Do you have any other questions about the carriage of assistance dogs?
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Please read our FAQ.
Flying with animals
Assistance dogs are welcome aboard TAP
Dogs are the only assistance animals allowed on board TAP. They travel for free and are generally carried in the cabin.
Emotional assistance dogs
TAP will no longer accept bookings for transportation of Emotional Assistance Animals (ESAN), used for therapeutic purposes, without the need for any training beyond the basic, from 15 January 2021.
The service continues to be guaranteed on bookings already confirmed to this date.
Meet the assistance dogs allowed on board:
They are in the Assistance Animal category (SVAN) and receive training to perform owner/tutor assistance tasks such as:
1
Guide Dog
2
Hearing dog
3
Service dog
Training assistance dogs are accepted if accompanied by their trainer or host family. Host families are considered to be those who receive assistance dogs during the animal's socialisation and adaptation phase to human coexistence and are accredited as such.
What do you need to fly with your assistance dog?
To travel with a service dog on TAP, you must always:
- Request this service, at the counter or through this form, at least 48 hours before the flight.
- Ensure that the dog is properly identified as a Service Animal (SVAN).
- Present a training certificate1 of the dog issued by a recognised institute when you book.
- Ensure that the dog has an animal passport, issued by a veterinarian, attesting to its identification and anti-rabies vaccination or, in countries which do not issue animal passports, an official veterinary health certificate.
- Proof of compliance with legally required health requirements.
- Proof of compliance with the obligations concerning liability insurance.
1The certification of the animal's training as an assistance dog is made through the issuing of a proper and distinctive card issued by the national or international assistance dog training establishment which issues an identification card to host families and assistance dogs in training.
How to transport your assistance dog
Assistance dogs always travel in the cabin.
Service dogs must be transported under the following conditions to ensure the safety and welfare of passengers and animals:
- Without a container, at the owner’s feet.
- Always on a lead.
- Without occupying a passenger seat.
- Without moving around in the cabin.
Carriage of assistance animals on flights with stopovers
If you are traveling with your emotional assistance dog on a flight with a layover, please note that:
- Depending on the itinerary and the combined total weight (animal + transport bag), the animal may have to fly part of the route in the cabin and another part in the hold - this is the case for flights between the United States and Europe (for example, New York - Lisbon - Madrid).
- If the animal is to be transported both in the cabin and in the hold, you must ensure that the connection time (time between two flights) is at least 3 hours, to ensure that all necessary processes and procedures are completed.
- If the animal travels in the cabin and moves to the hold on the second route, you must provide the transport box for the animal at the point of origin.
This information only concerns the non-commercial movements of dogs recognised as Service Animals (SVAN). If you need information regarding the import and export of animals, you should contact the respective embassies or consulates.
TAP Air Portugal reserves the right to refuse acceptance if the animal presents signs of disease, agression, lack of hygiene, or any other abnormal characteristic likely to impact flight safety.
TAP complies with the following regulations in force:
- EU Regulation No. 1107/2006 of 5 July 2006 on the rights of passengers with reduced mobility.
- Code of Federal Regulations, Chapter 382 of the US Department of Transportation, in force since 13 May 2009, applicable to passengers travelling to/from the US.
