Travelling with an assistance dog

Requirements for an assistance dog

An assistance dog has been trained to provide support to a person with a visible or non-visible disability or medical condition. These dogs are able to travel safely in the aircraft cabin on a British Airways flight. For your assistance dog to travel with you, they must:

• Be trained to assist with a disability or medical condition by way of specific tasks by:
  • an accredited member of Assistance Dogs International (ADI) or the International Guide Dog Federation (IGDF), or
  • received accreditation from the Assistance Dog Assessment Association, or
  • trained to the same or higher standard as these organisations if evidence of training can be provided (e.g. dogs trained by organisations in some countries which legislate accreditation methods and/or assistance dogs trained by government authorised organisations)
• Have had behavioural training and show appropriate behaviour in public and on board an aircraft.
• Remain under your control at all times.

If your dog doesn’t meet the above criteria, or is an emotional support dog, it will need to travel as a domestic pet.

We want to make travelling with your assistance dog as simple as possible, so we’re pleased to be partnered with non-profit disability group, Open Doors Organization.

They’re experienced in supporting with service dog clearance for travel, so once you register and receive your ID you can use this to travel with British Airways and other airlines too.

To use this service, you’ll need to register your assistance dog on the Open Doors Organization portal before you travel. We recommend that you register your dog before booking your trip in case your dog is not cleared for travel.

To make sure your assistance dog can travel in the cabin with you, it’s important you use the correct portal and provide the correct information and documents requested on these pages. The approval process for your dog depends on where you’re travelling to. Further information is below for specific countries.

If your journey does not include a flight arriving in or departing from the USA, please use this link to provide the correct information and documents:

• Assistance dog form: for travel to the rest of the world including UK domestic travel

If any part of your journey includes a flight that arrives in or departs from the USA, please use this link to provide the correct information and documents:

• Assistance dog form: for travel to or from the US

Once you have completed one of the above forms and submitted your request, you’ll receive your assistance dog ID. You can use this to let us know travel dates for your future trips.

Please also read the sections below which provide further guidance depending on the country you're travelling to.

Travelling to the US

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have introduced additional requirements for all dogs entering the country, regardless of whether they're travelling in the cabin as an assistance dog or in the aircraft hold. You can find further information on the these regulations on the CDC website.

You'll be required to complete a CDC Dog Import Form online.  A receipt will be emailed to you which you'll need to show prior to boarding your flight.  This can be in printed format or on your smart device. 

If your dog has been in a high-risk rabies country in the last six months you'll need to provide the CDC with additional vaccination documentation before you can travel.  If you don't have a valid vaccination certificate issued in the United States, or an export health certificate approved by the USDA, your dog can only be admitted through one of the six airports that have a CDC Animal Care Facility: Atlanta, Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Miami or Philadelphia. You'll need to book an appointment directly with the facility.

Travelling to the UK

To bring your assistance dog into the UK, please follow these steps:

Before you travel

• Contact the relevant UK Animal Reception Centre (ARC) at least 72 hours before your flight to request approval for your dog to enter the UK.
• If approved, you’ll receive a pre-approval letter, which is required to board your flight.

Flying into London City Airport (LCY)

• You do not need to contact LCY in advance.
• You will not receive a pre-approval letter.
• All checks will be carried out on arrival at LCY.
• However, you must still meet UK entry requirements and have an acceptance letter from British Airways confirming your dog is approved to travel in the cabin. Without this letter, you will not be allowed to travel.

If you need help with LCY arrivals, you can contact the airport directly using the details below.

On arrival in the UK

• Your dog must meet the UK Government’s Pet Travel Scheme requirements.
• An animal health officer will meet you and your dog at the aircraft to complete entry checks.
• After clearance, you may use the airport’s dog relief area before proceeding through customs and immigration.

Travelling to Spain

Not all airports in Spain (including the Balearics) are authorised entry points for an assistance dog. We strongly advise you check whether your planned destination is able to accept your dog into the country.

Preparing to travel