Small pets, such as cats, small dogs, turtles, and snails, can be carried with you in the cabin on our flights so long as their total weight, including the pet carrier, does not exceed 8kg (17lb). Your pet carrier must be the right size to be stowed under the seat in front of you. The maximum carrier dimensions (length, width, height) are 30 x 47 x 27cm for Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 29 x 43 x 26 cm for Embraer aircraft. 

Required documents: 

• Veterinary passport 
• Veterinary certificate 
• Microchip or tattoo for animal identification

The pet carrier you use to transport your animal must meet specific requirements. It should be sturdy, have proper ventilation and feeding openings, and a watertight base. If the pet carrier has wheels, they should either be removed or locked during the flight. Furthermore, it must provide enough space for the animal to stand and lie down comfortably. Please note that opening the pet carrier, feeding, or handling the animal on board is prohibited. We recommend using soft pet carriers designed specifically for cats or dogs, which can be bought at pet stores. Please refrain from using regular, non-specialised soft bags for transporting animals in the passenger cabin. One passenger is allowed to transport up to three animals from the same litter, so long as they are under six months old. 

Additional notes: 

• Puppies are eligible for transportation in Kazakhstan from 8 weeks of age. It's important to be aware that the Boxer, Bulldog, and Pekingese dog breeds may experience breathing difficulties during the flight due to changes in pressure. 
• Land snails, specifically achatinas, can be transported in the aircraft cabin without requiring special permissions or payments. However, the container must be securely closed. 
• If you want to transport a turtle, you must provide a veterinary certificate confirming that the turtle is not infected and does not pose a disease risk. Additionally, when travelling to or from the country, you need to have a certificate from the Institute of Zoology verifying that the turtle holds no significant value and is not listed in the Red Book. 
• Aquarium fish, birds, and rodents cannot be transported in the cabin or as checked baggage. Aquarium fish can only be transported as cargo, placed in special sealed bags filled with oxygen, and secured in a sturdy box. For assistance with their transportation, please get in touch with the cargo transportation department at cargo@airastana.com.  
• Birds, fish, and rodents can be transported in the cargo compartments of the aircraft, provided they are registered on an air waybill. For inquiries about their transportation, please contact the following address: cargo@airastana.com. 

Please be aware that if you bring your pets to the passenger check-in desk without having having alerted the airline or having booked in advance, they will not be accepted for transportation.  

The airline bears no responsibility for personal injury, loss, delivery delays, illness, or the demise of animals. This also applies in cases of refusal to import or transport animals through the country. 

When transporting animals in cargo holds, the pet travel crate or container should provide ample space for them to stand, turn, and lie down comfortably. The maximum allowable weight for animals in cargo, including the crate, is 50kg; animals exceeding this limit must be transported as cargo with an air waybill, and those weighing over 40kg require sturdy wooden containers.  

Animals accepted for transportation should be a minimum of three months old. One crate can carry a maximum of three animals from the same litter, not exceeding six months in age, or up to two animals of a similar size accustomed to cohabitating, provided each animal's weight does not exceed 14kg. Animals weighing more than 14kg must be transported in separate crates.  

Additional notes: 

• During the autumn-winter period from 1 October to 30 April, animals are not permitted to travel in the cargo hold of the Embraer E190 aircraft. No animals can be transported in the cargo hold of an Embraer E190 on a flight lasting more than two hours. 
• When transporting animals in the cargo hold from Dubai, an additional airport fee of AED 385 is applicable. 

If you have any inquiries, please feel free to contact us using the online forms available on our self-service portal. 

The requirements for transporting pets on Air Astana’s scheduled flights include restrictions on the number of pets allowed, which depend on the type of aircraft. 

The legislation governing the transportation of animals varies from one country to another. In certain countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, and Australia, it is strictly prohibited to import or export pets as part of either carry-on baggage or checked baggage. To comply with these regulations, the pets can only be transported to these countries through the use of an air waybill.  

Passengers bringing animals into EU countries must have a rabies antibody titration test, a veterinary passport containing vaccination records, and the animal must be microchipped. The rabies test should be performed 30 days after the rabies vaccination and at least three months before the intended travel date to EU countries. It is essential to ensure that the test is conducted in a laboratory approved by the EU. Please note that the testing process may exceed 30 days, so it is advisable to obtain an exit permit well in advance of your travel plans. 

Export of animals is permitted in India, the UAE, and Hong Kong. However, Malaysia and certain cities in China, including Urumqi and Beijing, have specific rules for importing and exporting animals. In these regions, only cats and dogs can be imported or exported. When it comes to Urumqi, animals can only be transported as checked baggage. However, for the UAE, animals can only be transported through the use of an air waybill.  

The airline bears no responsibility in the event of a refusal to import animals or products of animal origin, with all related expenses to be covered by the passenger. 

Seoul 

If you want to import a cat or a dog to the Republic of Korea, you need to follow certain procedures:  

• Provide a veterinary certificate issued by the state authority in the country of departure. 
• Indicate the appropriate box in the customs declaration form. 
• Upon arrival, the animal must undergo an inspection by a quarantine officer. 
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Failure to comply with the inspection conditions may result in the following actions: 

• The animal and any associated animal products may be returned or transported to a quarantine zone for further examination. 
• All expenses related to these actions are the responsibility of the owner of the animal or animal product. 

For more detailed information, please refer to the website of the Animal and Plant Inspection Agency. 

Bangkok & Phuket 

When importing or exporting animals to and from Thailand, it's essential to adhere to specific guidelines and procedures. 

• Your Pet's Documentation: You need your pet's veterinary passport, a veterinary certificate, and documents for the microchip if applicable. Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the required documents for the export or import of dogs or cats to or from Thailand. 
• Import Permit: Before entering Thailand, you must obtain an approved pet import permit. You also need to provide the following documents to import an animal into Thailand: 
• Your pet's passport. 
• A certificate of the pet's health, completed in English and signed or additionally confirmed by a government-authorised veterinary official from the country of departure. 
• A medical certificate indicating all necessary vaccinations for cats and dogs, with a rabies vaccination given at least 12 months before departure, and vaccinations for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus administered at least 21 days before departure. The vaccination certificate must be issued at least 21 days before departure. Dogs must be vaccinated against leptospirosis at least 21 days before departure or tested for leptospirosis with a negative result within 30 days before departure. 
• If the animal has a microchip, you must provide the relevant microchip documents. 
• Advance Application: To bring pets into the cabin or cargo hold, it's essential to obtain a pet import permit online in advance; this procedure applies to both categories of animal transport. Passengers need to complete the application form, prepare the documents (owner's passport, pet description, vaccination history, and a photo of the pet), and send them to the Phuket Airport quarantine station via email qshk_hkt@dld.go.th or to the Bangkok Airport quarantine station via email qsap_bkk@dld.go.th at least 60 days prior to arrival but not less than 14 days before arrival. To transport animals in the cargo hold, an import permit must be applied for at least 7 days prior to the departure date. An employee will issue an import permit by email, valid for 60 days from the date of issue. Passengers must print and present this import permit to the animal quarantine officer upon arrival. 
• Customs Clearance: Present the import permit and your pet to customs officers in the ‘Goods for declaration’ channel and pay any applicable duties and taxes. 
• Animal Import Procedures: In Bangkok, passengers can obtain permission to bring animals as checked baggage in the cargo hold and in the cabin upon arrival by preparing the necessary documents and proceeding to the Animal Quarantine Department immediately after passport control. However, please note that a cabin pet permit cannot be obtained upon arrival in Phuket. 
• Breed Restrictions Lifted: There are no longer breed restrictions for animals; the ban has been lifted on, Pitbull and American Staffordshire breeds. 
• The application form, import form, export form, and sample import permission - are in the attachment.

Podgorica 

The importation of pets into the country is allowed, provided they are accompanied by a veterinary passport and a corresponding veterinary certificate for non-commercial pet transportation issued by an official veterinarian from the country of export. For dogs and cats over three months old transported for non-commercial purposes, the following requirements must be met: 

• Identification of animals. 
• Pet passport. 
• Rabies vaccination (administered at the age of 12 weeks or older on the day of vaccination, with a waiting period of 21 days from the date of the first rabies vaccination). 
• Rabies antibody titration test (performed 30 days after the date of vaccination and at least three months before the transportation date). 
• Echinococcus infection treatment upon entry or exit, following the established legal procedure, with a veterinary certificate of health status. 

It is strongly recommended that you have these conditions checked by an authorized veterinarian in Montenegro to ensure compliance with the regulations. 

Malé 

The transportation of dogs and pigs to or from the Maldives is prohibited. However, cats can be transported in the cabin, following the airline's rules. Fish and birds can only be transported as cargo, while rodents are not permitted. When transporting cats to and from the Maldives, several important guidelines should be followed: 

• While not mandatory, it is highly recommended to microchip your cat, as it can be the sole means of identification in emergencies. 
• Cats must have been vaccinated against rabies at least 30 days before entering the country. No rabies titration test is required, regardless of the country of origin. 
• Ensure your cat has a health certificate and an animal passport. 
• Obtain permission from the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture of the Republic of Maldives. 

Further details can be found here. 

Sharm el-Sheikh 

When traveling to Sharm el-Sheikh with animals, please be aware that only one animal is permitted in either the cabin or the cargo hold. 

Standard airline requirements apply for departures, which include ensuring the following: 

• Availability of an animal's passport. 
• Possession of a veterinary certificate, obtained from veterinary supervision. 
• Presence of a tattoo or microchip for proper identification. 
• Availability of a suitable container for the animal during transportation. 

Batumi & Tbilisi 

In Georgia, dogs and cats entering the country must adhere to the following requirements: 

• Must be marked with an HDX or FDX-B transponder or have a readable spiral marking. 
• Must have a valid rabies vaccination, unless the animal is less than 12 weeks old. 
• Should undergo a rabies antibody titration test. 
• Must have received treatment for endoparasites and ectoparasites. 
• Must possess a ‘Certificate of Health’ or an animal passport. 

Heraklion 

Importing dogs or cats that are at least three months old into Greece requires compliance with the following regulations: 

• The animals must be marked with a microchip conforming to the international standard ISO 11784/11785. If the microchip does not adhere to this standard, you must provide means for the veterinarian to read the transponder during inspection, or the animal must have a clearly legible tattoo. 
• The animals must be vaccinated against rabies, or revaccinated following the producing laboratory's recommendations, using an inactivated vaccine containing at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard). Rabies vaccination may only occur after the animal has been microchipped. 
• The animals must undergo a neutralizing antibody titration of at least 0.5 IU/ml, performed on a sample taken at least 30 days after vaccination and three months before relocation, if coming from a country not listed in Annex II, Chapter C of Regulation (EC) 998/2003 (as amended). Rabies antibody testing should only be conducted in accredited laboratories. For subsequent movements of the same animal, antibody titration need not be renewed, provided the vaccination protocol recommended by the producing laboratory is not interrupted. A certified copy of the serological test conducted by the laboratory must be attached to the veterinary certificate. 
• The animals must be accompanied by a certificate issued by an official veterinary surgeon in accordance with the annex to Commission Decision 2004/824/EC. 

For the importation of dogs and cats up to three months of age into Greece, specific conditions apply: 

• Pets under three months old which have not been vaccinated against rabies can only enter Greece from third countries listed in Annex II, Chapter C of Regulation (EC) 998/2003 if they are accompanied by their mother and are no more than four years old. The veterinary health certificate must verify the date of birth and characteristics of the newborn. If the young animals are not with their mother, electronic identification (microchip) or a clearly legible tattoo is required. 
• These animals must be accompanied by a veterinary certificate in conformity with the annex to Commission Decision 2004/824/EC. The date of the mother's last vaccination must be indicated in the certificate, which must be at least 30 days before the specified birth date in the certificate. Additionally, confirmation of no contact with wild animals potentially infected by rabies is required. 

The Veterinary Certificate for the non-commercial movement of dogs or cats from third countries is valid for movement within the Community for four months from the date of issue or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. If a certificate is issued and signed by a veterinarian, the competent authority of the country of dispatch must certify the certificate. For onward movement to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Sweden, or the UK, Parts V, VI, and VII of the Veterinary Certificate (Decision 2004/824/EC) must be completed in accordance with the national legislation of these countries. 

Please note that starting from January 1, 2024, according to IATA regulations, the acceptance of your pet for transportation in the passenger cabin or cargo hold of an aircraft is done using the Acceptance Checklist, which will be completed at the check-in counter before departure. 

The Acceptance Checklist is essential to ensure that all requirements for documents and the pet container during transportation are considered and met. 

To prepare for your pet's journey, please check the following: 

- Make a reservation and confirm service for your pet with the airline no less than 24 hours before your departure, you should not bring your pets at check-in without it; 

- The possibility of transporting your pet in the baggage or cabin complies with the current entry and exit regulations of all countries relevant to your route; 

- Confirmation for transporting your pet in the cabin or cargo hold is obtained from the Air Astana group of companies (for flights operated by Air Astana or FlyArystan) and all other airlines on transit or transfer routes; 

- Necessary veterinary examinations or procedures (e.g., vaccination, microchipping) have been completed well in advance of your trip; 

- Official and veterinary documents required for your pet (e.g., pet passport) are prepared; 

- Ensure that you can bring your pet with you in the cabin or cargo hold on all other airlines involved in your journey; 

- Your pet is clean and in good condition for transportation; 

- Confirm the purchase of a suitably sized transport container that meets the requirements, including: 

• sufficient space for the pet to sit, stand, turn around, and lie down in a natural position; 
• presence of suitable absorbent material; 
• the presence of a container with water, filled halfway, in case of prolonged transportation (more than 12 hours); 
• the container should have the ability to allow air circulation from all sides, with ventilation openings of sufficient size (on all four sides, 16% of the total surface area of the four sides of the container). 

- It is recommended to ensure that your pet is familiar with the transport container. To keep the pet calm, consider placing a familiar pet blanket or toy in the container; 

- Ensure that your pet is wearing a collar or harness and that there is an appropriate leash available. 

On the day of departure: 

-  Bring your pet to the check-in counter in advance, at least 2 hours before the flight; 

-  Present all required documents for transporting your pet at the check-in counter; 

-  Settle the costs for transporting your pet during check-in or at the ticket counter; 

-  Ensure that your pet is wearing a collar or harness and that there is an appropriate leash available. 

The airline reserves the right to refuse to transport a pet in-cabin or in-hold, if the requirements of the airline, veterinarian rules of the Republic of Kazakhstan, and export-import rules of the departing country and destination country have been violated. 

The airline is not liable for physical injuries, illnesses, or the death of the animal due to reasons beyond the airline's control, such as the pre-existing health condition of the animal or the sensitivity of certain animal breeds to air travel conditions. This also applies in cases of refusal of entry or transit through a specific country.