Common questions .

Showing all 17 questions

1. 01

   General

   What is ESTCA Certified?

   ESTCA Certified is the official platform for the European Standard for Travel with Canine Animals. It connects ESTCA-approved assessors, dog owners, and airlines through a shared certification framework for cabin-ready travel dogs.
2. 02

   General

   What is the difference between estca.eu and certified-estca.eu?

   estca.eu hosts the ESTCA standard and the public certification registry. certified-estca.eu is the operational platform run by ESTCA B.V. for approval, certification workflows, and owner passes.
3. 03

   General

   Does ESTCA accredit assessors?

   No. ESTCA approves assessors against published criteria and certifies dogs against ESTCA-STD-001. ESTCA does not hold third-party accreditation and is not a national accreditation body under Regulation (EC) No 765/2008.
4. 04

   General

   Which airlines accept the ESTCA certificate?

   The standard is designed to align with IATA guidelines and European aviation requirements. Individual airlines decide whether to accept ESTCA certification. We maintain a growing list of carriers that recognise the standard — check the For Airlines page for the latest information.
5. 05

   General

   Is this the same as an EU pet passport?

   No. The EU pet passport covers veterinary and identification requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, etc.). The ESTCA certificate covers behavioural readiness for cabin travel. Both may be required by an airline — they complement each other.
6. 06

   Dog owners

   How do I get my dog certified?

   Enroll your dog, open My Dog Portal, find an ESTCA-approved assessor, and complete the assessment. When your dog passes, the trainer issues the ESTCA certificate and you claim the digital pass from the portal or the claim page.
7. 07

   Dog owners

   How much does certification cost for owners?

   Enrollment and the dog portal are free. Training fees are set by your ESTCA-approved assessor (not by ESTCA). After your dog is certified, the digital travel pass is €25. You only pay for the pass once the dog has passed; there is no pass fee before certification.
8. 08

   Dog owners

   Do I need an account as a dog owner?

   After enrollment you access My Dog Portal with an email sign-in code — no password required. That is where you follow training status, complete must-dos, and claim your digital pass when certified.
9. 09

   Dog owners

   What do I show at the airport?

   Present your ESTCA digital pass (or printed certificate) along with your EU pet passport. The airline can verify the certificate number against the public registry at estca.eu.
10. 10

    Dog owners

    Can brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds be certified?

    No. The ESTCA standard excludes brachycephalic breeds from certification due to the elevated veterinary risks associated with air travel for these dogs. This applies regardless of individual temperament or training outcomes. Annex II of the standard lists the affected breeds.
11. 11

    Trainers

    How do I become an ESTCA-approved assessor?

    Create an account on this platform, register or join a training company, and complete the ESTCA assessor approval assessment. Once approved, you can assess dogs and issue certificates.
12. 12

    Trainers

    What does it cost to become an ESTCA-approved assessor?

    Signing up and listing are free. The annual platform licence is €99 per year, starting after you certify your first dog (€0 until then). Each certified dog costs €35 (platform, video review, API). What you charge owners for training is entirely up to you — ESTCA does not set that fee.
13. 13

    Trainers

    Who sets training prices?

    ESTCA-approved assessors set their own fees and booking arrangements with dog owners. ESTCA never sets, collects, or decides what a trainer charges for training — that is entirely between the owner and the trainer (programmes often fall around €100–€249, depending on the dog).
14. 14

    Process

    How long is a certification valid?

    Certification validity and renewal rules follow the published standard and programme requirements. Expiry dates are reflected on the registry record and in owner-facing materials once issued.
15. 15

    Process

    Can a certification be reversed?

    After a certification is submitted and paid, trainers cannot undo it. Withdrawal or suspension is an administrative action under ESTCA governance and quality assurance.
16. 16

    Process

    What happens if certification is withheld?

    If a trainer withholds certification after the assessment, the dog may not re-enroll in the programme for at least eight weeks. This cooling-off period is mandated by the standard to ensure the dog's welfare and allow time for any behavioural concerns to be addressed.
17. 17

    Platform

    Where is my data processed?

    The platform is designed for EU data residency: Supabase in Frankfurt and deployment aligned with European processing requirements. Analytics use an EU-configured stack where enabled.