FAQ Category: FAQ English

That’s a good question. The fact is that, for legal reasons, we have definitely changed the conditions for issuing the card. This is necessary to put the acceptance of the card on wider feet. We therefore recommend that you issue a new card on occasion and will also offer a reduced exchange price. However, that is not yet clear.
Of course, you can also continue to use the previous card. However, this no longer has any real basis. A lot has changed. The question, of course, is who sees the difference at this stage.
They are registered and therefore continue to be part of the ESAeurope community. This is not subject to a charge. You can therefore always get an idea of what is on offer and then decide for yourself if and when you want to switch to the new card.

I register myself and my pet with ESAeurope. This is done on the ESAeurope (https://www.esa-europe.eu) website.

By registering, I get access to the shop and other services available only to registered members.

Furthermore I have a medical diagnosis according to ICD10 or DSM V and thus basically fulfill the prerequisite for keeping an Emotional Support Animal.

Subsequently, I own or will have an animal that supports me emotionally and that I always need around me.

I download the form: ESA Confirmation Letterfrom the download center of ESAeurope for submission.

I present the completed form for signature to my doctor, specialist, psychologist or psychotherapist. This signed form creates the basis of the ESAeurope Card content with the information requested in the registration.

ESAeurope will issue the relevant card when the above-mentioned confirmation is available, when all registration information (including photos) has been received and when the purchase of the ESAeurope Card, including payment, has been confirmed.

The printed and completed ESAeurope Card will be sent by mail to the requested shipping address. (Depending on the country within 2-4 weeks) This card is valid for 2 years and will be look somehow different from the old ESA-register card issued so far (which had no expiration date).

No. ESAeurope membership is free of charge and has no expiration date. This applies to ESAeurope membership, active or passive participation in discussions and all regularly provided information.

You must buy only products that you purchase in our shop (we hope to offer products that are as sensible and cost-effective as possible), possible participation in online seminars or webinars when offered and services of third parties, that are offered from external inks.

With the registration I become part of the ESAeurope community and get lifelong free access to many of the services of ESAeurope. We expect that in the course of this project we will continuously offer new possibilities and products that will make your life easier with your ESA animal.

Specifically, we want to offer you specifically helpful products in our shop (the focus is certainly on the periodically renewed ESAeurope Card). In addition, we want to put the whole issue of emotional support animals on a broader and more acceptable basis and to encourage more and more institutions to accept the ESAeurope Card.

Another focus will be the creation of a discussion forum on ESA animals and the provision of important news and information on this topic.

Plans are also being made for networking of community members (who wants to participate), the provision of webinars (web based discussions and training on the topics of mental health problems, animal training with a focus on engagement and relationship, and much more. Our corresponding concern would be to support you in your life with your animal and with your mental impairment.

The ESAeurope Card replaces documents and confirmations that prove the status of your mental disability. It also documents that you and your ESA animal form a necessary and meaningful unit.

If my doctor, psychotherapist, psychologist or social-therapeutic body confirms that my pet guarantees me special health benefits, this animal becomes an ESA animal.

If I now want to stay in a place that actually excludes animals, I would have to present my documents in individual cases and explain in detail why and why I need my animal near me. In different people, different places and with normally different diagnoses, this individual proof overwhelms the control bodies. Rejection of the animal due to ignorance or uncertainty is often the result.

It is to be expected that the discussion to be led (in the worst case an argument) will have a very negative impact on my state of mind and health. Concrete consequences could be fear, great excitement, even panic attacks.

This uncertainty is intended to limit or prevent the ESAeurope Card altogether. With the map you prove the positive relationship between diagnosis and needs of the ESA animal and create an understandable scenario, so that it will be easier for third parties to accept the animal.

Such a case can occur when I need a permit for an animal where it is actually prohibited.

For example, for property administrations, universities, doctor visits, recreation stays, leisure activities, travel, shopping and at work.

So what can I do:

I have a medical diagnosis according to ICD10 or DSM V
I register with ESAeurope. With the registration I get access to the download center from which I can load helpful documents and confirmation templates.

The corresponding documents were developed to confirm the necessary relationship between the present psychological restriction and the necessity of an ESA animal.

The confirmation is made by a doctor, specialist, psychologist or psychotherapist, in some cases also by a social support institute. This confirmation shows and proves the connection between psychological restriction and the usefulness of the ESA animal and is the most important prerequisite for the issuance of the ESAeurope Card.

At the same time, the aforementioned confirmation is also a prerequisite for any discussion with the above-mentioned bodies in order to clarify in advance whether the ESA animal is accepted.

Once everything has been clarified, you can order the ESAeurope Card.

No!

ESA animals have no special training. An ESA dog is a pet to which humans have a particularly intense bond. The animal is important and has a special and individually supportive function for humans. Man realizes that he is better off when his animal is nearby. Humans and animals are a psychologically functioning team. An ESA animal should therefore not be separated from humans.

Assistance animals, therapy animals and accompanying animals, on the other hand, are specially trained animals (mostly dogs) that can deal precisely with the needs of the assigned human being. They are specially trained and educated. These animals have a legal framework in many countries that leaves no choice to a third party but to accept them. Appropriate animals must be accepted in the respective context.

ESAs, on the other hand, are emotionally oriented animals often without special training. They are just as important to the assigned person, but do not need to be legally allowed in certain defined situations (except USA).

The ESAeurope Card does not contain any guarantees or liabilities.

By presenting the card, you explain the special position of the animal for your person and prove that you urgently need this animal in normal daily use. Also that this is confirmed by your doctor, psycho-therapist or a similar institution. You also explain that the animal is a great help for you personally to cope with everyday life and special situations.

If my pet is then accepted on the basis of the presentation of the ESAeurope Card, the respective rules and regulations apply on site. These must be strictly adhered to. Please also make sure to have everything the animal needs in order to provide it with appropriate care in the respective situation.

The decision to accept an animal will depend very much on how affable and well-educated this animal is. This means that you increase your chances of admission in the respective situation if your animal has a positive effect.

No.

I have to check with my household insurance company whether the insurance liability also applies to my pet. This is independent of the status of the animal as ESA.

In many household insurance policies, certain animals are included in the liability package. In any case, an animal must also be reported when covering the insurance.

We therefore recommend that you consult with the insurance company and obtain detailed information about the coverage to property and personal injury. If necessary, you must take out your own pet insurance.

If your animal is then specifically admitted in a particular situation, all rules and regulations apply in addition to the on-site – because the consenting body also has certain partial liability obligations.

I choose an airline that allows ESA animals. I, or a travel organization, contact the airline of my choice.

On the website normally there is the item “Traveling with an animal”. I read the relevant provisions carefully. I register my pet.

In addition, I contact the airline by e-mail and have me confirmed in writing that my ESA animal can fly with me in the cabin. The confirmation must include details of the animal, my person and all flight dates and times.

In case of doubt, I can blame the airline for accepting liability, e.g. in case I incur costs due to delays. All necessary documents must be drafted in English or the national language of the destination country.

Experience has shown that ESA animals are relatively easy to accommodate when travelling to/from or through the United States. This especially when I book the flight with an US airline. Background is the legal basis for the function of ESA animals enacted in the USA.

Please note, however, that each airline is entitled to reject or re-book animals for safety reasons if necessary.