How to transport a dog or cat to Northern Cyprus

To import a pet to Northern Cyprus, you usually need: a microchip, an international veterinary passport, a rabies vaccination, an antibody test (conducted at least 1 month after the vaccination), as well as an import license from the veterinary service, which is sent by email (usually within a day). Before departure, you obtain form F1 (valid for 5 days), which is exchanged for the international form F5 at the departure airport. Upon arrival at Ercan Airport, as of early 2026, a fee of 650 TL is charged for the certificate (up to 5 animals) and 600 TL for each additional animal, payable only in cash.

• Actions Before Flight
• Actions During Flight
• Links and Contacts
• Articles About Pets
• Frequently Asked Questions

Actions Before Flight

Plan the process in advance: preparing documents and waiting for test results may take over a month. It is often more convenient to purchase the ticket after completing key steps (vaccination, antibody test, application for license).

Veterinary Passport

Start with the international veterinary passport. It usually must include:

• the pet’s microchip number (ID);
• microchipping date;
• age-appropriate vaccinations;
• a separate entry for the rabies vaccination.

Terminology clarification: microchip — pet identifier; vet passport — document containing microchip and vaccination details.

Rabies Vaccination

The rabies vaccination must be administered, and a separate entry for it must be recorded in the vet passport. If the current vaccination expires in 2 months or less, a new vaccination is usually required.

Antibody Test

After the rabies vaccination, an antibody titer test for the rabies virus is conducted. It is usually done:

• at least 1 month after vaccination;
• no later than 2 months before the vaccination expires.

Test duration: about 1 month under standard conditions and about 2 weeks in expedited service.

Veterinary Clinic Examination

With the test results, vet passport, and the pet, visit a municipal veterinary clinic for a final check-up. After the examination, form F1 is issued.

Important! This form is valid for 5 days. Plan to obtain it 2–3 days before your flight!

Terminology clarification: form F1 — a certificate/form that is later exchanged for an international form at the departure airport.

Submitting Documents

To obtain an import license, send scans/photos of the documents to the veterinary service by email. Addresses for submission: [email protected] and [email protected].

• pet’s veterinary passport;
• antibody test results;
• completed application form.

If an import license is needed for two pets, they are usually listed in a single application. The license is generally sent to the same email from which the documents were sent, usually within a day. The form may need to be completed in block letters.

How to Do It

1. Ensure your pet has a microchip and an international vet passport.
2. Administer the rabies vaccination and record it in the vet passport.
3. One month after vaccination, perform the rabies antibody test (allow 2–4 weeks for results).
4. 2–3 days before departure, undergo the final check at the municipal veterinary clinic and obtain form F1 (valid for 5 days).
5. Send scans of the vet passport, test results, and application to the veterinary service by email, and wait for the license (often received within a day).

Actions During Flight

1. Form F1 is usually exchanged for the international form F5 at the departure airport after passing veterinary control.
2. At transfer airports, veterinary control and document presentation may also be required.
3. Upon arrival in Northern Cyprus, you are usually asked to show the import license received by email (a printed copy or a phone file is convenient).
4. At Ercan Airport, fees are paid. As of early 2026, this is 650 TL per certificate for up to 5 animals, plus 600 TL per additional animal. Payment is accepted only in Turkish lira cash.

If you are transporting 1 pet (cat or dog), the total fee as of early 2026 is 1250 TL (650 TL + 600 TL).

Links and Contacts

• List of laboratories where rabies antibody tests can be performed
• Application for import permission
• Email for sending the application: [email protected] and [email protected]
• Veterinary service phone numbers: +90 392 225 35 51 and +90 392 225 37 51
• Veterinary service website

Other Useful Resources About Animals in Northern Cyprus

• Exporting Animals from Northern Cyprus
• Tariff for Importing a Pet
• Animal Shelters in Northern Cyprus
• Bringing a Pet to the Southern Part of the Island (Republic of Cyprus)

Frequently Asked Questions

Which carrier should be used for transporting animals?

Only hard carriers or cages are usually accepted in checked baggage. In the cabin, the pet is generally allowed only in a soft carrier. There are also weight restrictions for the pet with the carrier — check with your airline.

How long to wait for the import license?

The import license is usually sent by email from the address used to submit the documents, typically within a day.

How much does it cost to import cats and dogs to Northern Cyprus?

As of early 2026, importing one animal to Northern Cyprus costs 1250 TL in cash at Ercan Airport (650 TL + 600 TL). For multiple animals, the total depends on the number, as 600 TL is charged per additional animal.

What about tariffs for other animals?

Tariffs for importing other animals can be found in the veterinary service price list.

Still have questions? In practical situations, a specialized community can help: you can find a themed chat about animals.