ISO 11784/11785 microchip first, then an inactivated rabies vaccine. Bring a reader if the chip is not ISO.
Titer test at an EU-approved lab
Blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine, tested at a lab on the EU list of approved rabies serology labs. Result must be above 0.5 IU/ml.
Wait 90 days after a first titer
If this is the pet's first titer test, travel no earlier than 90 days after the result date.
Get the Turkish health certificate
Have your country's veterinary authority issue Türkiye's veterinary health and origin certificate (from the annex of the pet movement regulation) within 2 days before travel. The clinical exam must be within 24 hours of departure.
Carry the pet passport
Bring a pet passport or health booklet that names the owner. Maximum 2 animals per passenger.
No quarantine stated for compliant pets. Non-compliant pets may be refused entry or held at the owner's expense.
Good to know
- Cats
- Same as dogs (the rules cover cats, dogs and ferrets). The breed ban applies only to dogs.
- Banned breeds
- American Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Bully
- How many pets
- Maximum 2 animals per passenger.
- Parasite treatment
- None required by the ministry page.
- Arrival
- Through border points with a veterinary border control post (for example Istanbul Airport). The ministry page does not list all of them.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to bring a dog from Canada to Türkiye?
Canada counts as "All countries" for Türkiye. Starting from a pet with no rabies vaccine, the minimum is about 4 months (135 days): rabies vaccine, a blood test at least 30 days later, then the waiting period before arrival.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test to travel from Canada to Türkiye?
Yes. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccine, and the pet can arrive 3 months from the result after the sample.
Will my pet be quarantined in Türkiye?
Not if every rule is met. No quarantine stated for compliant pets. Non-compliant pets may be refused entry or held at the owner's expense.
Do I need an import permit?
No import permit is needed for pets from Canada.
Are the rules the same for cats?
Same as dogs (the rules cover cats, dogs and ferrets). The breed ban applies only to dogs.
Sources
- Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı - Istanbul Airport Veterinary Border Control Point: cat, dog and ferret travel (official)
- Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı - Ipsala VBCP: pets accompanying passengers (official)
- Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı - Circular on dangerous animals, Dec 2021 (official)
- Bavarian KBLV - Türkiye entry certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets, 2025 (government, secondary)
- USDA APHIS - Türkiye health certificate for dogs, cats and ferrets (government, secondary)
Checked against official sources on 2026-10-28. Full rules: Türkiye pet import rules.