The science here is simpler than it sounds. TAP Air Portugal welcomes dogs in the cabin, and that changes everything about how you pack and prepare. Pixel taught me that a calm, well-booked traveler beats a scrambling one every time. Before you dream about Lisbon, get the cabin details right. This guide keeps the paperwork tidy and the decisions clear, so your dog boards without drama.

TAP Air Portugal'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 TAP Air Portugal 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 2026-10-12
Minimum age10 weeksverified 2026-10-12
Advance booking notice24 hoursverified 2026-10-12
Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Max pets per passenger2verified 2026-10-12
Booking methodBook onlineverified 2026-10-12
Own seat allowed Noverified 2026-10-21
Max pets per carrier2verified 2026-10-26
Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-10-12
Carrier size45 × 30 × 23 cmverified 2026-10-12
Max weight (pet + crate)8.0 kgverified 2026-10-12
Crate must have/besoft-sided ok, ventilated, a carrierverified 2026-10-12

Hold & cargo policy

Hold: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Snub-nosed breeds list
  • Affenpinscher
  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxer
  • Bulldog
  • American Bully
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chihuahua
  • Japanese Chin
  • Chow Chow
  • Griffon Bruxellois
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Mastiff
  • Cane Corso
  • Pekingese
  • Pug
  • Shar Pei
  • Shih Tzu
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • English Toy Spaniel
verified 2026-10-12
Hold: Minimum age12 weeksverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Advance booking notice24 hoursverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Advance booking required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Max pets per carrier3verified 2026-10-26
Hold: Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Max weight (pet + crate)32 kgverified 2026-10-12
Hold: Crate must have/behard-sided ok, water bowl, ventilated, absorbent liner, a carrierverified 2026-10-12
Cargo: Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-12
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds banned Yesverified 2026-10-12
Cargo: Snub-nosed breeds list
  • Affenpinscher
  • Boston Terrier
  • Boxer
  • Bulldog
  • American Bully
  • Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
  • Chihuahua
  • Japanese Chin
  • Chow Chow
  • Griffon Bruxellois
  • Lhasa Apso
  • Mastiff
  • Cane Corso
  • Pekingese
  • Pug
  • Shar Pei
  • Shih Tzu
  • Tibetan Spaniel
  • American Staffordshire Terrier
  • Staffordshire Bull Terrier
  • English Toy Spaniel
verified 2026-10-12
Cargo: Pregnant animals accepted Noverified 2026-10-12

Service & assistance animals

Esa noteTAP does not accept emotional support animals; they must travel as petsverified 2026-10-12
Fee waived Yesverified 2026-10-12
Recognized Yesverified 2026-10-12
Cabin allowed Yesverified 2026-10-12
Esa recognized Noverified 2026-10-12
Forms required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Advance notice hours48 hoursverified 2026-10-12
Documentation required Yesverified 2026-10-12
Recognized organizations
  • Assistance Dogs International
  • International Guide Dogs Federation
  • ABAADV
  • Animas
verified 2026-10-12
TAP's pet transportation service must be requested at least 24 hours before the flight. That window exists because specific seats get reserved on the aircraft for pets. Call TAP to book the pet slot the moment your ticket is confirmed. Do not wait for airport check-in. Confirm the 24-hour booking in writing and keep the reference number with your travel documents.
TAP does not accept brachycephalic dogs, the short-nosed breeds that struggle to breathe under travel stress. Check whether your dog's breed falls into this category before booking any TAP flight. Confirm breed status directly with TAP when you request the pet service. A brachycephalic dog will be refused, so arrange an alternative carrier or route in advance rather than at the gate.
Every dog and every route carries its own quirks, and TAP's cabin option is only the starting point. Pull the exact rules for your dog's breed, weight, and destination into one place before you buy tickets. Build your personalized plan with Pawgo's plan-builder and let it map the microchip, booking, and breed checks to your real trip. Then pack with confidence, not guesswork.
Get YOUR personalized plan for TAP Air Portugal →

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.