ESTCAEuropean Standard for Travel with Canine Animals

Help

Frequently asked questions

Common questions about the European Standard for Travel with Canine Animals, the public register on estca.eu, and the certification platform at certified-estca.eu.

About ESTCA

What is ESTCA?

ESTCA stands for the European Standard for Travel with Canine Animals. It is a framework published and governed by ESTCA Association (a Dutch association registered at the Chamber of Commerce in Amsterdam) that sets welfare baselines, accredited training requirements, behavioural assessments, and a public register so airlines and the public can verify that a dog has been assessed as ready for cabin travel.

Is ESTCA a law or regulation?

No. ESTCA is an industry standard, not a law or regulation. It does not replace airline policies, national veterinary requirements, or EU pet-travel regulations. Airlines can choose to adopt ESTCA certification as part of their own cabin-dog policies.

Who is behind ESTCA?

ESTCA Association is a Dutch association (vereniging) registered in Amsterdam. It publishes and governs the standard (ESTCA-STD-001), maintains the public register, and oversees the quality-assurance and complaints process. It does not issue certifications directly.

What is the current version of the standard?

ESTCA-STD-001 v1.1, effective 1 May 2026, with the next scheduled review on 1 May 2027. The full document is available on the Standard page of this site.

estca.eu vs certified-estca.eu

What is estca.eu?

estca.eu is the official home of ESTCA Association. It hosts the standard itself, the public verification register, governance information, research, airline engagement resources, and general information about the framework. It is primarily aimed at airlines, regulators, researchers, and anyone who wants to verify a dog's ESTCA status.

What is certified-estca.eu?

certified-estca.eu is the certification platform where the day-to-day certification process happens. It is where dog owners find an accredited trainer, where trainers manage assessments and submit results, and where certificates are issued. If you are a dog owner or a dog trainer, certified-estca.eu is the site you need.

I am a dog owner. Which site should I use?

Go to certified-estca.eu. That is where you can find an accredited trainer near you, book an assessment, and receive your dog's ESTCA certificate. You do not need to use estca.eu unless you want to read the standard or verify a certificate.

I am a dog trainer. Which site should I use?

Go to certified-estca.eu. That is the platform where you can apply for accreditation, manage your clients, conduct assessments, and submit certification results. You may also want to read the standard on estca.eu to understand the full assessment criteria.

I am an airline or travel operator. Which site should I use?

Start here on estca.eu. This site has the standard, verification register, OpenAPI specification for programmatic lookups, and airline engagement information. If you want to integrate ESTCA verification into your booking or check-in workflow, the register and API documentation on this site is what you need.

The standard and certification

What does the ESTCA assessment cover?

The standard defines five areas of behavioural assessment: foundation behaviour, settled behaviour in a confined space, environmental resilience, equipment and handler interaction, and integrated travel readiness. A dog must demonstrate competence across all five areas with an accredited trainer.

How long is an ESTCA certificate valid?

Certificates are valid for a defined period and must be renewed. The exact validity period and renewal process are set out in Part E of the standard.

Can any trainer certify a dog?

No. Only trainers who have been accredited under Part C of the standard can conduct ESTCA assessments and submit results for certification. Accreditation includes eligibility criteria, a theoretical examination, a code of conduct, and insurance requirements.

Does ESTCA certification guarantee my dog can fly in the cabin?

No. ESTCA certification means a dog has been assessed against the standard and found ready for cabin travel. Airlines retain full authority over their own cabin-dog policies and operational decisions. ESTCA gives airlines a consistent, verifiable signal but does not override airline rules.

The public register

What is the ESTCA public register?

The register is a public lookup on estca.eu where anyone (airlines, owners, the public) can verify whether a specific dog holds a current ESTCA certification. It returns the certification status, validity dates, and the accredited trainer who conducted the assessment.

How do I verify a dog?

Go to the Register page on this site and enter the pet passport number. The register will return the current status. Airlines can also verify programmatically using the verification API.

What data is shown in the register?

The register shows the certification status (certified, expired, or under review), validity dates, and the name of the accredited trainer. Owner contact details are not shown in public queries. Partner verification follows the standard and applicable data-use terms.

For airlines and operators

How can an airline integrate ESTCA verification?

ESTCA Association provides a public verification API (documented in the OpenAPI specification) that airlines can integrate into booking, check-in, or compliance workflows. See the Airline engagement page or contact contact@estca.eu for onboarding support.

Does ESTCA replace airline cabin-pet policies?

No. ESTCA provides a standardised assessment framework and verification tool. Airlines retain full operational authority over which dogs are allowed in the cabin and under what conditions. Part G of the standard provides advisory implementation guidance.

Is there a cost for airlines to use the register?

The public register lookup is freely accessible. For high-volume programmatic API access or integration support, contact us at contact@estca.eu.

Complaints and quality

How do I file a complaint?

Send your complaint to contact@estca.eu with the subject “Complaint”. Part F of the standard sets out the process: acknowledgement within ten working days and a substantive response within thirty working days.

What happens if a trainer does not meet the standard?

Part F of the standard defines a trainer accountability ladder that includes caution, suspension, and revocation of accreditation. The quality-review process is managed by ESTCA Association independently of the certification platform.

Contact

How do I contact ESTCA?

For all enquiries, email contact@estca.eu. Include a clear subject line so we can direct your message appropriately.

Where is ESTCA Association based?

ESTCA Association is a Dutch association (vereniging) based in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

Can't find what you're looking for? Contact us at contact@estca.eu.