Fly a Dog or Cat on PIA From Pakistan: Hold Only, 35 Inch Crate and Health Certificate

Short answer: PIA carries dogs, cats, reptiles and household birds only in the baggage hold, in a proper crate no bigger than 35 by 23 by 40 inches. You need a valid health certificate and every entry permit the destination asks for. PIA's page says lap dogs, cats and household birds may not be allowed in the cabin.

A family in Islamabad is moving to Manchester with a cat that has lived with them for nine years. They buy four tickets, and then someone asks about the cat. It is a good moment to read the airline's own page, before the crate is bought.

We read PIA's Travellers Information page and its Conditions of Carriage on 13 October 2026. The rules, sizes and exceptions below come from those pages.

Pets travel in the hold, not the cabin

PIA's page says live animals, including dogs, cats, reptiles and household birds, are accepted when properly crated and accompanied by a valid health certificate, entry permit and other documents required by the countries of entry and transit. They go in the baggage holds only.

The same page says lap dogs, cats and household birds may not be allowed for carriage in the cabin as per PIA policy. So plan on the hold. The hold is the cargo space under the cabin floor.

That wording does not promise a place in the hold either. It says animals are accepted when the conditions are met. The Conditions of Carriage add that the animal needs prior approval from PIA. Ask before you buy the crate, and ask before you pay for the ticket.

The crate size limit is 35 by 23 by 40 inches

PIA's page says the container for carriage in the hold should not exceed 35 inches by 23 inches by 40 inches. The page does not say which number is the height. Measure the crate on all three sides and keep every side at or below the limit.

The container must be properly crated. The Conditions of Carriage say the same in article 8.10. A crate that is too small hurts the animal, and one that is too big may not fit in the hold. A hard plastic travel kennel with a secure door is the usual choice, but the page does not name a type, so ask PIA what it accepts.

Papers must satisfy every country on the route

The page requires a valid health certificate and an entry permit, plus any other document that the countries of entry and transit ask for. A transit country is a stop on the way. If your flight changes planes in Doha or Dubai, that country's rules count too.

The page does not list the papers for each country. Ask the embassy or the animal health office of the destination for its import conditions, and ask your vet which tests and vaccines the country wants, and how many days before travel they must be done. Some countries ask for months.

Saudi Arabia has its own line on PIA's page. Dogs, monkeys and other birds are only acceptable with prior clearance from government agencies in Saudi Arabia. If your route goes via Riyadh, Jeddah or Dammam, get that clearance first. The guide to avoiding offloading at a Pakistani airport explains the travel papers you will need for yourself.

We could not find PIA's page listing Pakistan's own export papers for a pet. Do not assume that the health certificate is the only paper that you need to leave the country.

Weight, fees and liability

PIA says the weight of an accompanied animal, including the crate, is not included in the passenger's free baggage allowance. So it is charged separately. The page gives no rate. Call the Contact Centre on 111-786-786 for the fee on your route, and compare it with the ordinary rules in the guide to PIA baggage rules.

Article 8.10 of the Conditions of Carriage is blunt on liability. PIA says it will not be responsible for the loss, injury, sickness or death of the animal unless caused solely by its negligence. Read that twice. If the animal is ill or old, ask your vet whether a hold flight is safe at all.

If a pet or bag is lost or damaged, the steps in the guide to claiming lost or damaged baggage still apply as the starting point, and a vet's report will help. Other airlines set their own limits, listed in domestic baggage allowance.

Steps to book a pet on PIA

1. Call PIA on 111-786-786 and ask for approval to carry the animal on your flight.
2. Ask the destination's animal health office for its import rules and tests.
3. Visit a vet for the health certificate and the required vaccines.
4. Buy a crate that is within 35 by 23 by 40 inches on every side.
5. Reach the airport early, and keep the papers in one folder.

Common questions

Can I take my dog in the cabin on PIA?

Probably not. PIA's page says lap dogs, cats and household birds may not be allowed in the cabin. Pets go in the hold when the conditions are met.

What size crate does PIA allow?

Up to 35 by 23 by 40 inches for carriage in the hold. Measure all three sides before you buy.

Which animals does PIA accept?

Dogs, cats, reptiles and household birds, when crated and accompanied by the right papers. Dogs, monkeys and other birds to Saudi Arabia need government clearance first.

Does my pet count in my free baggage?

No. PIA says the weight of the animal and the crate is not included in the free allowance, so it is charged separately.

Is PIA responsible if my pet is hurt?

Only in a narrow case. Article 8.10 says it is not responsible for loss, injury, sickness or death unless caused solely by its negligence.

How much does it cost to fly a pet on PIA?

The page gives no figure. Ask the Contact Centre on 111-786-786 for the rate on your route.

How we verified this

What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.

Last checked on 13 October 2026, Pakistan time. We read PIA's Travellers Information page and its Conditions of Carriage. We could not verify the pet fee, Pakistan's export paperwork for pets, or the rules of any destination country. Those are not on PIA's pages.