Flying With a Service Dog: DOT Forms & Requirements

Which rules apply when you fly?

Air travel is governed by the Air Carrier Access Act and U.S. Department of Transportation rules, not the ADA rules used for businesses and other public places. Under DOT’s air-travel definition, a service animal is a dog individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a qualified person with a disability. Emotional support animals, comfort animals, other species, and service animals in training are not service animals for this federal air-travel rule.

The two DOT forms an airline may require

1. Service Animal Air Transportation Form. This form asks for handler contact information; the dog’s name, description, and rabies-vaccination details; trainer and veterinarian contact information; and attestations about health, task training, behavior, and control.
2. Service Animal Relief Attestation Form. For a flight segment scheduled for eight hours or more, an airline may require an attestation that the dog will not need to relieve itself or can do so without creating a health or sanitation issue.

DOT says airlines generally may not require other service-animal documentation, except for requirements imposed by a federal agency, U.S. territory, or foreign jurisdiction. Always confirm the airline’s current submission process and any destination requirements before travel.

When and where to submit the form

If your reservation was made more than 48 hours before departure, an airline can require the Air Transportation Form up to 48 hours before the flight. If you booked within 48 hours of departure, the airline must allow you to present the completed form at the gate. A required form goes directly to the airline using the process on its website; it is not sent to DOT.

Start with your airline’s accessibility or service-animal page. Airlines that require the form must make it available on their websites, and their instructions tell you whether to submit it online, electronically, or another accepted way.

What to gather before filling it out

• Your name, phone number, and email address
• The dog’s name, weight, color, and identifying description
• Current rabies-vaccination expiration date
• Your veterinarian’s name and phone number
• Task- and behavior-trainer contact information

The DOT form does not require a training certificate. If you trained the dog yourself, the form’s instructions allow you to provide your own name and contact information as the trainer. The form is an official federal document, so review every entry and attestation for accuracy before signing it.

Where a voluntary handler record fits

A QR-linked handler record can keep the dog’s name, photo, and handler-submitted details easy to open alongside the airline’s required paperwork. It does not replace either DOT form, establish legal status, or guarantee that an airline will transport the dog. The airline’s process and the applicable law control.

See what a Service Animal ID record includes →

Frequently asked questions