Will airline personnel require documentation for an emotional support animal to accompany disabled owner?
With respect to Emotional Support Animals (ESA), airline personnel may require current documentation (i.e., not more than one year old) on letterhead from a health professional stating:
- That the passenger has a mental health-related disability.
- That having the animal accompany the passenger is necessary to the passenger’s mental health or treatment or to assist the passenger (with his or her disability).
- That the individual providing the assessment of the passenger is a licensed mental health professional and the passenger is under his or her professional care.
The purpose of this requirement for a medical letter is to prevent abuse by passengers that do not have a medical need for an Emotional Support Animal.
Airlines are not permitted to require the documentation to specify the type of mental health disability. Therefore, the letter does not have to specify what it is that the patient suffers from (e.g., panic attacks).
Are you an owner of an assistance animal?
The Service Animal Registry of California invites you to have your assistance animal registered in order to designate its status. We also encourage you to take our online classes so you can be fully aware of your rights and gain more knowledge about your support animal.
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