On board with you
Your pets fly with you, not in the hold.
No crate in a cargo hold, no size limit dictated by an airline policy, no separation from your dog or cat for the length of the flight. Here's exactly what the paperwork looks like, destination by destination.
The private aviation difference
Same cabin, same seat, the whole flight.
On a commercial flight, most dogs and cats above a few kilos are required to travel in the pressurised cargo hold, inside an IATA-compliant crate, out of sight for the entire journey. On a Takair charter, your pet stays in the cabin with you from door to door — no crate requirement, no cargo-hold temperature risk, no separate check-in counter.
Where they travel
In the cabin
Not the hold — your pet sits with you or in a soft carrier at your feet for the entire flight.
Size limit
Set by the aircraft, not a policy
Larger cabins comfortably take large dogs loose in the cabin — see the table below.
What we still can't waive
Government entry rules
Microchip, vaccination and paperwork requirements are set by each country, not by Takair or the operator.
Takair is an independent charter broker, not a veterinary authority. The requirements below reflect the general rules published by the relevant governments and are accurate to the best of our knowledge at time of writing, but rules change — we confirm the exact, current requirements for your specific route, pet species and passport country when you book, and always recommend checking with an IPATA-registered pet relocation agent or the destination's official portal before travel.
Before you fly
Four things every destination will ask for.
Regardless of where you're headed, these four requirements form the backbone of almost every pet travel regulation for dogs, cats and ferrets. Country-specific variations are detailed further down this page.
01
ISO microchip
An ISO 11784/11785-compliant (15-digit) microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination — a vaccine given before the chip is generally not considered valid for travel purposes.
02
Rabies vaccination
A rabies vaccine administered after the microchip, with the animal at least 12 weeks old. It only becomes valid for travel 21 days after a primary (first-ever) vaccination — booster shots given before the previous one expires are usually valid immediately.
21-day wait on a first vaccination
03
Official documentation
An EU Pet Passport (for EU-issued passports), or an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued and signed by an accredited vet, typically valid for a limited window before travel — 10 days for a UK-issued AHC, for example.
04
Tapeworm treatment (where required)
Certain destinations require dogs to be treated for Echinococcus tapeworm by a vet shortly before arrival — this window is tight and destination-specific (see below).
Often 24–120h before entry
Destination by destination
What each country actually requires.
These are the destinations most frequently flown in Takair's network. Rules differ meaningfully between them — the UK and UAE in particular have requirements that catch owners off guard if left to the last minute.
EU & Schengen area
France, Italy, Spain, Germany
- ISO microchip + valid rabies vaccination (21 days after a first-time jab)
- EU Pet Passport issued by an authorised vet in an EU country, or an Animal Health Certificate for pets arriving from outside the EU
- Dogs, cats and ferrets covered; max 5 pets per traveller without a specific reason
- No tapeworm treatment required for arrivals from other EU countries
Monaco
Follows French / EU rules
- Monaco applies the same EU pet travel requirements as France, as it sits within the French customs and veterinary framework
- EU Pet Passport or valid AHC, microchip and rabies vaccination as above
- No additional Monaco-specific paperwork for pets arriving from an EU country
United Kingdom · Requires planning
England, Scotland, Wales
- Microchip, rabies vaccination, and an Animal Health Certificate issued no more than 10 days before arrival
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs, administered by a vet 24–120 hours before arrival, recorded in the AHC or passport
- Pets must travel with an authorised route/carrier — confirm your operator is listed as an approved route for pet travel
The tapeworm treatment window is the most common reason UK-bound pet travel gets delayed — it must fall inside that 24–120h window, not before, not after.
Switzerland
Non-EU, EU-aligned rules
- Though not an EU member, Switzerland recognises the EU Pet Passport under a bilateral veterinary agreement
- Microchip and valid rabies vaccination required, same 21-day rule on first vaccination
- No tapeworm treatment required for arrivals from the EU or UK
United Arab Emirates (Dubai) · Requires planning
Import permit required in advance
- An import permit from the UAE's Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE) must be obtained before departure — this cannot be arranged on arrival
- Microchip, rabies vaccination and a legalised Health Certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Pets arriving from a non-rabies-free country may require a FAVN rabies titer test, taken at least 3 months before travel
- Certain breeds are restricted or banned in Dubai (including Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, and several other breeds classed as dangerous) — confirm before booking if travelling with a large or guard-type breed
The MOCCAE import permit alone can take 1–2 weeks to process — this is the single biggest lead-time item for a Dubai pet itinerary and should be started as early as possible.
United States
CDC rules for dogs, USDA for other pets
- Dogs arriving from a country the CDC classifies as high-risk for rabies require a CDC Dog Import Form and additional documentation, even with a valid rabies vaccine
- Cats have no federal rabies vaccination requirement, but individual states may impose their own rules
- Microchip strongly recommended (required for CDC high-risk-country paperwork)
Cabin comfort
What fits comfortably, by aircraft category.
Unlike a commercial flight, there's no fixed "under 8kg, under the seat" rule — the practical limit is the cabin itself. As a guide, based on the categories in our fleet:
| Aircraft category | Practical guidance |
|---|
| Entry Level Jet / Turboprop | Comfortable for one to two small-to-medium pets in a soft carrier at your feet or on a seat beside you. |
| Light Jet / Midsize Jet | A medium-to-large dog can travel loose in the cabin on a settled mat, alongside carriers for smaller pets. |
| Super Midsize / Heavy Jet | Multiple pets, or a single large breed dog, travel with genuine room to lie down for the full flight. |
| Ultra Long Range Jet / Airliner | The most flexible option for several pets, large breeds, or a pet accompanied by a divan or rest area on longer sectors. |
Even without a crate requirement, we recommend a familiar carrier or mat be on board for takeoff and landing, and always confirm your pet's size and number with us when booking so the right aircraft is proposed from the outset.
Before you book
A quick checklist to start early.
ISO microchip implanted before any rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination up to date (21 days minimum if it's the first one)
EU Pet Passport or Animal Health Certificate within its validity window
Tapeworm treatment booked, if your destination requires one
Import permit applied for, if travelling to the UAE or another permit country
Breed confirmed against destination restrictions, if applicable
Carrier, mat or harness on hand for takeoff and landing
Aircraft category confirmed with Takair based on pet size and number
Flying with a pet?
Tell us your route, your pet's species and destination — we'll confirm exactly what's needed and propose the right aircraft.
Talk to Takair →