El Al, Israel's national airline, carries dogs, cats and exotic birds in three ways: in the cabin if the pet and cage weigh 9 kg or less, in the hold as checked baggage from 9 to 100 kg, and as cargo above that. On flights between Israel and North America, the baggage fee is USD 150, 250 or 450 depending on weight. Before any of that, you need authorization from Israel's Ministry of Agriculture Veterinary Services, which El Al says can take several months. Snub-nosed breeds cannot fly in the hold at all, and El Al notes that Israel is classed as a high-risk country by the CDC, which makes flying a dog to the US considerably harder.
This guide follows El Al's own travelling with pets page as read in October 2026. Rules and fees change, so confirm with El Al and the Israeli veterinary authorities before you book.
El Al pet fees at a glance
Fees are per flight, based on the combined weight of the pet, cage and food, and paid at the airport after weighing.
| Pet plus cage | Europe and Middle East | North America and Far East | Eilat |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 9 kg (usually cabin) | USD 100 | USD 150 | NIS 50 |
| 9 to 50 kg (hold) | USD 200 | USD 250 | NIS 150 |
| 50 to 100 kg (hold) | USD 400 | USD 450 | NIS 200 |
| Over 100 kg | Cargo only, price from El Al Cargo | ||
First step: Israeli veterinary authorization
El Al is clear that the Ministry of Agriculture is the authority that oversees moving pets to and from Israel, including service dogs. You must get authorization from its Veterinary Services before flying, and El Al warns that the process can take several months and involves tests on the animal. The destination country's authorities may also decide how the pet travels: in the cabin, in the hold or as cargo. Without the authorization, El Al will not accept the pet.
El Al also reminds passengers that some dogs and cats can develop breathing problems in flight, sometimes fatal, and that it is not liable if a pet dies or has a medical event. It can refuse to carry an animal at any stage if the law requires.
The three ways to fly a pet on El Al
- In the cabin: only dogs, cats and exotic birds, when the pet and cage weigh 9 kg or less. Service dogs are exempt from the weight limit. You bring the pet to the check-in counter.
- As checked baggage: for animals weighing 9 to 100 kg with their cage. You hand the pet over at check-in and collect it in the arrivals hall.
- As registered cargo: for animals over 100 kg, unaccompanied animals, or where the authorities require it. El Al Cargo handles the booking and the pet is dropped off at the cargo terminal.
Weight is the main factor, but El Al notes other factors can affect how a pet travels, including the destination's rules.
Pets in the El Al cabin
A small dog, cat or exotic bird can fly in the cabin if it weighs 9 kg or less with its cage, subject to approval from the El Al service center and space on the flight. The number of cabin pets per flight is limited, so contact the service center as early as possible. El Al does not allow cabin pets on flights to London or Dubai; for those cities, the pet must travel as cargo with a bill of lading. Our guides to pet transport to the UK and pet transport to Dubai explain how cargo moves work there.
Exotic birds are allowed in the cabin on El Al, which is unusual among major airlines. Check the bird import rules for your destination, which are often stricter than for cats and dogs.
Service dogs
Service dogs are exempt from El Al's 9 kg cabin limit, and El Al publishes separate information about travelling with a service dog. The Israeli Ministry of Agriculture still oversees service dogs entering or leaving Israel, so the veterinary authorization and entry permits apply to them too. Contact El Al well before your flight with the dog's documents.
Pets in the hold
Animals weighing 9 to 100 kg with their cage usually travel in the hold as checked baggage, on the same flight as their owner. On arrival in Israel, a pet carried as baggage is released in the Ben Gurion Airport arrivals hall. Over 100 kg, the animal has to go as registered cargo. Our guide to choosing a pet transport crate explains how to size a crate for the hold.
Snub-nosed breeds and dangerous dogs
El Al does not approve snub-nosed (brachycephalic) dogs and cats as baggage in the hold, or as cargo with a waybill. A small snub-nosed pet that fits the 9 kg cabin limit may still be able to fly in the cabin, subject to approval. Dogs classed as dangerous under the relevant law are carried to and from Israel only under local rules and with all required permits in Israel and at the destination. Our guide to snub-nosed breeds and flying covers other options.
Flying a pet from Israel abroad
To take a pet out of Israel, El Al lists these steps:
- Check the destination country's requirements.
- Have your vet carry out the required tests and issue the documents.
- Ask Veterinary Services to issue an international health certificate, usually through your vet.
- Tell El Al once you have the flight permit, at least 2 business days before the flight. If the permit says cargo, follow the cargo process; if it says baggage, update the El Al Service Center or your travel agent.
- Bring every document to the airport, because you will be asked to show them at check-in.
For cargo, email El Al Cargo at cargostore@elal.co.il with the destination authorization, export license, bill of lading, health certificate, flight and sender and recipient details, and the cage measurements, in a single PDF.
Flying a dog from Israel to the US
This is the hardest route on El Al's page. El Al says the US rules for dogs have changed, that some US destinations do not allow dogs at all, and that where dogs are allowed, you must meet every requirement on the CDC website. Israel is defined as a high-risk country on the CDC list, so dog owners must secure a reservation at a CDC-approved animal care facility before the dog enters the US. If the dog does not have a valid rabies antibody test, that reservation must include a mandatory 28-day quarantine.
If the dog is refused entry or not approved, you pay all the costs, including temporary housing and returning the dog to Israel, and El Al charges additional fees for inspection and release at US airport facilities. El Al recommends using a company that specializes in animal air transport. The CDC dog import page has the full rules, and our guides to importing a dog into the US and the rabies titer test explain how to avoid the quarantine.
Flying a pet to Israel
To bring a pet into Israel, you need permits in advance; El Al's page says the authority approving entry will also decide whether the pet travels in the cabin, hold or as cargo. Contact the local authorities at least 10 days before the flight, then submit the online request form (in Hebrew) with your documents no later than 2 business days before departure. If you meet the conditions, the Veterinary Services flight permit is emailed to you; if you hear nothing within four hours, call +972-3-9792240. Then update El Al.
From the US, that usually means a USDA-endorsed health certificate and the rabies requirements Israel sets; the USDA pet travel export page lists the steps by country. El Al cannot carry animals as registered cargo from several airports, including Boston, Toronto, Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid, Rome, Vienna, Bangkok and Mumbai. From London, animals that cannot go in the cabin travel only as checked cargo.
For cargo into Israel, email Tracingi1@elal.co.il with the Veterinary Services authorization, export license, bill of lading, health certificate, rabies antibody lab results and customs broker details. Pets carried as cargo are released at the Ben Gurion cargo terminal.
How El Al charges
The fee is based on the total weight of the animal, its carrying case and food, and applies to pets flying with the passenger on the same flight. You pay at the airport after the pet is weighed, separately from your baggage allowance. If your ticket includes flights on other airlines, you pay them separately, and the El Al fees do not apply on codeshares operated by other airlines. With an open ticket, you pay for both the outbound and return flights even if the return date is not set.
General rules
Animals with clear signs of illness or a foul smell may not be approved to fly. A pet approved by El Al must also be authorized by the authorities at any connection or final destination, and El Al is not responsible if a pet is refused transit or entry. Prepare the animal according to your vet's advice.
A sample plan: a cat from New York to Tel Aviv
- Start months ahead: check Israel's import rules and book the vet visits.
- Weigh the cat with its carrier; under 9 kg, it can usually fly in the cabin, subject to space.
- Contact the El Al service center early to request a cabin spot.
- Get the USDA-endorsed health certificate and submit the Israeli online request at least 2 business days before the flight.
- Budget USD 150 for the cabin, paid at the airport.
A sample plan: a 25 kg dog from Tel Aviv to Paris
- Check France's entry rules, which follow the EU rules on microchips, rabies vaccination and health certificates.
- Book the vet visits and tests in Israel, and apply to Veterinary Services for the international health certificate.
- Buy an IATA-style crate; at 25 kg with the crate, the dog flies in the hold as checked baggage.
- Tell El Al about the flight permit at least 2 business days before departure.
- Budget USD 200 for the hold on a Europe flight, paid at the airport after weighing.
On arrival in Israel
Where you collect your pet depends on how it travelled. A pet carried as checked baggage is released in the Ben Gurion Airport arrivals hall, so you collect it with your bags. A pet carried as cargo is released at the Ben Gurion cargo terminal, which means a separate trip and, often, a customs broker. For questions about imports, El Al lists Serviceimport@elal.co.il and the phone line 03-9771177, line 3. Keep the Veterinary Services permit and all health documents with you, not in a checked bag.
Getting your pet ready for a long flight
Flights between Israel and North America are long, so preparation matters. Let your pet get used to its carrier or crate over a few weeks at home, with a familiar blanket inside. El Al asks you to prepare the animal according to your vet's advice, so ask about feeding, water and whether the pet is fit for a long flight. Avoid sedatives unless your vet recommends them. For the hold, use a crate that follows the IATA live animal standard described on the IATA live animals page, with ventilation, a secure door and a water container you can fill from outside.
Common mistakes with El Al pet bookings
- Leaving the Israeli veterinary authorization until the last few weeks.
- Planning a cabin pet on a flight to London or Dubai.
- Assuming a snub-nosed dog can fly in the hold.
- Flying a dog to the US without a CDC-approved facility reservation.
- Forgetting that an open return ticket is charged both ways.