Pet Transport Turkey to the United States: 2026 Guide

Dog has been in one of these within 6 months: rabies vaccination mandatory. US-vaccinated dogs need USDA-endorsed CDC certification form; foreign-vaccinated dogs need foreign certification form, CDC-approved titre or 28-day quarantine, facility reservation and arrival at that facility's airport. Official source

• Quarantine: Without a valid titre, the dog is admitted only after 28 days' quarantine at a CDC-registered animal care facility; this can be shortened if criteria are met. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Quarantine: All foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a reservation at a CDC-registered animal care facility before entry, where they are examined and revaccinated with a US-licensed rabies vaccine. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Quarantine: The 28-day CDC facility quarantine may be shortened only if all of these are met: personal pet or service dog; documentation of at least 2 rabies vaccines; healthy on exam; the facility gets CDC approval for a prospective serologic monitoring (PSM) assessment; the dog gets a US-issued rabies vaccine under PSM; and a titre is obtained from a CDC-approved US lab (CDC FAQ updated 27 August 2026). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries without a valid titre.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs need a passing rabies serology titre from a CDC-approved laboratory; blood drawn at least 30 days after the first valid vaccine and at least 28 days before entry. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Passing titre results are valid for life while vaccination does not lapse and the lab remains approved. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies titre test: Not required: US-vaccinated dogs returning from a high-risk country need valid (unexpired) documentation of a US-issued rabies vaccination, not a titre. If that documentation is invalid, the foreign-vaccinated rules (including titre or 28-day quarantine) apply. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: Foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries need the Certification of Foreign Rabies Vaccination and Microchip form, completed by a vet and endorsed by an official government vet of the departure country. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: That form must be completed no more than 30 days before travel, is single use and is valid 30 days from the vet's signature. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries need the Certification of U.S.-Issued Rabies Vaccination form, completed by a USDA-accredited vet and USDA-endorsed before the dog leaves the US (at least 28 days after a first vaccine). Page updated 28 April 2026. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Health certificate: USDA-endorsed export health certificates issued after 31 July 2025 are no longer accepted for re-entry; the CDC certification form is needed instead. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Rabies vaccination: For high-risk dogs the first rabies vaccine must be given at or after 12 weeks (84 days) of age; earlier vaccines are not accepted. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• How your pet may travel: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive by air; only service dogs (14 CFR 382.3) may arrive by sea. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs must arrive at the airport where their CDC-registered facility is. CDC list (updated 1 Sept 2026): Atlanta (ATL), Dallas (DFW), Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), New York (JFK), Philadelphia (PHL), Seattle (SEA, cargo only), Washington DC (IAD). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  CDC-registered Animal Care Facilities, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: There are no CDC-registered facilities in Alaska, Hawaii or US territories, so foreign-vaccinated high-risk dogs cannot enter the US through those places. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries may arrive at any airport, land border or seaport matching the receipt. Applies to US-vaccinated dogs returning from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for U.S.-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Arrival points and notice: Foreign-vaccinated dogs that have been in a high-risk country in the past 6 months cannot enter at a land border crossing (Canada or Mexico). Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Frequently Asked Questions on Dog Importations, checked 2 October 2026
• Microchip: For dogs from high-risk countries the chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, otherwise the vaccine is invalid. Applies to foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries.
  Entry Requirements for Foreign-Vaccinated Dogs from High-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026

• Minimum age: Every dog must be at least 6 months old on entry or return to the US.
  Entry Requirements for Dogs from Dog-Rabies Free or Low-Risk Countries, checked 2 October 2026
• Minimum age: Not listed: cats. CDC's cat section requires only that cats appear healthy on arrival (they may be inspected, examined at the owner's cost if ill, or refused if they show a zoonotic disease); rabies vaccination proof is not required. APHIS states it has no animal health requirements for pet cats (https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/another-country-to-us-import/cats). Neither sets a minimum age; destination states may.
  Bringing an Animal into the U.S., checked 2 October 2026

1. Export permit: Cats and dogs of the protected native breeds named by the National Committee (Kangal, Akbas and Kars shepherd dogs, Catalburun hunting dog, Zagar Inci dog, Ankara cat and Van cat; listed as items i. to vii. in the instruction) are genetic resources under protection, and taking them abroad needs prior permission. (Ministry implementing instruction of 21 October 2022, as published by the Tekirdag VSKN.) Applies to protected native breeds of dog and cat leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026
2. Export health certificate: No cat or dog may leave Turkiye without a veterinary health certificate issued by an official veterinarian (Ministry implementing instruction no. 7455140 of 21 October 2022, as published by the Tekirdag VSKN). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026
3. Export health certificate: The certificate is issued by the provincial or district Agriculture and Forestry Directorate where the owner lives, no earlier than 48 hours before departure (instruction of 21 October 2022). Applies to dogs and cats leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026
4. Export health certificate: In Ankara, passenger-accompanied pet certificates have been issued by the district Agriculture and Forestry Directorates since 1 February 2024. Applies to dogs and cats leaving from Ankara province.
   Exit abroad (pets), checked 2 October 2026
5. Other conditions: Movements of pets from Turkiye to other countries are governed by the destination country's law; the owner should consult the destination authority at least 6 months before travel. (Regulation on animal health conditions for non-commercial movements of pets, Official Gazette 28133 of 5 December 2011.) Applies to dogs and cats leaving Turkiye.
   Ev ve Süs Hayvanlarının Ticari Olmayan Hareketlerinde Uygulanacak Hayvan Sağlığı Şartlarına Dair Yönetmelik (5 December 2011), checked 2 October 2026
6. Other conditions: Before leaving, a pet in Turkiye must be microchipped as set out in the regulation on identification and registration of cats, dogs and ferrets, registered in the PETVET pet registration system, and issued a passport. (Ministry implementing instruction of 21 October 2022, as published by the Tekirdag VSKN.) Applies to dogs and cats leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026
7. Other conditions: The passport must state the breed and colour precisely: animals whose passport gives the breed only as "mix" or the colour only as "mixed" are not processed for exit until the passport is corrected. (Ministry implementing instruction of 21 October 2022, as published by the Tekirdag VSKN.) Applies to dogs and cats leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026
8. Other conditions: Owned and registered dogs of the dangerous breeds designated under the dangerous animals circular may leave Turkiye with their owners if the destination country accepts them, but they will not be allowed back into Turkiye. (Ministry implementing instruction of 21 October 2022, as published by the Tekirdag VSKN.) Applies to dangerous-breed dogs leaving Turkiye.
   Implementing instruction on passenger and commercial movements of cats and dogs abroad (2022), checked 2 October 2026