The science here is simpler than it sounds. GOL Linhas Aereas welcomes dogs in the cabin, and that changes how you pack, book, and prepare paperwork. Pixel, my Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, has taught me that the details decide everything. This guide breaks GOL's rules into quick, checkable steps so you and your dog arrive calm, compliant, and ready for the gate.

GOL Linhas Aereas's pet policy splits into cabin and cargo. This page summarizes the weight limits, fees, brachycephalic-breed restrictions, and carrier specifications for both modes — sourced from the airline's official pet pages.

How GOL Linhas Aereas handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

In the cabin Accepted
In the hold / cargo Accepted
Snub-nosed breedsNot accepted

Cabin policy

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Snub-nosed breeds listPersianHimalayanExotic ShorthairBurmeseverified 2026-07-14
Minimum age26 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Advance booking notice2 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Max pets per passenger1verified 2026-07-14
Booking methodbook the service when purchasing your ticket, in the My Reservationsverified 2026-07-14
Nursing allowed Yesverified 2026-07-20
Under seat required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Advance notice hours2 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Animals in heat accepted Yesverified 2026-07-01
Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Carrier size22 × 32 × 22 cmverified 2026-07-14
Max weight (pet + crate)12 kgverified 2026-07-14
Crate must have/behard-sided ok, soft-sided ok, ventilated, absorbent liner, a carrierverified 2026-07-14

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds listPersianHimalayanExotic ShorthairBurmeseverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Minimum age6 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Advance booking notice3 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Nursing allowed Yesverified 2026-07-20
Hold: Animals in heat accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Pregnant animals accepted Yesverified 2026-07-14
Hold: Carrier size55 cmverified 2026-07-20
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)30 kgverified 2026-07-20
Hold: Crate must have/beventilated, a carrierverified 2026-07-20
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds listPersianHimalayanExotic ShorthairBurmeseverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Minimum age26 weeksverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking notice48 hoursverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Nursing allowed Yesverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Animals in heat accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Max weight (pet + crate)30 kgverified 2026-07-14
Cargo: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, ventilated, absorbent liner, a carrierverified 2026-07-14

Health & documents

Health certificate required Yesverified 2026-07-16
Health certificate · Issuera veterinarianverified 2026-07-14
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-07-29
Rabies vaccination required · Rabies vaccination required Yesverified 2026-06-19

Other rules

Pregnant animals accepted Yesverified 2026-07-04
Assistance animals accepted Yesverified 2026-07-29

Service & assistance animals

Recognized Yesverified 2026-07-29
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-07-29
Esa recognized Noverified 2026-07-14
Advance notice hours48 hoursverified 2026-07-20
Cabin pet service on GOL must be requested at least 2 hours in advance. This applies to both domestic and international flights. Contact GOL and confirm the cabin booking no later than 2 hours before departure. Do not arrive assuming space exists. Reserve the pet slot early, then keep the confirmation reference ready to show at check-in.
GOL requires snub-nosed breed handling as a documented condition of carriage. The dog must be at least 6 months old. The dog must be clean, healthy, and carry the necessary documentation for boarding. Combined weight, including the transport crate, must stay up to 30 kg. Verify age, health status, and paperwork against these thresholds before booking.

Frequently asked

How many pets can I bring on GOL Linhas Aereas?
GOL Linhas Aereas allows 1 in the cabin, per passenger. Each pet needs its own carrier.
What is the cabin weight limit on GOL Linhas Aereas?
In the cabin, your pet plus its carrier must not exceed 12 kg.
Can snub-nosed (brachycephalic) breeds fly GOL Linhas Aereas?
Snub-nosed breeds such as bulldogs, pugs and Persian cats are not accepted in the cabin, not accepted in the hold.
How far in advance must I book my pet on GOL Linhas Aereas?
Add your pet to the booking at least 2 hours before departure — do it when you book the ticket, not at the airport.
What if my flight is delayed past my health certificate validity?
If the certificate window expires before you board, you'll need a re-issue. Build a 1-2 day buffer between the cert date and departure to absorb minor delays.
What happens if I forget a document?
At the destination airport: at best, an extended inspection while you produce backup; at worst, the pet is held in quarantine or returned to origin at your cost. Bring printed copies.
Pet travel rewards preparation, and GOL's rules are manageable once you check each requirement against your own dog. Confirm the cabin booking window, weight limits, and breed documentation before you commit to a fare. Then build a personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder, which turns these criteria into a step-by-step checklist for your exact route. The science here is simpler than it sounds.
Get YOUR personalized plan for GOL Linhas Aereas →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.