ESTCA cabin certification for dogs
Your dog in the cabin, not the hold.
Most European airlines stop cabin dogs at about 8 kg. ESTCA looks at behaviour instead of the scale: an approved trainer assesses your dog, and the certificate gives airlines a record they can check.
Is your dog ready? Take the 2-minute check- Free to start
- About 1 minute
- Pay only after your dog passes
Luna, Border Collie · certified todaySample
Digital travel pass
Nora · Golden Retriever31 kg · ESTCA-2026-NL-00017
Next trip AMS → BCNESTCA certified
How it works
Three steps from the sofa to the cabin.
You work with one approved trainer, at your dog's pace. We take care of the certificate and the travel pass.
Step 1
Create a free profile
Add your dog with its microchip number and your email. It takes about a minute and opens your dog's own portal.
Free · about 1 minute
Start freeStep 2
Train with an approved trainer
Choose an ESTCA-approved trainer near you. They prepare your dog and assess five areas of behaviour, without rushing.
Price set by your trainer
Find a trainerStep 3
Get certified and fly
When your dog passes, your trainer issues the ESTCA certificate. Claim the digital travel pass and show it when you check in.
€25 travel pass
How certification works
PlanePaws connects all three.
Airlines need confidence that a dog can behave safely and appropriately in the cabin.
Owners need a way to show that their dog is ready.
Trainers need a recognised framework to assess them.
2-minute check
Is your dog ready to start?
About a dozen quick questions, based on the ESTCA standard. See straight away whether your dog can start, and what to practise first.
- Free, no email needed
- About 2 minutes
- Your answers stay on this device
This check is guidance only. It does not certify your dog, decide eligibility or guarantee that an airline will accept your dog. Only an ESTCA-approved trainer can assess and certify, and airlines set their own rules.
Self-assessment
14 quick questions about your dog, its paperwork and its behaviour. Takes about 2 minutes, and your answers stay on this device.
Pricing
Clear prices. You pay for the pass only after your dog passes.
No subscription and no hidden fees for owners.
Dog profile
Free
Create your dog's profile, follow progress and keep everything in one place.
Training and assessment
€100 – €499
A typical range. Your trainer sets the price and you pay them directly.
Digital travel pass
€25
One payment once your dog is certified. Show it at check-in.
What to expect
The minimum to expect from any airline
Each airline sets its own rules, and some ask for more. For a large dog in the cabin, expect to need at least this.
Papers
- ISO microchip
- EU pet passport
- Rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days before the flight
Health
- A vet certificate dated shortly before the flight
- Core vaccinations and parasite treatment up to date
- A minimum age, often 6 months
On board
- Basket muzzle, collar and leash
- A crash-tested harness clipped to the seat belt
- Lies calmly by your seat for the whole flight
Booking
- An extra seat for your dog, plus a pet fee
- Pet liability insurance
- Book early: only a few large dogs per flight
The behaviour part is what ESTCA covers. Certification shows your dog can stay calm in the cabin, wear the muzzle and harness, and be handled by strangers.
Is your dog ready?Based on EU pet travel rules and the first large-dog cabin programmes in Europe. Flying to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway also needs tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival. Always check your airline's own conditions before booking. EU pet travel rules ↗
The certificate
Proof an airline can check in seconds.
Each ESTCA certificate belongs to one dog and the trainer who issued it. Airline staff check it in the public ESTCA register, so there is nothing to argue about at the gate.
- Linked to your dog's microchip
- Issued by an ESTCA-approved trainer
- Listed in the public ESTCA register
PlanePaws issues ESTCA certificates under licence from the ESTCA Association, which owns the standard. Read the standard ↗
Hover or tap to flip · Sample
About ESTCA
The European Standard for Travel with Canine Animals.
ESTCA sets the standard used to assess dogs for cabin travel. PlanePaws is the licensed platform that makes it available to owners and trainers.
Learn about ESTCA- Independent standardOwned by the ESTCA Association and published openly on estca.eu.
- Single registerEvery certified dog is recorded in one public register.
- Built for airline confidenceA consistent, verifiable assessment record.
For dog trainers
Certify dogs for the cabin.
Get approved, list your training company and issue ESTCA certificates from one portal. Joining is free; fees only apply once you certify dogs.
Become an approved trainerQuestions owners ask
Can my dog fly in the cabin right now?
Not yet. Each airline decides whether to accept ESTCA certification, and we are working with airlines country by country. You can create the profile and start training now; we will let you know when your airline accepts the certificate.
Which dogs can be certified?
Calm, healthy dogs that pass all five areas, including wearing a basket muzzle calmly. Flat-faced breeds such as pugs and French bulldogs are excluded by default for health reasons, and a dog with a bite or serious incident in the last four years needs an individual assessment first.
What does it cost in total?
The profile is free. Training is priced by your trainer, typically between €100 and €499. The digital travel pass costs €25, and you only pay it after your dog passes.
What do I show at the airport?
Your digital travel pass (or the printed certificate) together with your dog's EU pet passport. Airline staff can check the certificate number in the public ESTCA register.
Is this the same as an EU pet passport?
No. The EU pet passport covers health and identification, such as the microchip and rabies vaccination. The ESTCA certificate covers behaviour in the cabin. Airlines may ask for both.
Start your dog's profile today.
Free, takes about a minute, no commitment.