Many travellers wonder whether they need the DOT form when flying with their pets. In reality, it applies only in specific cases. This guide makes it clear when the DOT form is required and when your pet can travel without it.
What the DOT Form actually is
The DOT Form, officially called the Service Animal Air Transportation Form, is a document required by U.S. airlines for passengers travelling with trained service dogs.
It confirms that the dog is healthy, well-behaved, and officially recognised as a service animal. The form applies only to U.S. airlines and doesn’t concern pets flying as regular companions.
When you need the DOT form for service animals
You’ll need the DOT Form only if you’re travelling with a trained service dog on a U.S. airline, whether the flight is domestic or international. Airlines such as Delta, United or American Airlines use it to verify that the animal truly qualifies as a service dog under U.S. Department of Transportation rules. The form helps them confirm your dog’s training and behaviour before allowing it to travel in the cabin free of charge.
If you’re flying with a European carrier, or your pet is simply travelling as a companion in a carrier, you won’t need this document at all. In that case, the airline will treat your animal under the standard pet travel policy, which only requires health and travel documents — not the DOT form.
↪️ You can find & download the DOT form for service animals here.
When you don’t need it
If your cat or dog is travelling as a regular pet, you don’t need to worry about the DOT form at all. It doesn’t apply to pets flying in-cabin, in the hold, or as cargo, even if the flight is operated by a U.S. airline. These animals are simply subject to the airline’s standard pet travel policy, which usually involves weight limits, carrier dimensions, and valid health documents.
You also won’t need this form for emotional support animals, as U.S. airlines no longer recognise them as service animals. In those cases, the pet travels like any other animal — under the airline’s pet rules, with a separate fee and space reservation required.
What pets need instead
If your pet travels as a normal passenger — not a service dog — you won’t need any DOT paperwork. What you do need are the usual pet travel documents. Inside the EU, that’s a pet passport with your vet’s signature, microchip number and proof of rabies vaccination.
When coming from the U.S. or another non-EU country, the equivalent is an Animal Health Certificate. It’s a one-time document your vet issues just before you fly — usually within ten days of departure. Airlines might also ask for a health note from your vet confirming your pet is fit to travel – it’s known as “fit-to-fly” document.
Common mistakes travellers make
One of the most common mix-ups happens when travellers confuse the DOT form with a health certificate. The DOT form is purely for service dogs on U.S. airlines, while a health certificate is what every pet needs for international travel. They’re two completely different things, but the names often throw people off.
Another mistake is trying to register a regular pet as an emotional support animal, hoping to skip fees or carrier limits. U.S. airlines no longer accept ESAs as service animals, so that trick doesn’t work anymore. It’s always better to follow the airline’s pet policy from the start — it saves time, stress and sometimes an awkward chat at the check-in desk.
FAQs about DOT pet travel requirements
Do I need DOT form for my pet?
No. The DOT form only applies to trained service dogs flying on U.S. airlines. Regular pets never need it, even if they’re in the cabin.
Is the DOT form the same as a health certificate?
Not at all. The DOT form proves that a dog is a trained service animal, while a health certificate confirms your pet is healthy and vaccinated — that’s the document most travellers actually need.
Does the DOT form apply to flights operated by European airlines?
No. European carriers don’t use the DOT form at all. You’ll just follow their regular pet travel requirements and provide the usual veterinary paperwork.
Can emotional support animals travel under the DOT form?
Not anymore. Since 2021, emotional support animals are treated as regular pets on all major U.S. airlines. That means you’ll need to book them as pets and pay the standard in-cabin fee.