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 titer test (done at least 1 month after vaccination), and an import license from the veterinary service, which is sent by email (usually within 24 hours). Before departure, you obtain form F1 (valid for 5 days), and at the departure airport you exchange it for the international form F5. Upon arrival at Ercan Airport, as of February 2026, you pay 900 TL for the certificate (up to 5 animals) and 850 TL for each animal, cash only.

• Steps before the flight
• Steps during the trip
• Links and contacts
• Pet-related articles
• Frequently asked questions

Steps before the flight

Plan ahead: paperwork and waiting for test results can take more than a month. It is often more convenient to buy tickets after the key steps are completed (vaccination, antibody test, and submitting the import license application).

Veterinary passport

Start with an international veterinary passport. It usually should include:

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

Terms explained: microchip — the animal’s identifier; vet passport — a document with microchip and vaccination data.

Rabies vaccination

The rabies vaccination must be administered and recorded as a separate line in the vet passport. If the current vaccination expires in 2 months or less, a new vaccination is usually done.

Antibody titer test

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

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

Test processing time: about 1 month in standard mode and about 2 weeks in expedited mode.

Check-up at a veterinary clinic

With the test result, vet passport, and the animal, you go to a municipal veterinary clinic for the final examination. After the check-up, form F1 is issued.

Important. This form is valid for 5 days. Plan to get it 2–3 days before departure.

Terms explained: form F1 — a certificate/form that is then exchanged for the international form at the departure airport.

Sending documents

To obtain the import license, you email scans/photos of the documents to the veterinary service. Email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected].

• the animal’s veterinary passport;
• the titer test result;
• a completed application form.

If you need an import license for two animals, they are usually listed in one application. The license is usually sent back to the same email address within 24 hours. They may ask you to fill out the form in block letters.

How to do it

1. Check that your pet has a microchip and an international vet passport.
2. Get a rabies vaccination and record it in the vet passport.
3. After 1 month, take the rabies antibody titer test (allow 2–4 weeks for results).
4. 2–3 days before departure, get a final check-up at a municipal vet clinic and obtain form F1 (valid for 5 days).
5. Email scans of the vet passport, the titer result, and the application form to the veterinary service, then wait for the license (often arrives within 24 hours).

Steps during the trip

1. At the departure airport, form F1 is usually exchanged for the international form F5 after veterinary control.
2. At a transit airport, additional veterinary control and document checks may be required.
3. Upon arrival in Northern Cyprus, you will usually be asked to show the import license received by email (a printout or a file on your phone is convenient).
4. At Ercan Airport, you pay the fees. As of February 2026, this is 900 TL for a certificate to transport up to 5 animals and 850 TL per animal. Payment is cash only in Turkish lira.

If you bring 1 pet (a cat or a dog), the total payment under the February 2026 tariff is 1 750 TL (900 TL + 850 TL).

Links and contacts

• List of laboratories where the rabies antibody titer test can be done
• Application form for an import permit
• 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 materials about animals in Northern Cyprus

• Exporting animals from Northern Cyprus
• Import tariff for an animal
• Animal shelters in Northern Cyprus
• Can you take a pet to the southern part of the island (Republic of Cyprus)

Frequently asked questions

What kind of carrier should I use?

For checked baggage, airlines usually accept only a hard carrier or crate. In the cabin, pets are typically allowed only in a soft carrier. There are also weight limits for the pet plus carrier, which are best confirmed with your airline.

How long does it take to receive the import license?

The import license is usually sent by email within 24 hours to the address from which you submitted the documents.

How much do you need to pay to import cats and dogs to Northern Cyprus?

As of February 2026, importing one animal to Northern Cyprus requires a cash payment of 1 750 TL at Ercan Airport (900 TL + 850 TL). For multiple animals, the total depends on the number because 850 TL is charged per animal.

What about tariffs for other animals?

You can find import tariffs for other animals in the price list of the veterinary service.

Still have questions? In practical situations, a specialized community helps: you can find a topic chat about pets.