Before booking
Confirm whether your dog clears in the passenger terminal, special baggage, cargo warehouse, animal reception centre or quarantine transfer desk.
Dog arrival reality
Choose the airport for the animal facility, not just the fare.
Dogs travelling as cargo or checked baggage rarely appear in the passenger hall. They are moved to animal reception, cargo, quarantine or border-inspection facilities, where paperwork, microchip scans, vet checks and customs release happen before you can collect them.
29dog-airport facility guides24/7common cargo-care coverage4-8htypical clearance window at major hubs
On arrival
Wait for release confirmation before travelling to cargo. Bring photo ID, airway bill details, original certificates and the receiving agent contact.
Route comfort
Prioritise climate-controlled transfer vehicles, staffed kennels, veterinary cover and realistic layover time over the cheapest airport pair.
Featured facilities
Big dog-travel airports where the process really matters
LHRLondon, United Kingdom
London Heathrow
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) The Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC) is the world's leading live animal border inspection post, operated by the City of London Corporation since 1977. Every animal entering the UK through Heathrow must pass through HARC, where DEFRA officials and Anima… 24/7 (365 days a year)
JFKNew York, United States
New York JFK
The ARK at JFK The ARK at JFK is the world's first privately owned 24/7 animal reception center, opened in a purpose-built 178,000-square-foot facility at JFK Airport. It includes the ARK Pet Oasis for companion animals, equine import/export quarantine stalls, an aviary qua… 24/7 (365 days a year)
FRAFrankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa Animal Lounge The Lufthansa Animal Lounge at Frankfurt Airport is widely considered the finest animal transit facility in the world. The purpose-built center in CargoCity South handles approximately 100 million animals per year (including fish and insects) and provides cli… 24/7
DXBDubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai International
Emirates SkyCargo Pet Station Dubai International Airport's Emirates SkyCargo Pet Station is a state-of-the-art animal handling facility that benefits from Emirates' massive investment in cargo infrastructure. The facility features fully climate-controlled holding areas, which is essentia… 24/7
SINSingapore
Singapore Changi
NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) Inspection Singapore has one of the strictest animal import regimes in the world, categorizing source countries into four groups (A through D) with escalating requirements. All dogs entering Singapore must have a pre-approved import licence issued by the National Parks… 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM (inspection hours; cargo facility 24/7)
MELMelbourne, Australia
Melbourne Tullamarine
Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility Australia's Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine (PEQ) Facility is a modern, government-operated facility on 144 hectares near Melbourne — the ONLY quarantine facility for dogs and dogs in Australia. All pets requiring quarantine must arrive via Melbourne Internat… Mon–Fri 8:00 AM – 4:00 PMFull directory
Airport dog-arrival guides
Each card is written for dog owners: where your dog actually goes, what the facility does, how collection works, and what to check before the flight.
AUHAbu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Abu Dhabi International
Etihad Cargo Animal Handling- Collection point
- Pet cargo collection through Etihad Cargo terminal. Contact Etihad Cargo for exact procedures and documentation requirements.
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for the MOCCAE import permit in advance. Dogs generally face fewer restrictions than dogs. Etihad's PetE service provides care for cargo pets. Abu Dhabi's extreme summer heat (June–Sept) makes cargo transport risky — plan accordingly…
AMSAmsterdam, Netherlands
Amsterdam Schiphol
KLM Animal Hotel- Collection point
- The KLM Animal Hotel is located near Schiphol, accessible via the cargo area — NOT in any passenger terminal. Contact KLM Cargo or your pet transport agent for exact directions and collection procedures.
- Dog-owner note
- For pets entering the EU via Schiphol, the EU Border Entry Vet Inspection is handled at the Animal Hotel. KLM's dog-walking service is unique in the airline industry. Visitors are NOT permitted in the Animal Hotel — you cannot visit your p…
ATLAtlanta, United States
Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson
USDA/CBP Inspection at Terminal- Collection point
- Accompanied pets clear through CBP at the international arrivals terminal. Cargo pets collected from airline cargo facilities on the south side of the airport.
- Dog-owner note
- Delta Cargo at ATL is well-equipped for pet handling. For international arrivals, have CDC-required documentation ready for dogs. Dogs have no federal vaccination requirement. Georgia requires rabies vaccination for dogs over 3 months old…
BKKBangkok, Thailand
Bangkok Suvarnabhumi
Department of Livestock Development (DLD) Quarantine- Collection point
- The DLD quarantine office is in the cargo area of Suvarnabhumi. Accompanied pets (cabin/checked) clear at the customs area in the arrivals hall. Cargo pets are collected from the freight terminal with DLD clearance.
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for the Thai import permit at least 15 days before arrival through the nearest Thai embassy/consulate or the DLD directly. Health certificate must be issued within 5 days of departure. Thailand's climate is extremely hot — avoid carg…
BRUBrussels, Belgium
Brussels Airport
Animal Care & Inspection Center (ACIC)- Collection point
- The ACIC is in the cargo zone of Brussels Airport. Contact your pet transport agent for collection instructions. Checked baggage (AVIH) pets are typically collected at oversized baggage in arrivals.
- Dog-owner note
- Belgium follows standard EU pet import regulations — EU Pet Passport with valid rabies vaccination for intra-EU travel, or veterinary health certificate for non-EU arrivals. The ACIC provides outdoor lawn areas for dogs during transit stay…
ORDChicago, United States
Chicago O'Hare
USDA/CBP Inspection at Terminal- Collection point
- Accompanied pets clear through CBP in the arrivals terminal. Cargo pets are collected from airline cargo facilities along Cargo Road. Contact your airline's cargo division for exact building.
- Dog-owner note
- No federal rabies vaccination requirement for dogs (only dogs), but airlines and states may have their own requirements. Illinois does not require a state health certificate for dogs. For cargo arrivals, coordinate pickup timing with the a…
DOHDoha, Qatar
Doha Hamad International
Qatar Airways Animal Centre- Collection point
- The Animal Centre is near Hamad International Airport next to the Qatar Airways maintenance hangar. Cargo pets are collected from the cargo area. Transit pets are automatically managed at the Animal Centre by Qatar Airw…
- Dog-owner note
- Minimum transit time for pets in Doha is 180 minutes (3 hours). The 'Pet Card' service sends photo updates during transit. Qatar Airways is the world's largest animal carrier by air. Contact at least 48 hours before departure with health c…
DXBDubai, United Arab Emirates
Dubai International
Emirates SkyCargo Pet Station- Collection point
- The Emirates SkyCargo Pet Station is located in the SkyCargo terminal complex at DXB. Access is via the DWC (Dubai World Central) entrance road — follow signs to SkyCargo / Freight. This is a separate facility from the…
- Dog-owner note
- Dubai's heat is the primary concern for dog transport. While the SkyCargo facility itself is fully climate-controlled, be aware that some airlines may impose seasonal embargoes on live animal transport during peak summer (June–September) w…
DUBDublin, Ireland
Dublin Airport
DAFM Veterinary Inspection- Collection point
- DAFM inspection is at the airport. Accompanied pets from EU/UK clear through customs. Non-EU arrivals are inspected by DAFM officials.
- Dog-owner note
- The tapeworm treatment is the KEY difference vs mainland EU. Your dog must be treated 1–5 days before entering Ireland, recorded in the passport or health certificate. This catches many owners off guard. No quarantine for pets from EU/appr…
FRAFrankfurt, Germany
Frankfurt Airport
Lufthansa Animal Lounge- Collection point
- The Lufthansa Animal Lounge is located in CargoCity South, Gate 31. From the passenger terminals, take a taxi to CargoCity South and follow signs to Gate 31 — it is a separate facility from the main terminal complex. If…
- Dog-owner note
- If your dog is transiting through Frankfurt on a connecting flight, the Animal Lounge will automatically care for them during the layover. Dogs are taken out of their crates, given food and water, and placed in individual holding areas. Th…
HKGHong Kong
Hong Kong International
AFCD Animal Management Centre- Collection point
- The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) Animal Management Centre is located adjacent to the Cathay Pacific Cargo Terminal at HKIA. Pets arriving in Hong Kong must be collected from the cargo area a…
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for your AFCD special import permit well in advance — the process can take 2–4 weeks. Dogs from Group 1 countries (UK, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, etc.) may be exempt from quarantine, while dogs from Group 2 and 3 countries face q…
ISTIstanbul, Türkiye
Istanbul Airport
Turkish Airlines Pet Lounge- Collection point
- The Pet Lounge is within Istanbul Airport, accessible to departing passengers. Pet relief rooms are located after security on the Departures floor. Cargo pet collection is through the cargo terminal — contact Turkish Ai…
- Dog-owner note
- Turkish Airlines allows cabin pets up to 8 kg (including carrier, max 23×30×40 cm). Pets exceeding these dimensions travel in the hold or cargo. The Pet Lounge is designed for larger pets awaiting flights. Turkish Airlines is one of the mo…
JNBJohannesburg, South Africa
Johannesburg OR Tambo
State Veterinary Services & Swissport Live Animal Lounge- Collection point
- State Vet office is in the cargo area of OR Tambo. Accompanied pets clear at the arrivals hall. Cargo pets are processed at the Swissport Live Animal Lounge in the cargo precinct.
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for the DALRRD import permit well in advance — processing takes several weeks. South Africa has specific requirements per country of origin and may require additional blood tests. No mandatory quarantine for dogs from most countries…
KULKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur International
MAQIS Quarantine Inspection- Collection point
- MAQIS office is in the cargo area of KLIA. Accompanied pets clear at the customs area in arrivals. Cargo pets collected from the freight terminal with MAQIS clearance.
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for the DVS import permit at least 2 weeks before arrival. The 7-day quarantine can be served at approved private facilities which are more comfortable. Using a licensed pet transport agent is recommended for Malaysia's complex permi…
LGWLondon, United Kingdom
London Gatwick
No dedicated ARC — most pet cargo routes via Heathrow (LHR/HARC)- Collection point
- Gatwick has no Animal Reception Centre. If your dog is arriving at Gatwick as cargo, contact your pet shipping agent well in advance — most will route pet cargo through Heathrow instead. If for any reason cargo does arr…
- Dog-owner note
- Do not assume your dog will arrive at the same airport as you. If you book a passenger flight into Gatwick, your pet shipping agent will still route your dog's cargo through Heathrow in the vast majority of cases. Plan for separate collect…
LHRLondon, United Kingdom
London Heathrow
Heathrow Animal Reception Centre (HARC)- Collection point
- The HARC is located near Terminal 4 on the southern perimeter of Heathrow Airport. It is NOT in any passenger terminal — you must travel to it separately. From the passenger terminals, take a taxi or private car to Beac…
- Dog-owner note
- Start the HARC paperwork pre-check process at least 72 hours before your dog's flight departs by emailing scanned copies of all documentation to the HARC pre-check service. This dramatically speeds up clearance on arrival. Pets can stay at…
LAXLos Angeles, United States
Los Angeles International
Airline Cargo Hubs (Multiple)- Collection point
- Unlike airports with a single centralized animal reception center, LAX cargo pet collection is handled through individual airline cargo facilities located along World Way West and the Imperial Highway cargo area. The sp…
- Dog-owner note
- Get the exact cargo facility address from your airline or shipping agent before you arrive — navigating the LAX cargo area without specific directions can be time-consuming and frustrating. Most airline cargo offices at LAX operate during…
MADMadrid, Spain
Madrid Barajas
Puesto de Inspección Fronterizo (PIF)- Collection point
- The Border Inspection Post (PIF) is in the cargo zone. Accompanied pets from EU countries with a valid EU Pet Passport clear through the normal green channel. Non-EU arrivals may need inspection at the PIF.
- Dog-owner note
- EU arrivals with a valid EU Pet Passport experience no delays. For non-EU arrivals, have documentation ready in English and Spanish if possible. Spain does not quarantine pets from most countries. Madrid has excellent veterinary care cityw…
MELMelbourne, Australia
Melbourne Tullamarine
Mickleham Post Entry Quarantine Facility- Collection point
- Pets arriving at Melbourne are collected by DAFF officials and transported directly to the Mickleham PEQ Facility at 135 Donnybrook Road, Mickleham (25 km from airport). Owners collect pets after quarantine — bring phot…
- Dog-owner note
- Book quarantine as soon as your import permit is granted — spaces are limited. Costs approximately AUD $2,000 for 10 days (2025 rates). Pets must arrive during weekday business hours. The 180-day RNAT wait starts when the lab receives the…
MUCMunich, Germany
Munich Airport
Munich Airport Animal Station- Collection point
- Animal station is in the cargo area. EU-accompanied pets clear through customs normally. Non-EU arrivals and cargo pets processed at the cargo terminal.
- Dog-owner note
- Frankfurt is generally preferred for cargo pet transits due to the superior Animal Lounge. Munich works well for accompanied pets on direct flights. EU Pet Passport holders experience quick clearance. Non-EU arrivals need full documentatio…
JFKNew York, United States
New York JFK
The ARK at JFK- Collection point
- The ARK is located off the runway in Cargo Area D at JFK International Airport. It is NOT in any passenger terminal. From the passenger terminals, you can take a taxi directly to The ARK (specify 'Cargo Area D, The ARK'…
- Dog-owner note
- If your dog is arriving as manifest cargo, start the reservation process with The ARK at least 35 days before arrival. The ARK strongly recommends that all pets travel as manifest cargo (with an Air Waybill) rather than as excess baggage…
CDGParis, France
Paris Charles de Gaulle
Station Animale (Cargo 4 Zone)- Collection point
- The Station Animale is located in the Fret Zone 4 (Cargo 4) area of CDG Airport. From the passenger terminals, take a taxi or shuttle to the cargo area and follow signs for 'Fret Zone 4.' This facility handles all anima…
- Dog-owner note
- For dogs arriving from within the EU with a valid EU Pet Passport, clearance at CDG is typically straightforward and quick. For dogs arriving from non-EU countries, expect a more thorough inspection of microchip, rabies vaccination, and an…
ICNSeoul, South Korea
Seoul Incheon
Animal & Plant Quarantine Agency (APQA)- Collection point
- The APQA inspection office is within Incheon Airport. After clearing immigration, proceed to the APQA counter in the customs area before exiting. Cargo arrivals: contact APQA Incheon for collection.
- Dog-owner note
- Korea requires advance notification 3+ days before arrival through the APQA system. The FAVN test must be done at a Korean-approved laboratory. Dogs under 90 days old that cannot be vaccinated are not permitted entry. Processing is efficie…
SINSingapore
Singapore Changi
NParks Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS) Inspection- Collection point
- Animal inspections are conducted at the Changi Airfreight Centre, accessible via the CAPQ (Centre for Animal & Plant Quarantine) gate entrance. This is located in the cargo and logistics zone of Changi Airport, separate…
- Dog-owner note
- Apply for your NParks AVS import licence at least 2 months before travel via the CITES e-Licensing System on the NParks website. The licence is valid for 30 days from the date of issue. Dogs from Category A countries (New Zealand, Australi…
SYDSydney, Australia
Sydney Kingsford Smith
DAFF — Transit to Mickleham (Melbourne)- Collection point
- Sydney does NOT have its own quarantine facility. Almost all dogs must arrive at Melbourne for Mickleham PEQ. In limited circumstances, dogs may land at Sydney and be transhipped to Melbourne — confirm eligibility with…
- Dog-owner note
- Fly your dog directly to Melbourne (MEL) whenever possible. After completing quarantine in Melbourne, your dog can travel domestically to Sydney. The same quarantine requirements, fees, and procedures apply regardless of routing.
GRUSão Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo Guarulhos
VIGIAGRO Federal Inspection- Collection point
- VIGIAGRO is in the cargo terminal area. Accompanied pets clear at the arrivals customs area. Have all documentation ready including the CZI (International Zoosanitary Certificate).
- Dog-owner note
- IMPORTANT: Brazil requires the health certificate endorsed by your origin country's government vet AND by the nearest Brazilian consulate. This consular endorsement step is unique and catches many owners off guard — allow extra time. The C…
HNDTokyo, Japan
Tokyo Haneda
Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) — Haneda Branch- Collection point
- AQS Haneda is within the international terminal area. Same import procedures as Narita apply. Contact AQS Haneda directly for cargo animal collection.
- Dog-owner note
- Haneda is preferred over Narita due to Tokyo proximity. Same 40-day advance notification and 180-day waiting period apply. Haneda handles fewer cargo animals than Narita, which can mean faster processing.
NRTTokyo, Japan
Tokyo Narita
Animal Quarantine Service (AQS) — Narita Branch- Collection point
- The AQS office is within Narita Airport. After landing, proceed to the AQS counter in the customs area. For cargo arrivals, pets are held at the AQS detention facility near the cargo terminal.
- Dog-owner note
- Submit Advance Notification to AQS at least 40 days before arrival via NACCS or email. The 180-day wait starts when the lab receives the blood sample, not when drawn. Narita has a caretaker company at the detention facility. Pets from 'des…
YYZToronto, Canada
Toronto Pearson
CFIA Animal Import Inspection- Collection point
- CFIA conducts pet inspections at the customs/secondary inspection area in the passenger terminal for accompanied pets. Cargo pets are processed at the airline's cargo facility.
- Dog-owner note
- For accompanied pets, have vaccination records and health certificate ready for inspection at customs. Processing is typically quick if documents are in order. Canada does not quarantine pets from most countries with current vaccinations…