Before the flight

Your service dog, including a guide dog or psychiatric assistance dog (PSA), can travel with you free of charge. Depending on the route, they can travel with you in the cabin or as checked baggage in a special area of the aircraft hold. There are a few checks and some documents you need to submit before they can travel. Only dogs are considered as service animals.

You can read more about flying with pets.

Guide dogs, or seeing-eye dogs, and psychiatric support dogs can travel in the cabin on certain routes, as long as the dog is over 4 months old. Your dog must be able to travel comfortably without blocking the aisles and emergency exits. For safety reasons we’re unable to offer you an exit row seat.

Service animals other than seeing-eye or psychiatric support dogs can travel as checked baggage in a special area of the aircraft cargo hold.

Emotional support or therapy animals are not considered service animals and will be accepted as normal pets. They can travel as checked baggage based on the regulations of the country you’re travelling from and to. Excess baggage charges will apply according to our baggage rules.

Our world-class animal care team at Emirates Skycargo will make sure your service dog or guide dog is safe and comfortable.

Check your route to see how you can travel with your service or guide dog.

To or from the USA and Canada

Seeing-eye dogs and psychiatric support dogs can be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage or manifest cargo (please refer to the travel information to and from the USA further down the page).

Between Australia and New Zealand

Seeing-eye dogs and psychiatric support dogs can be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage or manifest cargo.

Between countries in the EU and the USA

Seeing-eye dogs and psychiatric support dogs can be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage or manifest cargo.

From Dubai to countries in the EU

Seeing-eye dogs and psychiatric support dogs can be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage or manifest cargo.

From countries in the EU to Dubai

Seeing‑eye dogs and psychiatric support dogs can be accepted in the cabin, or as checked baggage or manifest cargo.

To or from Dubai to other countries

Transported only as checked baggage or manifest cargo.

Let us know at least 48 hours ahead of your flight if you plan to fly with your service dog. You need to make sure your guide dog or service dog has all the necessary health checks and permits before you travel, which may take a bit more time and can vary by country. Contact us and we’ll talk you through the arrangements.

Documents

• Proof of vaccination, microchipping, pet passport (veterinary health documents)
• Import permits (according to country regulations)
• Proof that the dog has been trained to perform specific tasks and behave in a public setting either by an individual or with an organisation (for travel to and from the USA, see further information below)

To transport psychiatric support dogs, you need to provide documentation in addition to the requirements above (for travel to and from the USA, see further information below).

• A signed statement, no older than one year prior to your flight date, from a licensed medical health professional stating:
  1. The name of your disability and that you are under their professional care.
  2. The need for a psychiatric support dog for air travel or for activities at your destination.
  3. Licence information of the medical health professional (issue date, licence type, and jurisdiction and state where it was issued)

Important information about travelling with your service dog

Your service dog must be over the age of 4 months to travel in the aircraft cabin.

When service dogs are transported as checked baggage, the flight connection time (transit time) must not exceed 6 hours.

We do not allow the transportation of service animals as checked baggage or in the cabin if the total transportation time exceeds 17 hours. This includes from the time of check-in at the airport (which is considered approximately one hour before scheduled departure), until the delivery of the animal at the arrivals customs hall at the final destination. If the travel time is more than 17 hours, the service animal can only be transported as cargo under an air waybill.

The service dog must be trained and obedient to commands, and must behave appropriately in a public space (they must not bark, growl, attempt to bite, jump on or lunge at people or other service animals). The dog must not relieve themselves in the cabin or at the boarding gate unless there is suitable provision to avoid health risks or hygiene issues.

If your dog does not behave in an appropriate manner, we may have to transfer the dog to the cargo hold at an additional cost or refuse to transport the animal. Passengers are liable for any damage and additional costs arising from the transport of the dog.

The dog must remain harnessed, leashed, or otherwise tethered by the handler in all areas of the airport and on board the aircraft.

A service dog must not occupy a seat. A service dog must be of a size that can fit at your feet. If the dog is too large to fit in front of one seat, you can purchase a second seat beside you. If you have a large, trained service dog or multiple trained service dogs that cannot be accommodated on one seat, you can rebook or pay for an extra seat beside you if the service dog intrudes upon another customer’s space or obstructs the aisles.

If you are travelling with a service animal on an Emirates flight to the US, you will need to meet both US Department of Transportation regulations as well as Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regulations. If you are departing from the US, you will need to meet the regulations of the US Department of Transportation.

You will need to complete a US Department of Transportation Service Animal Air Transportation Form before you travel to attest the animal’s health, training and behaviour. Additionally, if your flight is longer than 8 hours, you will also need to submit a U.S. Department of Transportation Service Animal Relief Attestation Form to attest that the dog will not relieve themselves in the aircraft or can do so in a sanitary manner. Once you download and complete the forms, please submit them here to our Special Assistance team for review and we’ll contact you to confirm this is validated before you travel.

The CDC regulations for bringing dogs into the US includes:

• Health and documentation requirements: You must meet the specific vaccination and health certification requirements.
• Forms required: All travellers bringing dogs into the USA are required to complete a CDC Dog Import Form.
• Countries affected: Additional restrictions apply to dogs vaccinated in foreign countries and coming from countries with a high risk of rabies.
• Entry points: Only designated ports of entry will be permitted when importing dogs from certain countries.

For detailed information, please read the CDC Dog Import Regulations on the CDC website.

Customers travelling with a service dog from any eligible station to Dubai are required to submit the following documents at least four working days before departure to get this validated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE).

• Veterinary health certificate from the country of origin
• Rabies titer test (RNAT)
• Vaccination book/treatment documents of the animal
• Import permit from MOCCAE
• Inspection/releasing fees receipts paid as per the MOCCAE website

The booking for the service dog will only be confirmed after the documents have been validated by the UAE Ministry of Climate Change & Environment (MOCCAE).