Pet Microchip

Your pet must first be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant pet microchip that is a 15 digit and non-encrypted. If your pet's microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Import Permit

A special Import Permit by the Food and Veterinary Authority is required to enter Iceland with a pet. Application should be submitted at least 30 days prior to import. This permit is valid for a period of one year.

Vaccinations

After microchipping, your pet must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Iceland.

Dogs must have been vaccinated against Leptospirosis no less than 30 days and more than 6 months prior to entry. They must also be vaccinated against Canine Distemper, Infectious Contagious hepatitis and Canine Parvovirus according to manufacturer instructions or no less than 14 days and no more than 1 year prior to import to Iceland.

Dogs must also be tested for Brucella canis and Salmonella spp within 30 days of travel.

Dogs must either be tested for Angiostrongylus vasorum within 30 days of import or treated for Angiostrongylus vasorum between 5-10 days of import.

Cats must be vaccinated for Feline panleukopenia, Feline rhinotracheitis and Calicivirus within 6 weeks of import. They must be tested for antibodies within 21-28 days of import.

If entering Iceland from the United States, Canada or Singapore, your dog must be vaccinated for Canine Influenza according to manufacturer instructions no sooner than 14 days prior to import.

Rabies Titer Test

To enter Iceland from either Category 1 or 2 countries (see step #7), your pet dog or cat will need a rabies titer test more than 30 days after the rabies vaccination. Blood samples must be processed by an EU-approved laboratory.

Pets entering Iceland from Category 2 countries must wait for 3 months after the date the blood was drawn for the test prior to entering Iceland.

Ticks and Tapeworm Treatment

Dogs and cats must have two treatments for internal and external parasites prior to entering Iceland within specific time periods.

Pet Health Certificate

Between 5-10 days of travel, the Iceland certificate of Health and Origin is issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country. The form must be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

EU Pet Passports are not sufficient for the import of cats and dogs to Iceland.

All documentation including test results, health certificate and vaccination records must be submitted at least 5 days in advance of import via email.

Country Classifications

In order to qualify to be classified in the country groups below, your dog or cat must have resided in the country continuously since birth or a minimum of 6 months prior to import.

Group 1 Countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway (excl. Svalbard), Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Faroe Islands and the United Kingdom.

Group 2 Countries: Canada, Greenland, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Singapore, Turkey, Thailand and the United States.

If your dog or cat does not reside in one of these countries, it is not approved for direct import to Iceland.

Quarantine

All pets entering Iceland from a Category 1 or Category 2 country (see step #7) will be quarantined for 14 days. Reservations must be made well in advance. There is a set period of 3 days per month when pets may be admitted to the quarantine facility.

Entering Iceland by Air

Pets must enter Iceland via KeflavÍk International Airport during business hours on days scheduled for quarantine admission. Advance notice must be given for dogs and cats arriving outside of normal business hours. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

The District Veterinarian inspects all pets at the airport of entry upon arrival to Iceland and ascertains that they do not have any symptoms of infectious diseases, that import permits, all required certificates and a positive comment from the Chief Veterinary Officer of Iceland are on hand.

Your dog or cat must be transported from the country of origin to Iceland without coming in contact with other animals. If your dog or cat comes from a country without rabies, transport through a country with rabies is not permitted unless your dog or cat remains in the secure, international zone of the airport.

Whenever your pet travels to a foreign country like Iceland, it is always advisable to carry some form of identification indicating ownership of your pet.

Puppies and Kittens

If entering Iceland from Category 1 (see step #7), puppies and kittens can enter at the age of 5 months. If entering from a Category 2 country, the minimum age is 7 months and your puppy or kitten must have been microchipped, vaccinated for rabies and had a rabies titer test according to steps #1, #3 and #4.

Banned Breeds

Some dangerous dog breeds and their crosses are prohibited from entering Iceland. They include: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino (Argentine Mastiff) and Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff). Wolf mixes are not permitted. Other dogs which display aggressive or dangerous behavior may not be permitted entry.

A temperment evaluation may be required for large dog breeds or those breeds that display aggressive tendencies.

Other Animals

Pet rabbits and rodents (guinea pigs, hamsters, mice and degu) can be imported to Iceland with an import permit and health certificate. Samples taken no more than 3 weeks before importation shall be tested for Salmonella spp. with a negative result. An authorised laboratory must be used. These pets will be subject to supervised home quarantine.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting. 

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

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