janm

Has anyone every driven to Turkey with more than the regulation one pet per person, and if so, what were the consequences? We would be crossing into Turkey at Ipsala.
Jan

KayaKoyuOldBoy

Do you really want to risk it ?

janm

KKOB
No! That's why I'm asking the question!
Perhaps consquences was the wrong word. What I should have asked was how did you do it.
I know of an animal courier service who occassionally drive pets to Turkey (but I can't remember who they are). They get an import certificate each time. I just wondered if anyone had tried getting the import certificate themselves and doing that way.
And before you suggest using the courier company, as we are driving anyway it seems a bit of a waste of money to pay someone else IF we can take them with us.
I just wanted some feedback, that's all!
Jan

Gail

How many pets are you planning on bringing in? I know jane2005 a member on here brought 3 dogs with her whne she came and that was flying.

KayaKoyuOldBoy

Jan,

You'll hear on this, and other forums, that so-and-so did this or that and got away with it.

However, the law on importing dogs, cats and certain other animals states that it's one dog or cat per ADULT passport holder.

We were originally going to bring our dogs overland in 2003 but found that to do it "by the book" was VERY expensive and difficult to obtain the correct paperwork. In the end, the dogs flew out with us.

If for instance, you get to the border with 3 animals and 2 adults in the car, what are you going to do if the Customs official digs his heels in and goes by the book?

A couple of years ago I went through the border and met a Dutch couple who'd been stuck there for 8 hours with 3 dogs in their car. The Customs officials were refusing to allow them in unless they left one dog at the border or payed a very substantial "fine". I don't know what the outcome was, but needless to say, it's not a situation that I'd want to be in.

You haven't told us yet how many animals you intend to import, but one option is for you to arrange for a friend or friends to meet you at the border and bring the extra animals through is if they were theirs.

Harem

We have 'new' French neighbours. They came overland - don't know where they came into Turkey - but they brought with them 6 cats and 6 dogs. I will ask them if they had any difficulties at the border and where they entered Turkey.

janm

Thanks for the replies.

We have two large dogs and two cats.

According to DEFRA I need to contact the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs in Ankara to find out about import permits, so I will email them and hope someone there understands English!

Harem, any information from your neighbours would be very welcome, thanks.

Jan

Harem

Hi Jan

Sorry I have been so long coming back to you. I have now had the opportunity of speaking with our French neighbours. They both said they had no problems at all with the number of dogs (6) and cats (6). They came in at Istanbul, having driven through Bulgaria. At the point of entry the border guard checked the animals' passports and checked the documents against the animals.

I have to say that when I moved over here I flew in with three cats. I didn't know it was only one per person!! I did not have a problem, but maybe I was just lucky!

janm

Harem,
I tried to PM you, but your box is full.
Jan