About North Cyprus · Pets
Pets, vets and bringing animals to North Cyprus
As of 28 October 2026, the TRNC Veterinary Department's Karantina page states that a pet brought by a passenger needs an import licence obtained before the animal is exported, and sets separate conditions for cats and dogs, caged birds and other pets. This page summarises that page, the Department's published regulations and the Cyprus Turkish Veterinary Medical Association's list of private clinics, each attributed. It does not replace the Department's current written instructions, which should be requested before travel. NORTHEA is not an authority or a seller, and is not a vet or a government office.
Information as of 28 October 2026, from the sources named in the text and listed below. Positions of parties are attributed to them.
Bringing a dog or cat: what to arrange before travel
According to the Veterinary Department (Veteriner Dairesi) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, animals brought by a passenger for non-commercial purposes need an import licence from the Department before they are exported. The Department's Karantina page sets general conditions for all pets and then specific conditions for cats and dogs, caged birds and other pets.
The page prints no revision date, so the conditions below are as of 28 October 2026. The page and the application form both state that the Department may change import conditions according to the animal-health situation in the country of origin and in the TRNC. This section summarises one official page and is informational, not legal or veterinary advice: ask the Veterinary Department for the current written instructions before travel.
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Arrival, entry points and what happens without the right papers
The Department's Karantina page states that, under the Green Line Regulation in force, the mutual passage of live animals between the north and the south of Cyprus is prohibited, and that animals can therefore be imported to the TRNC only through TRNC ports. The application form words this as port or airport. This is the Department's own statement; confirm the route and any transit conditions with the Department in writing. For travel options see how to get to North Cyprus.
On arrival, the page states, customs control is carried out and animals that do not meet the conditions or lack the documents are not admitted. It describes return to the country of origin at the carrier's cost or, if the owner refuses return, quarantine of up to 3 months at the Director's discretion. This summarises the Department's text and is not legal advice.
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Birds, fish, small mammals and reptiles
The Department's Karantina page gives detailed conditions only for cats and dogs and for caged birds. For other non-commercial pets it states that an import licence is mandatory and that an official health certificate must be sent with the application form. It adds that the Department will examine the species and other factors and then tell applicants the quarantine method, duration and import conditions.
The Animal Welfare Law (8/2013) lists dogs, cats, ferrets, invertebrates other than bees and crustaceans, tropical ornamental fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, rodents and domestic rabbits as house and ornamental animals when they are kept by their owners and not intended for sale. Beyond what is quoted here, this page makes no statement about whether a particular species may be kept or imported: confirm with the Veterinary Department in writing.
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Rules for dogs once they are here
The Veterinary Department's Mevzuat page links the dog-related texts used here: the Dog Registration Regulation (No. 10, made under Law 7/2008), the Stray and Dangerous Dogs Regulation (No. 203, made under the Animal Welfare Law 8/2013) and the Dogs Law (Cap. 52). Article numbers and figures below should be checked against the originals.
None of these texts is a substitute for current written advice: the regulations can be amended, and the list of dangerous dog breeds is published separately. This is informational and not legal advice.
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Vets and pet businesses
The Cyprus Turkish Veterinary Medical Association (Kıbrıs Türk Veteriner Hekimler Birliği) publishes a Private Clinics page. As of 28 October 2026 it listed 63 entries: 60 clinics and animal hospitals grouped by district, and 3 individual practitioners. For each entry it prints a contact person, telephone numbers, an address, a town (belde) and a district (ilçe). This page names clinics and towns as printed, with the words 'Veteriner Kliniği' (veterinary clinic) left out, and does not repeat telephone numbers. For where the districts and towns are, see districts, towns and map.
The page prints no opening hours and no statement about emergency or out-of-hours cover, so none is claimed here; ask a clinic directly whether it can see an emergency before you need it. Appearing on the list is not a recommendation by NORTHEA or by the association. Pet shops, groomers and boarding businesses are not named. No official page on this topic was used here; check with the office directly. Veterinary information on this page is educational and does not replace a veterinarian.
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Rescue, shelters and adoption
No municipal or rescue-association page was used here, so no shelter or rescue group is named. No official page on this topic was used here; check with the office directly. What can be stated comes from the Stray and Dangerous Dogs Regulation (No. 203) and the Dog Registration Regulation (No. 10), both published on the Veterinary Department's Mevzuat page.
Ask your own municipality which shelter serves your area and what its adoption process requires. For the offices involved see government offices for expats.
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Renting or buying with a pet: questions to ask
Which properties accept pets is for the owner or management to say, and NORTHEA never labels a listing as pet-friendly. The questions below turn the official rules on this page into things to ask a landlord, owner or management company, and to get in writing.
Ask which species and how many animals are accepted; whether the contract, a deposit or extra rent covers pets; what rules apply to balconies, gardens and shared areas; what the contract says about noise; whether a landlord or management requires a copy of the dog licence, the microchip registration or the vaccination record; and what happens if the animal is moved or you change address.
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Practical notes
- NORTHEA is not an authority or a seller. It is not the Veterinary Department, a vet, a shelter, a pet shop, a boarding business or a government office, and it does not arrange animal imports. This page is informational and not legal advice; medical content is educational and does not replace a veterinarian.
- The Karantina page prints no revision date. Before travel, ask the Department for the current written instructions for your species and route of travel.
- Not covered: named pet shops, groomers and boarding businesses, rescue groups and shelters, pet-friendly beaches and parks, general pet costs, and emergency or out-of-hours vets. No official page on this topic was used here; check with the office directly.
- NORTHEA never labels a listing as pet-friendly. Whether a property accepts animals is for the owner or management to confirm in writing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a permit to bring a dog or cat to North Cyprus?
According to the TRNC Veterinary Department's Karantina page, an import licence from the Department is mandatory before the animal is exported. The application form PIB.01 must reach the Department, and the licence is valid for 30 days. Ask the Department for current written instructions before travel.
What rabies requirements does the Veterinary Department state?
The Karantina page states that cats and dogs must be older than 3 months, with a rabies vaccination given at least 1 month and at most 1 year before import. It also requires a laboratory report from a European Union-approved laboratory showing a FAVN result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher.
Can I bring an animal across the Green Line?
The Veterinary Department's Karantina page states that, under the Green Line Regulation in force, live animals may not pass between the north and the south of Cyprus, and that animals can be imported to the TRNC only through TRNC ports. Confirm your route with the Department in writing.
How much is the pet import licence?
The Karantina page prints an import licence fee of 900 TL for a certificate covering up to 5 animals, plus an audit service fee of 850 TL, a total of 1750 TL. The Department's 2026 tariff also lists 900 TL for the licence. Fees can change, so confirm them with the Department.
What happens if my pet arrives without the right documents?
According to the Karantina page, animals without the required conditions and documents are not admitted and are returned at the carrier's cost. If the owner refuses return, the page describes quarantine of up to 3 months at the Director's discretion. It also states a euthanasia clause, so read the full text before travel.
Do dogs have to be microchipped and registered?
Under the Dog Registration Regulation (No. 10), published on the Veterinary Department's Mevzuat page, dogs are identified with an ISO-compliant microchip. Dogs brought from abroad that will stay more than 3 months must be registered with the Department within 7 days of entry. Check the original text.
Where can I find a vet in North Cyprus?
The Cyprus Turkish Veterinary Medical Association's Private Clinics page lists 63 entries: 60 clinics and animal hospitals by district, in Girne, Lefkoşa, Gazimağusa, İskele and Güzelyurt, plus 3 individual practitioners. It prints no opening hours, so ask each clinic directly.
Is there a 24-hour emergency vet?
The Veterinary Medical Association's Private Clinics page prints no opening hours and no statement about emergency or out-of-hours cover, so none is claimed here. Ask a clinic in advance whether it can see an emergency, and call before travelling to it.
Can I bring birds, fish, rabbits or reptiles?
The Veterinary Department's Karantina page gives detailed conditions for caged birds and says other pets need a licence and an official health certificate, with the Department setting conditions per species. For fish, rabbits, reptiles and wild animals, the page gives no species rule; confirm in writing.
Are some dog breeds banned in North Cyprus?
The Stray and Dangerous Dogs Regulation (No. 203), published on the Veterinary Department's Mevzuat page, prohibits breeding, keeping, bringing into the TRNC and selling breeds on the dangerous list. The list is set under the Animal Welfare Law and is not reproduced here, so ask the Department about your dog's breed.
Sources
- TRNC Veterinary Department: Karantina / Quarantine, import of passenger-accompanied pets
- TRNC Veterinary Department: import licence application form PIB.01 (PDF)
- TRNC Veterinary Department: Mevzuat (legislation)
- TRNC Veterinary Department: home page
- TRNC Veterinary Department: fee tariff 2026 (PDF)
- Animal Welfare Law 8/2013 (PDF, Veterinary Department)
- Dogs Law, Cap. 52 (PDF, Veterinary Department)
- Stray and Dangerous Dogs Regulation No. 203 (PDF, Veterinary Department)
- Dog Registration Regulation No. 10 (PDF, Veterinary Department)
- Regulation No. 459 on non-commercial movement of pets (PDF, Veterinary Department)
- Cyprus Turkish Veterinary Medical Association: Private Clinics
Questions about North Cyprus?
Write to NORTHEA for a private conversation about areas, hotels or property.