If you decide to buy a property in North Cyprus you may well have a pet that you want to bring along with you.
You can bring your pets into the country from Europe with little hassle. It is advisable to contact the veterinary office as soon as you decide to bring your pet to North Cyprus.
Dogs and cats must have a rabies vaccination and rabies blood test prior to entry into Northern Cyprus and must also be microchipped. A rabies vaccination must be given not more than twelve months prior to export. Blood test must be done one month after the rabies vaccination.
The veterinary office in Lefkosa must be informed of the date and time of arrival of the animal along with all the necessary paperwork.
Paperwork:
- Import licence which can be obtained from the North Cyprus Veterinary authorities. To get an import licence you need to fax your Rabies Vaccination Certificate and Rabies Diagnostic Test Report (blood test results), details of the pet ie. name, breed, age, sex and colour and your name and fax number. They will also provide you with a Statutory declaration which you will need to sign to state that you intend to bring your pet to North Cyprus and that it has not been imported into the UK during the past six months. Fax these details to Mr Dogan Pasa, Deputy Chief Veterinary Surgeon (speaks English), Tel.: + 90 392 225 3751, Fax: + 90 392 225 2536. The Import License will be faxed back to you. This process takes at least a week.
- DEFRA Export Health Certificate is required and must be signed by an LVI Veterinary Surgeon. To get an application form contact the Animal Health Divisional Office (AHDO) that covers your area. After returning it they will send out a certificate to your nominated “official veterinarian” to complete the certification. State Veterinary Service, UK , Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA). Address: 1A Page Street, London SW1P 4 PQ , Telephone: + 44 (0) 207 904 6000, Website: www.defra.gov.uk .
Dogs and cats from the European Union to North Cyprus will be subject to a 30 day quarantine period in the Government Quarantine Kennels based at Lefkosa. For bringing your pet to Northern Cyprus you will need to obtain a travel box, the size and construction of which must meet IATA standards (www.iata.org). For more information contact your airline referring to airfreight of your animal to North Cyprus Ercan Airport or the official veterinarian. An examination is required by the airline 48 hours prior to departure to confirm that your pet is fit to travel. A residential address and telephone number is required before the airline will confirm the flight reservation for a pet.
At Ercan Airport Customs they will contact the Veterinary Department and your pet will be transported into Government run quarantine kennels on the outskirts of North Nicosia. You may accompany your pet to the kennels and settle them in. Owners are expected to be responsible for providing all food for their animals, check them regularly, and may need to clean out their pet’s quarters themselves. Most owners visit the kennels daily. Dogs may be taken out for exercise within the quarantine area.
Please note: This is for guidance only please check for any new regulations with the Government Authorities.
Charges
Besides the costs related to your animal documents in the UK (varied according to animal or location) and additional costs for travel box, copies, fax, phone calls etc, there are further charges that need to be covered. Approximate costs for bringing your pet to North Cyprus include following:
- Airport charge on arrival YTL 17
- Veterinary Department transport YTL 18
- Quarantine YTL 2 per day
Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
Bringing Pets via South Cyprus
It is possible to transport your pet to North Cyprus via the South. Now that the south part of Cyprus is a member of the European Union, the entry requirements for animal import are included in the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). However, you need to check the latest laws as these can change without notice. For general information contact PETS Helpline 0870 241 1710 or check DEFRA website. An Import License for Northern Cyprus would still be required. It is illegal at this time of writing to take animals from North Cyprus into South Cyprus.
For more information about pets in North Cyprus contact the Kyrenia Animal Rescue Society (KARS) – they can also help if you want to transport your dog back to the UK.
KARS Helpline/Fax: (0) 392 815 3390, Website: www.kyreniaanimalrescue.org
Email: kar@kyreniaanimalrescue.org