Frequently Asked Questions - ESA Doctors

An emotional support animal, or ESA, is an animal companion that provides comfort and support to someone suffering from a mental or emotional disability such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder or a phobia. Emotional support animals and their owners have certain protections under federal and state laws. Landlords, Co-Ops, HOAs, and other housing providers must allow tenants to live with their ESAs free of charge, even if the building has a policy banning pets.

To have a valid emotional support animal, you must be in possession of a recommendation ESA letter from a licensed health care professional (sometimes also referred to as a “licensed mental health professional” or “LMHP”). The ESA letter will establish that you have a disability and that an emotional support animal alleviates symptoms of that disability. Under federal law, this is the only legitimate way to qualify an animal companion as an emotional support animal.

A valid ESA letter is the only documentation you need in order to qualify an emotional support animal. Landlords cannot ask for a certificate, registration, license or ID, or insist that your ESA wear a vest. These items do not confer any legal status on emotional support animals. Some ESA owners use such items as tools to signal that their animal companion is an ESA, but they are not mandatory and do not function in lieu of an ESA letter as valid forms of proof for an ESA. There is also no need to register your ESA in a database or registry.

No, ESAs do not have an automatic legal right to be in grocery stores, restaurants, and hotels that prohibit animals. ESA owners have the legal right to be accompanied by their animal companion in their home pursuant to the Fair Housing Act. Only ADA service animals trained to perform tasks (such as seeing-eye dogs for the blind) have public access rights in places like grocery stores and restaurants. Some establishments such as hotels are not obligated by law to accommodate ESAs but will do so anyway as a courtesy. It is best to check with the hotel or other businesses to see if they have a policy regarding emotional support animals.

No, ESAs are not a scam. Regrettably, there is a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding on the internet when it comes to emotional support animals that puts an undeserved cloud over legitimate ESA owners and service companies. Contrary to some myths, there is a developed regulatory framework surrounding emotional support animals in the United States. ESAs are protected by federal laws and government agencies which enforce those laws. There are specific legal requirements that ESA owners must adhere to in order to obtain accommodation under law for their animal companion. Legitimate owners of emotional support animals must have documentation in the form of a recommendation letter from a licensed healthcare provider. Housing providers have the right to demand an ESA letter from the tenant before accommodating an ESA request.

There are also many legitimate emotional support animal services online such as ESADoctors.com. You should proceed with caution with any website that promises that their certification, registration, license or ID will immediately qualify your pet as an emotional support animal. Websites that are not scams will instead connect you to a healthcare professional who is licensed for your state. That professional will conduct an independent assessment of whether an ESA is right for you and issue an ESA letter only if they determine that you qualify. Legitimate ESA companies online cannot guarantee to instantly qualify an emotional support animal, since that determination must come from an independent licensed professional after evaluating the client.

People use a wide variety of animals to serve as their ESA. The most common ESAs are dogs and cats. Under Fair Housing rules, an ESA can be a dog, cat, small bird, rabbit, hamster, gerbil, other rodents, fish, turtle, or other small, domesticated animal that is traditionally kept in the home for pleasure rather than for commercial purposes.

ESAs do not require any special training but they need to be in your control. ESAs are different from service animals which are trained to perform specific tasks for the disabled (for example, seeing eye dogs for the blind). ESAs provide support and comfort for mental illnesses and other conditions through their companionship. Although ESAs do not require any specific training, it is recommended that they have basic obedience training and are able to behave well in public settings. Your current pet could be an ideal emotional support animal, and may already even be serving that purpose.

Emotional support animals have rights under the Fair Housing Act. The U.S. Department of Housing creates guidelines with respect to ESAs in housing. These rules protect people suffering from mental or emotional disabilities who have emotional support animals from discrimination. There are also various State laws that protect emotional support animals.

Yes, it is not uncommon for someone to need more than one emotional support animal. You will need an ESA letter that specifies your need for more than one ESA. Each ESA must be covered by valid documentation (multiple recommendations can be contained in one letter). The licensed healthcare professional must determine that you would benefit from more than one emotional support animal. It’s important that if you own multiple ESAs they can all be safely and humanely accommodated in your residence.

It is up to the licensed healthcare professional to determine whether you have a disability that qualifies for an emotional support animal. Common disabilities include things like depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and phobias. For purposes of Fair Housing rules, a disability is a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.

An ESA letter must be written by a doctor, a licensed healthcare professional or licensed mental health professional (LMHP) which includes professionals such as psychologists, psychiatrists, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, clinical social workers, licensed counselors and other licensed professionals. An ESA letter is technically not a “prescription”. It is a recommendation letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Physicians have the ability to write ESA letters, but most ESA letters are not from physicians.

The best person to inquire about whether an ESA is right for you is your existing mental health provider. If you do not have a therapist or are having trouble finding one, ESA Doctors can help connect you to a professional that is licensed for your state. Many people use online therapists for their ESA needs for various reasons. If you are having trouble finding a therapist, paying for a therapist due to limited income, scheduling a visit due to work, family or school obligations, or have phobias or anxieties about seeing a therapist in person, then using an online provider may be a great solution for you.

Yes, many licensed therapists, including the ones that work with ESA Doctors, offer their services remotely without the need for an office visit. Remote therapists are a vital resource for people that are having a hard time finding a therapist in person, paying for a therapist or scheduling a visit because of a busy schedule. Some people have anxieties or phobias about discussing their problems face to face with someone and prefer to interact with a therapist remotely. As long as the provider is a licensed healthcare provider that is familiar with your mental health issue or emotional disability, they can write an ESA recommendation for you. The U.S. Department of Housing has also acknowledged in its guidance that therapists can provide services remotely online.

For housing purposes, ESA letters technically do not have an expiration date under Fair Housing rules. However, some landlords will demand a more recently dated letter if the tenant submits an ESA letter that was issued a long time ago. In addition, if you need your licensed healthcare professional to submit a form or provide verification, they may not be able to do so unless there is a recent ESA recommendation letter on file for you. We recommend renewing your ESA letter annually so you don’t run into any issues travelling or living with your ESA.

Some people have an existing pet that they qualify as an emotional support animal. Others obtain an ESA letter and then adopt their ESA. There is no right answer, both situations are very common and permitted.

No, a hardcopy of the ESA letter is not required. The licensed professionals that work with ESA Doctors will provide a digital copy of your ESA letter if you qualify, which you can then use immediately. You do not need an original copy with a wet ink signature. A proper ESA letter will contain the licensed mental health professional’s contact and license information, which a third party can use to verify the authenticity of the letter. If you would still like an original copy for any reason, we can accommodate your request for an extra fee.

An ESA letter will establish that you have a disability for purposes of the Fair Housing Act. A disability that qualifies for an ESA can be a condition such as severe depression, anxiety, phobia or post-traumatic stress disorder. The ESA letter will recommend an ESA to help alleviate symptoms of your mental or emotional disability. Housing providers are not permitted to demand that you disclose details about your specific diagnosis or the severity of your condition. Nor can they request your medical records or insist that a medical examination be conducted. You have a right to privacy when it comes to sensitive information about your mental and emotional health.

A valid ESA letter will be signed and dated by a licensed professional. The letter should also contain the professional’s license and contact information so that third parties can verify the authenticity of the letter and that the professional is actively licensed in their field.

Emotional support animals are not the same thing as service animals. Service animals are specifically trained to assist their handlers with a disability. For example, a service dog can help someone with visual impairment by acting as a guide, or someone with post-traumatic stress disorder by providing tactile comfort during moments of crisis.

Service animals have legal rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which give them greater public access rights than ESAs. For example, service animals are generally allowed to go wherever members of the public are allowed (bars, restaurants, stores, etc.).
ESAs on the other hand mainly have housing rights. ESAs are given legal rights under the Fair Housing Act and various state laws. Unlike service dogs, ESAs do not need any special training. They are intended to provide mental and emotional comfort to their owners through their companionship.

Service animals can also only be dogs or miniature horses under the ADA, whereas emotional support animals can be most household pets, like dogs, cats, gerbils, fish, turtles and birds.

California instituted a new law for 2022 that requires healthcare professionals to establish a client-provider relationship at least 30 days prior to issuing an ESA letter. This law applies to all residents of California. If you have previously worked with a licensed healthcare professional through ESA Doctors, you may be exempt from the 30 day waiting period. To qualify for an ESA letter for California, start here.

Almost all housing providers are subject to federal Fair Housing rules regarding emotional support animals. Under Fair Housing rules, emotional support animals are not considered pets. ESAs are assistance animals that help tenants who are suffering from a mental or emotional disability. That means a building’s normal policies regarding pets do not apply to an emotional support animal. Housing providers must accommodate ESAs even if the building normally prohibits pets. Fair Housing rules were designed so housing providers could not unfairly discriminate against emotional support animal owners.

There are some limited circumstances where a landlord can legitimately deny an ESA, such as if they have determined the ESA is a safety or health risk to others. In addition, owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units and single-family homes sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent are also exempt from ESA rules.

Landlords are never permitted to charge fees, surcharges or deposits in connection with ESAs. Even if the building you live in charges fees or security deposits for all pets, an ESA is exempt because ESAs are not considered pets under federal Fair Housing rules. The lack of a security deposit does not mean however that a landlord does not have the right to collect for damages caused by an ESA. If an ESA causes damage to the property, the landlord can charge the tenant for such damage and deduct expenses from any general security deposit the tenant may have paid. Landlords are also not permitted to charge application fees when considering an ESA request.

ESA owners are always responsible for the actions of their emotional support animals. Even though a landlord can’t charge fees or deposits for an ESA, they can charge a tenant if the ESA causes property damage. Landlords can also deduct costs for any such damages from a general security deposit they may have collected from the tenant.

In situations where a tenant’s pet later qualifies as an emotional support animal, and they had previously paid a special deposit or fee for their pet, they would be entitled to a refund of that deposit or fee. Note however for fees the waiver would only apply for the time the animal companion was considered an ESA. For example, if you were paying a monthly fee for your pet, you would no longer pay that fee going forward but would not be entitled to a refund for past months when the animal was validly categorized as a regular pet.

Landlords do have the right to reject your request to live with an emotional support animal under certain limited circumstances. The housing provider can reject an emotional support animal if they determine that the animal would pose a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others. Note that the housing provider must actually make an individualized assessment of the particular animal. They cannot rely on stereotypes regarding the animal. For example, they cannot reject an emotional support pitbull solely because they believe such animals are dangerous without any evidence the particular ESA in question is actually dangerous.

A housing provider may also reject an emotional support animal if the accommodation would cause an “undue financial and administrative burden” on the housing provider’s operations. One example of this would be if the housing provider’s insurance would be cancelled, or substantially increase in cost, because of the presence of a certain type of animal. Landlords relying on this exemption should substantiate their claims and also consider whether alternative insurance coverage is available.

It’s not uncommon for landlords to initially reject an ESA request from a tenant. Some landlords are simply unaware of what Fair Housing rules regarding ESAs actually require. Other landlords will sometimes confuse emotional support animals with service dogs. It’s important to have a constructive, but friendly dialogue with your landlord. The Department of Housing’s guidance states that landlords should engage in a good-faith interactive process with tenants to resolve ESA issues. It may be helpful for you to point out the relevant housing rules to your landlord if they are denying your ESA without merit. Many times landlords are simply just unaware of their obligations under Fair Housing rules and will acquiesce once they are confronted with the facts.

In rare situations where a landlord is completely uncooperative even after multiple attempts to amicably resolve the situation, tenants do have the right to file a complaint directly with HUD. That should always however be a last resort option. Housing providers should be aware that many landlords have been sued by the government for the failure to comply with emotional support animal housing rules.

We recommend clearing your emotional support animal with your housing provider prior to bringing your ESA home, particularly if you live in a no-pets building. You must request accommodation from your landlord for your ESA and submit your ESA letter. The landlord must get back to you promptly and, if they are rejecting your ESA request, must give you valid reasons for denial. If your ESA is already living with you because it was a pet that later qualified as an ESA, then you would submit your ESA letter to your landlord as soon as possible.

If you inform your landlord of your ESA after bringing home your ESA in violation of building rules, under HUD guidance the landlord must still consider your request. However, that timing could upset your landlord and work against your favor. The bottomline: it’s always best to be honest and transparent about your ESA. Remember, a tenant’s right to an ESA is protected by federal and sometimes state law.

Landlords must reply to ESA requests “promptly”, and within 10 days of receiving the tenant’s request for accommodation. Landlords cannot just stonewall tenants who submit requests for their emotional support animal. The Department of Housing encourages landlords to engage in a good-faith interactive process with tenants regarding ESA requests. That means that landlords should have constructive dialogue with tenants to address any concerns regarding a tenant’s emotional support animal.

Yes, HOAs and co-ops are subject to Fair Housing requirements and must also reasonably accommodate valid ESAs.

Maybe. The Fair Housing act applies to most types of housing. There are however some exceptions. The following types of housing do not have to comply with the Fair Housing Act’s rules regarding emotional support animals: 1. owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units, 2. single-family houses sold or rented by the owner without the use of an agent, 3. housing operated by religious organizations, and 4. private clubs that limit occupancy to members.
Note that although certain landlords are not legally obligated to accommodate emotional support animals, some will do so anyway as a courtesy. It’s best to check with your landlord to see what their policy is regarding ESAs.

Under Fair Housing rules categorical breed restrictions are not allowed. Housing providers can’t deny a tenant’s ESA request solely because the ESA is a certain breed. The housing provider can however turn away the ESA if they have good reason to believe the particular animal in question poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or has caused property damage. They would need to determine the animal is a threat based on actual evidence, and not just stereotypes about the particular breed in question.

Under Fair Housing rules categorical breed restrictions are not allowed. Housing providers can’t deny a tenant’s ESA request solely because the ESA is a certain breed. The housing provider can however turn away the ESA if they have good reason to believe the particular animal in question poses a direct threat to the health and safety of others or has caused property damage. They would need to determine the animal is a threat based on actual evidence, and not just stereotypes about the particular breed in question.

Housing providers must allow tenants to be accompanied by their emotional support animal “in all areas of the premises where persons are normally allowed to go, unless doing so would impose an undue financial and administrative burden or would fundamentally alter the nature of the housing provider’s services.” That may include places such as a recreation room, a community garden, a pool area or a courtyard.

Landlords are not allowed to charge tenants or prospective tenants any type of fee in connection with the consideration of an ESA request. That includes fees for applications.

You can request accommodation for your ESA verbally or in writing. There is no special language needed when making this request, but it can be helpful to inform the landlord that you are seeking reasonable accommodation for an emotional support animal pursuant to Fair Housing rules. We recommend submitting the request in writing so you have a record of when your request was made. You should also submit your ESA letter to your landlord when making this request. Your landlord has the right to request documentation for your ESA, and the only legitimate form of ESA documentation is a recommendation letter from a licensed healthcare professional.

There is no rule that requires ESA owners to be with their emotional support animals all day. Most ESA owners do not have their ESA with them at all times during the day. Like any other animal companion, your ESA should be properly attended to and depending on the type of ESA may be able to be left at home for short periods of time. ESA owners like all pet owners are responsible for feeding, maintaining, providing veterinary care for, and controlling their assistance animal. ESA owners can enlist the help of friends, family, volunteers and service providers (such as dog-walkers) to help them care for their animal.

University housing such as dorms and university sponsored apartments are subject to Fair Housing rules and its provisions regarding emotional support animals. However, universities are known to be more stringent about ESA accommodation than typical landlords. Many of our clients have successfully used their ESA letters for college housing, but some have also faced an uphill battle dealing with difficult administrations. We will be available to provide support but cannot guarantee outcomes regarding whether a housing provider accepts your ESA or not. Our recommendation is to check with your school to see what their specific policy is regarding ESAs.

Under HUD guidelines, a licensed healthcare professional can issue an ESA letter. Most ESA letters are generally not from physicians, although a physician is capable of writing an ESA letter. Examples of licensed professionals given by HUD include psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, nurses, nurse practitioners and physicians assistants. In addition, tenants are allowed to use licensed providers that work remotely through online services. It is not necessary to have an ESA letter from a therapist who evaluated you at an in-person session.

Generally, housing providers in these situations will understand that tenants who have recently moved from another state will have an out of state ESA letter. The important thing is that you were evaluated by a therapist who was licensed for your state at the time of the evaluation. There is no requirement under Fair Housing rules that an ESA letter be issued in the same state where the tenant is requesting accommodation from their landlord.

Under Fair Housing rules, landlords are not permitted to request detailed information about a tenant’s condition. They cannot request medical records or insist on a medical examination. Your therapist is also bound by obligations of confidentiality and generally cannot reveal details about your condition beyond what is stated in their ESA letter. However, your landlord does have the ability to confirm your therapist wrote your letter for you. A valid ESA letter should have the therapist’s license information which the landlord can verify on your State’s website for licensed professionals. A valid ESA letter will also contain contact information for your therapist which your landlord can use for confirmatory purposes.

If you have a landlord who is blatantly disregarding your right to be accompanied by an emotional support animal and they have failed to engage in constructive dialogue with you regarding your ESA, you can file a complaint directly with HUD. It is not uncommon for landlords to get in trouble with government agencies for discriminatory practices against the disabled. This should however be a measure of last resort. We always recommend and encourage having an open and friendly dialogue with your landlord about your ESA needs. Most landlords are reasonable and will comply with their Fair Housing obligations.

Canada does not have a legal framework for emotional support animals similar to one in the United States. In the U.S., ESA rules are enshrined in federal law and apply to every State. Various States in the U.S. also have laws that protect ESAs. Many landlords in Canada however will accommodate emotional support animals as a courtesy if you have an ESA letter. There may also be local rules that pertain to emotional support animals. We can help connect you to a therapist licensed to work in Canada to help you assess whether an ESA is right for you.

The only way to qualify an ESA is by possessing an ESA letter from a licensed healthcare professional. Landlords cannot request certificates, registrations or ID cards as a condition to accommodate an emotional support animal. In fact, such items do not confer any legal status on ESAs. Some landlords are confused about this issue and are under the mistaken impression that there is an officially sanctioned certification or registration process for ESAs when there is not.

The U.S. Department of Transportation issued new rules for ESAs on flights that went into effect on January 11, 2021. As a result of these new rules, airlines are no longer legally obligated to accept emotional support animals. U.S. airlines no longer accept emotional support animals on flights. However, there may still be international airlines that will accept emotional support animals with proper documentation. For a list of airlines that are still accepting ESAs, please click on this link. It’s important to check with your airline before your flight to see what their current policy is for ESAs.

Psychiatric service dogs are still allowed on board flights free of charge.

For airlines that accept ESAs, to fly with an emotional support animal the passenger generally needs a letter from a licensed mental health professional. This letter establishes the passenger has a mental or emotional disability recognized under the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) (such as depression or anxiety) and that the ESA is needed as an accommodation for air travel and/or activity at the passenger’s destination. An ESA letter must be signed and dated by the licensed professional and contain their licensing information.

A psychiatric service dog (or PSD) is a type of service dog that has been individually trained to perform tasks relating to a handler’s mental, emotional or learning disability. Psychiatric service dogs have the same rights as other types of service dogs which assist handlers with physical disabilities. Service dogs have special access rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Fair Housing Act and Air Carrier Access Act. They are allowed to accompany their owners in the home, on-flights and in places where members of the public are generally allowed to go.

A psychiatric service dog is not the same thing as an ESA. The primary difference between a psychiatric service dog and an emotional support animal is that a PSD must be fully trained to perform tasks relating to a disability. A PSD in training does not yet qualify as a service dog. In contrast, ESAs are not required to have any specialized training. ESAs primarily provide comfort to their owners just through their presence and companionship. An ESA also requires a letter of recommendation from a licensed healthcare professional.

PSDs and ESAs also differ in terms of their access rights. ESAs have the right to live with their owners free of charge (even in buildings that prohibit pets) under federal Fair Housing laws and various state laws. PSDs have greater access rights under the ADA and ACAA – they can board flights as well as places generally open to the public like stores.

The other major difference between ESAs and PSDs is that an ESA can be a wide range of animals but a psychiatric service animal can only be a dog.

In order to qualify for a PSD, the handler must have a mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities. That can include things like depression, anxiety, PTSD, phobias, learning disorders and autism. A licensed healthcare professional is best suited to determine whether you have a qualifying condition.

If your animal provides comfort for your mental or emotional health issues just by being present and does not perform any specialized tasks to assist with your disability, it is more likely an ESA. A PSD by definition must be individually trained to perform at least one task relating to a mental disability. If the dog is not trained to perform a task in relation to the disability, it is not a PSD but may be an ESA. In addition, if your animal is not a dog, then it cannot qualify as a psychiatric service animal but may qualify as an ESA.

A psychiatric service dog (PSD) letter is a signed letter from a licensed healthcare professional that can help you determine whether you have a qualifying condition for a psychiatric service dog. It’s important to note that a PSD letter does not certify or verify that your animal is a psychiatric service dog, it only addresses whether you have a psychiatric or emotional disability. Representing that a dog is a fully trained PSD is a responsibility that ultimately falls on the handler. A PSD letter is intended to help someone understand whether they may have a qualifying disability and provides peace of mind. Unlike an ESA letter, it does not need to be submitted to the landlord, airline or another third-party for accommodation of the assistance animal.

No, a third party cannot ask for documentation such as a license, certificate, PSD letter or ID card to prove a dog is a psychiatric service dog before allowing it entry. Other accessories like vests and harnesses are also not required. You have probably seen these items used in public however by owners of service dogs. Many service dog owners use these items to help signal to the public that their dogs are on duty, but they are not mandated by the ADA. ADA guidance specifically states that you do not need certification or registration documents for a service dog, and that these documents do not convey any rights under the ADA.

Under ACAA guidance from the Department of Transportation, airlines are allowed to look for indicators such as harnesses, ID cards, tags and vests to help determine whether a dog is a service animal. However, these items solely by themselves are not enough to qualify a dog as a service dog. They are just one factor airline staff can weigh in determining whether a passenger has a valid service dog.

Unlike emotional support animals which can be a wide range of animals, only dogs can serve as psychiatric service animals.

Under new rules that went into effect in January of 2021, PSDs can board the cabin free of charge as long as the handler submits the Department of Transportation’s Service Animal Transportation Form prior to boarding the flight. The form requires the handler to self-certify that their animal is a trained psychiatric service dog. It also requires information regarding the dog’s trainer (which can be the handler) and veterinarian. Only the handler is required to sign the form.

PSDs perform an incredible variety of tasks for their handlers. There are far too many to list here, but these tasks include things like:
• Helping to ground and reorient a handler that is experiencing an anxiety or panic attack.
• Interrupting OCD and self-destructive behaviors.
• Reminding the handler to take their medication.
• Using tactile/pressure stimulation to calm a handler.
• Retrieving medications for the handler to take.
• Preventing the handler from oversleeping and helping to maintain a healthy routine.

The ADA allows for service animals to be trained by the handler or through a professional. If the handler is confident and capable of training their psychiatric service dog, they are allowed to do so. It is not necessary to use any organization or professional trainer, although those alternatives may be useful for owners who are not experienced in training dogs.

If you are at a public establishment, third parties can verify your dog is a PSD by asking two questions: 1. is the dog a service dog required because of a disability? and 2. what work or task has the service dog been trained to perform?

As a PSD owner, you do not have to provide details about your disability. Third parties also cannot ask you to demonstrate the task your PSD has been trained to perform.
If you plan to fly with your PSD, you will need to submit the DOT’s Service Animal Transportation Form prior to boarding the flight. The form requires the passenger to self-certify that they have a psychiatric service dog that has been appropriately trained to perform tasks and behave in public settings.

A PSD can be denied entry if it is behaving in a way that poses a threat to the health or safety of others. A PSD can also be denied if it is not under the control of the handler. For example, a PSD can be prohibited from boarding a flight if it is out of control, barking or growling repeatedly at other passengers or animals, biting, jumping on or causing injury to others, or urinating or defecating in the cabin or gate area. A fully trained PSD should be capable of behaving in many kinds of public settings and should always be under the control of their handler.

No, ESA Doctors is not a medical clinic or health care provider and is not engaged in the practice of medicine or any health care profession. ESA Doctors does not provide medical advice or opinions under any circumstance. ESA Doctors does not employ any of the professionals it works with. ESA Doctors works with a range of licensed professionals who are familiar with the benefits of ESAs.

ESA Doctors is a company that utilizes technology to help connect clients with licensed health care professionals who, when they deem it to be appropriate and necessary for the client in their independent judgment, can issue an ESA letter.

ESA Doctors has been a leading provider of legitimate online ESA services since 2015. There are many reasons ESA Doctors is a widely trusted and reputable source for ESA letters: 1. ESA Doctors only works with licensed healthcare professionals. Under federal guidelines for housing and air travel, legitimate ESA documentation can only come from a licensed professional. 2. The professionals that we work with are licensed for your state and are familiar with rules regarding ESA accommodation. 3. ESA Doctors does not sell certifications, registrations or licenses which by themselves do not confer any legal benefits for an emotional support animal. 4. ESA Doctors is an advocate for ESA owners and their rights. ESA Doctors believe that ESAs are a vital means of assistance for individuals suffering from mental and emotional disabilities. We take care to engage with every client with understanding and kindness because we know that anyone who reaches out to us is fighting a difficult battle and deserves empathy and compassion.

You can reach out to our support team at support@esadoctors.com with any questions or concerns. We do not offer phone support. We focus on providing fast and high-quality responses by email, and our support team is comprised of dedicated, knowledgeable and caring individuals all located here in the US. We do not outsource our customer support to call centers or bots, and our team members are like family.

We love to help our customers answer questions and found that going 100% digital allows us to help more people and keep your fees reasonable. We have not raised our fees in 5 years and work hard to keep our overhead costs low.

In addition, the licensed professional you are connected to will provide you with their contact information and you will be able to reach out to them directly.

We are not as active about collecting reviews as other companies because we believe seeking help for a mental illness or emotional disability is an extremely personal decision and private. We do not believe in pushing clients to share their experiences. It’s also important to us that any reviews we display are verified to be from actual clients. You can see reviews for our services here:

https://www.shopperapproved.com/reviews/esadoctors.com

These are reviews from actual, verified clients who have not been compensated or pressured to leave positive feedback for us. If you are a client of ours and you prefer to leave a review directly with us to display on our site, please submit one here:

https://esadoctors.com/send-testimonial/

We have a strict cancellation policy to ensure the licensed healthcare professionals we work with are effectively allocating their support to those who need their help. Once your order is placed, there is a $39 cancellation fee if a refund is requested within 24 hours. After 24 hours, or once you have signed the LMHP’s consent form, even if you are within the 24-hour window, your order is non-refundable and final. If an exception is made at our sole discretion outside this window for extenuating circumstances, a $55 cancellation fee will apply.

All PRIORITY Digital Delivery orders are non-refundable, as these orders are processed immediately and given priority attention by your LMHP. Once your order is placed, an LMHP will reach out to you with a consent form. If you opted for PRIORITY Digital Delivery service, it is your responsibility to reply to your LMHP with your consent within 24 hours. Once your LMHP has received your consent form and if they recommend an ESA, you will receive a digital copy of your letter shortly thereafter and typically within 1-2 business days. If an exception is made at our sole discretion for extenuating circumstances and your priority order is canceled, the PRIORITY delivery fee will be forfeited and a $55 cancellation fee will be applied. If you do not provide your LMHP with your consent forms within 24 hours, you will not be issued a refund for the expedited delivery fee under any circumstance.

For subscription renewal clients, once you submit your renewal questionnaire your renewal is non-refundable. Before you submit your renewal questionnaire, your subscription renewal is refundable.

Please note that it is ultimately up to the landlord or airline to accommodate your ESA request. Unfortunately, some landlords and airline agents are averse to ESAs or unaware of ESA rules and will unjustly deny your federally protected right to be accompanied by an ESA. We will provide support to help you navigate any issues that may arise, but we cannot offer refunds for events outside of our control, i.e. if your landlord or airline rejects your ESA request in violation of your rights. We also cannot offer refunds if your landlord or airline denies your ESA pursuant to a valid reason under the Fair Housing Act or Air Carrier Access Act – for example, if your ESA poses a threat to the health and safety of others or has damaged property. We also cannot issue refunds for regulatory changes that affect ESAs or for airlines that change their policies regarding ESAs.

If you are unsure about your order please reach out to us first with any questions before placing an order, as we have limited resources available to support clients who really need our help.

Our 100% money-back guarantee applies if your licensed mental health professional determines after an assessment that you do not qualify for an ESA letter. We are proud to work with LMHPs with integrity and some clients will not qualify for an ESA letter. To avoid conflicts of interest, your LMHP’s compensation is not based on whether or not you qualify for an ESA Letter. We understand that seeking the help of a mental health professional can be difficult, both personally and financially. We want to ensure that everyone that reaches out to one of the LMHPs we work with gets the help they need, and if your LMHP is unable to recommend an ESA, we will return your money at our expense so you can seek help in other ways.

ESA letters should be renewed at least once a year to stay effective. Your licensed health professional needs a recent ESA evaluation on file in order to validate an ESA letter. Landlords will usually not accept ESA letters that are outdated. You may also want to renew your ESA letter earlier if you are moving to a new housing provider. 

ESA Plus, ESA Housing and Psychiatric Service Dog Plan clients who opt for automatic renewal are eligible for a discounted renewal rate. 

Opting for automatic renewal takes the hassle and worry out of having to keep track of when your last evaluation was completed and when your letter is expiring. You can cancel your annual renewal subscription anytime before your renewal date. To cancel your annual renewal subscription, simply email us at support@esadoctors.com with the subject: “Cancel Renewal”.

Your ESA letter will be delivered in digital format. You can email this to your landlord or airline, or present them with a printout. It is not necessary to have an original copy of the letter. However, if you would still like a letter with the LMHP’s signature in ink, we can process this as an “optional document”. Please email us at support@esadoctors.com to process this request. Shipping is only available to clients within the US. If you are outside the US and opted in for shipping, please contact the support team for a refund of the shipping fee.

Absolutely, we are happy to help out with separate forms and other special requests. We offer Extra Document Service to those who are approved for an ESA letter through an LMHP working with ESA Doctors. When you are checking out, you can opt-in for the “optional document service”. Once you have submitted your order, please reply to the confirmation email with your extra document. When we send your questionnaire to your therapist, we will send the extra document as well so that your LMHP may review both at the same time.

The standard extra document fee ($49.95) is subject to change based on the complexity of the request. The fee is per document or per special request. If you find out you require this service at a later time, we will do our best but there is a chance your LMHP may not be able to assist you. We recommend that you contact your landlord and airline right away and within 2 weeks of receiving your letter. Since we pair you with an actual LMHP, they may not be able to assist you at a later time with an extra document or special request if they are on leave or attending to a personal matter. In the event that you submit an extra document request and your LMHP is unable to assist you, we may be able to offer you early renewal and pair you with another LMHP.

Yes! If your landlord is using a third party online portal to evaluate and verify your ESA request, the licensed healthcare professionals we work with can help. They are knowledgeable about these types of verification requests and the process involved. There is an additional $25 fee for digital third party verification requests to compensate the healthcare professional for their time in completing the verification process and attending to any follow-up.

The LMHPs we work with craft their letters in order to meet relevant ESA rules. Some airlines and landlords may request additional information be included in the letter. These requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you have a request for specific language in your letter, we would be happy to share the request to your LMHP. It is at their discretion to make any adjustments to your letter. If the adjustments are approved, we can bill this as a special request ($49.95). The fee is subject to change based on the complexity of the request.

Please note that your LMHP is making a recommendation for an emotional support animal, but they do not recommend a specific animal as your ESA. Your LMHP is also not in a position to verify information about your ESA such as its temperament, breed and health. ESA letters generally do not include descriptions regarding the specific ESA you own.

When you submit your order, please pick your plan carefully. If your request to upgrade a travel or housing plan to a combo plan is made within 60 days of your initial order, we will do our best to accommodate your request. When possible, you can upgrade your plan by paying the difference between the plan you selected and the upgraded plan ($30-$40). Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and changes are not always possible.

Please take care to select the right plan during checkout. If your request is outside the 60-day window from when you initially submitted your order, you will be required to order a new combo plan. You may email us at support@esadoctors.com with upgrade requests. If your request for an upgrade is granted, you will be eligible for the discounted renewal rate the following year which is a perk available to all combo plan purchasers.

No, an ESA or PSD letter cannot be purchased in the absence of the receiving person. The potential ESA or PSD owner must complete the questionnaire themself. However, you may purchase a gift certificate to help someone in need get started with the ESA or PSD letter process.

Currently, the ESA Doctors Gift Certificate is only available for the mentioned dollar amount and in digital format. The value of the gift certificate will be deducted from the price of the order during checkout. If the order price is lower than the value of the gift certificate, the remaining amount can be used towards the next order. There is no cash payout for gift certificates (unless where required by law).

Your payment will be processed immediately at the time you submit your order. Once your order and payment have been submitted, you will only be eligible for a refund under the conditions outlined in our return policy. If you are uncertain that you need our support, please wait to submit your order and reach out to us with any questions. If for any reason we are not able to connect you with an LMHP, you will be refunded. All payment information is kept secure.

ESA Shield is an optional add-on service that gives you unlimited, priority email support from our best ESA experts with years of experience to help you deal with difficult landlords, along with a 100% fee refund guarantee. It is very common for landlords to reject the initial request for an ESA, but the vast majority of our clients are able to respond and successfully receive accommodation for their ESA. However, in some instances, even after some back and forth a landlord will violate your rights under the Fair Housing Act and unfairly deny your request. If this happens to you and you have purchased ESA Shield, you will be refunded the cost of your housing or combo plan.

This plan may be right for you if you know that your landlord is difficult about special accommodations or pets and would like additional support or peace of mind.

ESA Shield is subject to some important terms and conditions, which you should read here. The most important requirement for your fee refund is that your ESA document or response submission were rejected at least twice with our support (note that some back and forth is common even with reasonable landlords) and you have written proof that your landlord has denied your request in violation of your rights under the FHA. ESA Shield is valid from the date of your ESA letter and expires in 30 days. In most cases, the ESA approval process with landlords will take a few days and should be resolved well before ESA Shield expires.

ESA Shield is not available for clients who live in university, campus or dormitory housing. ESA Shield is also not for use in conjunction with air travel.

Yes, your questionnaire will be kept confidential. Your answers will be shared with your licensed mental health professional who is also under obligations of confidentiality. We understand that seeking help for a mental illness is a private decision, and that your answers to the questionnaire are highly sensitive. We take care to make sure all of that information stays safe. We never sell confidential client information to third parties.