Select the specific information you would like to have about the transport of pets in the checked baggage hold:
Restrictions
- Only cats and dogs are allowed in the checked baggage hold.
- This service is not available on connecting or codeshare flights, on flights operated by another carrier, or for vacation packages.
- With Train + Air, pets are not allowed in the baggage hold.
- The passenger must arrive with the animal at least 120 minutes (2 hours) before the scheduled flight departure time.
- Animals appearing aggressive, undisciplined, ill or in distress may be refused travel. This decision is at the discretion of the Air Transat staff at the airport.
Certain breeds of dogs are refused entry to some countries or regions. We are, therefore, unable to transport the following breeds of dogs or mixed breeds, including one or more of the following breeds:
- Mastiffs: All breeds including; Argentine (Dogo Argentino), Bandog (Bandogge), South African (Boerboel), Brazilian (Fila Brasileiro), Italian (Cane Corso, Neapolitan), Canary Mastiff (Presa Canario), Japanese Mastiff (Tosa Inu)
- Pit Bulls: all breeds, including American Bully, American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Akita
- Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd Dog)
- Karabash Dog (Kangal/Anatolian Shepherd Dog)
- Rottweiler
- Wolf-dog hybrids
- Doberman Pinscher
- French Bulldogs
- American Bulldogs
The following breeds are exempt from the above restriction and
will be accepted for transport:
- Bull Mastiffs and French Mastiffs (Dogue de Bordeaux)
Brachycephalic (snub-nosed) dogs and cats not mentioned on the list above will be accepted for transport; however, due to the increased risk of respiratory distress, the following transport requirements must be met:
- Passengers must submit a signed Acknowledgment and Exclusion of Liability to the check-in Agent.
- The animal must be shipped in a kennel one size larger than the normal standard.
- There must be ventilation openings on the four sides of the carrier.
- It is recommended that the pet be acclimatized to the carrier as long as possible before departure.
- You are solely responsible for your pet’s health.
See the list of accepted brachycephalic dogs and cats Breeds.
Should those conditions not be met, the pet's transport may be refused. The fees would be non refundable.
Documentation
Air Transat Requirements:
Reserve space for your pet through the Air Transat Contact Centre no later than 24 hours before your flight’s scheduled departure. Space is subject to availability, and any applicable fees must be paid at the time of booking.
Once you have completed the reservation of space for your animal, complete the mandatory Air Transat Pet Information Form.
Passengers must be at least 16 years old to travel with an animal.
A valid health certificate indicating the pet’s breed, as well as proof of rabies vaccination is required at check-in.
Destination and country requirements
When travelling with your pet, it is essential to have all the required documents in order. Requirements vary by country and may include health and vaccination certificates, import or export permits, agricultural documents, breed restrictions, and specific conditions of acceptance.
To confirm the requirements applicable to your pet and destination:
- Contact the consulate or embassy of the country you plan to visit to confirm its animal entry and exit requirements
- Consult your veterinarian to ensure that your pet meets all applicable animal health and vaccination requirements
- Obtain all required documentation before arriving at the airport, including any health certificates, vaccination certificates, permits, or agricultural documents required by the destination country
Air Transat follows the applicable animal entry and exit requirements reflected in the IATA Animal Travel Information Manual. For more information about the requirements for your destination, visit IATA’s Traveling with Pets page.
Passengers are responsible for confirming the requirements applicable to their itinerary and obtaining all required documentation before departure. Animals that do not meet the applicable requirements or are presented without the required documentation may be denied acceptance at the airport.
In addition to the current requirements published by the relevant authorities, destination-specific information is provided below for Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Portugal, and the Republic of Ireland. For all destinations, passengers must consult the appropriate authorities and IATA’s Traveling with Pets page to confirm the latest applicable requirements before travelling.
To Canada: From non-rabies free countries dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by valid health certificate issued in either English or French, by a licensed veterinarian, clearly identifying the animal and showing that they are currently vaccinated against rabies. The certificate should indicate the type of rabies vaccine used, date administered and expiry date (if validity date does not appear on certificate, it will be considered a 1year vaccine).
From rabies-free countries (as recognized by Canada) Dogs and cats may enter Canada if accompanied by a valid health certificate, in either English or French, of an official government veterinarian clearly identifying the animal and showing that rabies has not existed in that country for the 6 month period immediately preceding shipment of the animal, and that the animal has been in that country for the 6 months preceding import or since birth.
Fees may be applicable per animal for inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency upon entry into Canada (except from the U.S.). Complete information can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
One-way travel restrictions
Cats and dogs cannot be booked on a one-way flight to Canada departing from Brazil, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guyana, Haiti, Morocco, Peru, or Türkiye. To travel with a cat or dog from one of these countries to Canada, your pet must be included in a round-trip booking and reserved in advance through the Air Transat Contact Centre.
Certified service dogs: Certified service dogs may be accepted on one-way flights from these countries to Canada, subject to all applicable reservation, documentation, and destination-country requirements.
To the United States: Information on requirements and documentation regarding the entry of dogs into the United States are found on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)'s website Will open in a separate browser window.
Dogs entering or returning to the United States must meet specific requirements depending on where they have been in the 6 months before entering the U.S.. Please see the CDC’s list of high-risk countries Will open in a separate browser window to ensure that the appropriate requirements are met. No animals that have visited a high-risk country within the 6 months before entering the U.S. will be accepted.
Passengers are solely responsible for verifying and completing the regulatory requirements.
Dogs that do not meet all entry requirements or do not have accurate and valid forms will be denied entry to the United States and returned to the country of departure at the importer’s expense. These requirements apply to all dogs, including service dogs and dogs that were born in the United States.
From and to the United Kingdom: Cats and dogs are accepted as cargo only on Air Transat flights – advance arrangements are required and additional fees apply.
Exceptions: Certified service dogs are accepted on flights to London, Manchester, and Glasgow (when reserved through our Call Centre at least 7 days in advance).
Certified service dogs are accepted on flights from London, Manchester and Glasgow.
Pets in the checked baggage hold and in the cabin are accepted on flights from Manchester and Glasgow, but not accepted from London.
To Portugal: In addition to meeting all applicable European Union entry requirements, passengers travelling with a cat or dog, including an assistance dog, from outside the European Union must complete the Form for Contact about the Arrival of Dogs and Cats without Commercial Purpose and send it to the appropriate Travellers’ Point of Entry at least 48 hours before arrival. At check-in, you must present the completed form and a valid health certificate issued within 10 days before your arrival in Portugal. Animals presented without the required valid documents will be denied acceptance for travel.
Visit the
Direção-Geral de Alimentação e Veterinária website for requirements, instructions, and contact information.
To the Republic of Ireland: Cats and dogs are accepted as cargo only on Air Transat flights. Advance arrangements are required, and additional fees apply.
Exception: Certified service dogs are accepted on flights to Dublin when reserved through the Air Transat Contact Centre at least seven days before arrival.
Dogs travelling to the Republic of Ireland must receive treatment against the tapeworm
Echinococcus multilocularis no more than 120 hours and no less than 24 hours before their scheduled entry into Ireland.
From the Republic of Ireland: Cats and dogs may be accepted from Dublin in the cabin, in the checked baggage hold, or as cargo, subject to Air Transat’s applicable acceptance conditions.
Important: The information provided above is for reference only and may change without notice. Before travelling, you must confirm the latest documentation and entry requirements with the appropriate embassy or consulate of each country included in your itinerary. For additional information, you may also visit IATA's Traveling with Pets page.