Finland Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that conform to Finland pet import requirements for dogs, cats, and ferrets entering this country from non-EU countries. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Finland will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test (some countries), and one of the following:

An official EU or NI Pet Passport (resident EU or Northern Ireland pets)
An EU Health Certificate (non-EU-resident pets)
A government-issued Pet Passport from a part 1 listed third country (see EU COUNTRY CLASSIFICATIONS)
An Animal Health Certificate when entering Finland from Great Britain (England, Scotland or Wales). UK Pet Passports are no longer accepted as a substitute for an Animal Health Certificate.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO FINLAND below.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Finland

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Finland if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Finland must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-8 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: EU Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) does not recognize any countries as rabies-free. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all countries are subject to current rabies vaccination according to their regulations. The EU classifies countries as either:

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to Finland will depend on the classification of your country of origin and whether your pet has entered an unlisted country within the past 4 months. Click on the links above to find your origination country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their origination country before reviewing import regulations for Finland.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter Finland with or within five days of their owner. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership.

All pet owners transporting their pets under non-commercial regulations must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that their pet’s transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of their pet.

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

The pet is not traveling with or within five days of the owner OR
The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport OR
The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption or commercial sale.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this business or organization will be responsible for the import of the pet. The exporter must provide proof that they are registered in the exporting country.

Step 3: Pet Microchip

The second step to import a dog, cat or ferret to Finland is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit, ISO 11784/11785 compliant pet microchip. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer or government database in your country.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

It was applied prior to July 3, 2011, and
The tattoo is clearly visible, and
Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and
All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept current. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered).

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Finland must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering Finland from another EU Member State, part 1 or 2 listed third country, your pet must wait 21 days after a primary rabies vaccination was administered. If entering Finland from an unlisted country, pets must wait for 30 days to have a licensed veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step).

In both cases, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Finland does honor the multiyear rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Other Vaccinations

Although it is not required, pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

canine distemper (also for ferrets)
canine hepatitis
canine leptospirosis
canine parvovirus
feline viral rhinotracheitis
feline panleukopenia
feline leukemia

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

A rabies titer test, also known as a serology test, must be administered to pets entering Finland from unlisted countries only. The test should be administered no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

This test measures the rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. There are several kinds of rabies titer tests, although the Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN) is preferred.

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Finland until 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

It is worth noting that some EU Member States require that serology levels be confirmed prior to leaving their country.

The test is valid to enter any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 6: Import Permit

Pet owners do not need an import permit when entering Finland with a dog, cat, or ferret. Unaccompanied pets may need an import permit.

Step 7: Parasite Treatments

Pet owners should always protect their pets from internal and external parasites to keep them healthy when traveling internationally. All dogs must be treated for tapeworm by a licensed veterinarian between one and five days of entering Finland unless your pet is entering directly by air from the Northern Ireland, Ireland, Malta or Norway.

Step 8: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires an original health certificate in their pet import regulations, and Finland is no exception. The EU Health Certificate must clearly identify your pet, including its microchip number. Your veterinarian must state that your pet is fit to travel and is not originating from an area that is under restrictions for rabies. Additionally, your veterinarian should attest that your pet is displaying no symptoms of any contagious diseases.

The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under – non-commercial or commercial.

Non-Commercial Transport to Finland from an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within 4 months of travel.

Resident Pets: Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport or a government-issued Pet Passport (Part 1 Listed Third Countries) for your pet. A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your air carrier. Have your veterinarian record the health check in your pet’s Pet Passport.

An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Finland with a current Pet Passport.

Non-Resident Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country for 4 months or you do not have a permanent address in origination country, then your pet will need a non-commercial bi-lingual EU Health Certificate for Finland.

Non-Commercial Transport to Finland from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 applies under the following conditions:

Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a health certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

The EU pet health certificate for Finland is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time.

Commercial Transport to Finland from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premise which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State
responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet must be inspected, and an Intratrade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) ahead of travel. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to Finland from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must be inspected, and a bi-lingual health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES before travel. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to Finland from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4, and 5 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter Finland from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected, and a bi-lingual health certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent in Finland. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Other Information

Importing Dogs and Cats to Finland from Malaysia and Australia

If your pet is entering Finland from peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met:

Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Finland from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Finland

Puppies and kittens who are either:

under 12 weeks of age and not vaccinated for rabies
over 12 weeks of age and vaccinated for rabies but cannot meet the 21 day wait requirement

can enter Finland from other EU Member States under the following conditions:

The puppy or kitten must be accompanied by its owner or legal representative.
The puppy or kitten must have been born in another EU Member State and resided there since the day of its birth.
The puppy or kitten has been kept indoors and has been raised at the place where it was born.
The puppy or kitten must be microchipped.
The puppy or kitten must be accompanied by an EU Pet Passport.
The puppy must be treated for tapeworms by a licensed veterinarian according to step 4.

Puppies and kittens must be accompanied with either:

a declaration of the owner attached to its passport stating that, from birth until the time of import, your pet has not left its place of birth and has had no contact with wild animals that could carry rabies or
their mother whose passport indicates that she was currently vaccinated for rabies at the time she gave birth.

Unaccompanied puppies and kittens will need to be microchipped and follow the steps outlined above for unaccompanied transport from a non-EU country. The transport must be tracked through TRACES.

Rabies vaccinations prior to 12 weeks of age will not be recognized. Puppies and kittens entering Finland from Part 1 or 2 Listed Third countries must follow regulations as shown here.

Puppies and kittens from Unlisted Third Countries must conform to all import regulations listed here. Minimum age of import to Finland from an Unlisted Third Country is 7 months of age.

More information on transporting a puppy.

Banned Breeds

Finland does not restrict the import of any dog breeds except those crossed with wild breeds such as wolves.
Cats are also banned if crossed with those breeds classified as wild such as Bengal or Savannah cats.

Entering Finland with a Pet

Pets entering by air from non-EU countries must do so at the Border Inspection Post at Helsinki. Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or air cargo according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Pets entering by road must do so at the Border Inspection Post on Vaalimaa Road from Russia.

Flights to Finland should be direct or transit through an EU Member State, or Part 1 or 2 listed third country if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted country, then a Transit Declaration will be required. The declaration must state that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

All commercial transports, whether by air or land, must be preregistered in the TRACES database and the responsible transporter must be registered. Non-commercial transports by land must also be registered.

There are no quarantine facilities in Finland. Pets not meeting requirements will need to arrange for quarantine in official quarantine facilities in other EU Member States.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Finland. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at importer expense.

Exporting Resident Pets from Finland

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Finland for another EU Member State or Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Country must:

Be microchipped
Be vaccinated for rabies (in that order) not sooner than 12 weeks of age and
Wait for 21 days after primary vaccination before leaving Finland.
Have a licensed veterinarian issue an EU Pet Passport (EU destinations) or Export Health Certificate and other required documentation (depending on destination country requirements)

Note that many part 1 listed Countries will have additional requirements in addition to a resident Pet Passport when returning to their country.

If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in Finland should administer a rabies titer test before leaving Finland if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an Unlisted Third Country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

All animals leaving Finland for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance to their destination country requirements prior to the issuance of an export permit. This permit will be issued by agencies in the agency responsible for the issuance of export permits.

Importing Other Pet Animals to Finland

Domesticated rodents, rabbits, reptiles entering Finland from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must:

Be examined by a licensed veterinarian within five days of transport.
Show no signs of disease or external parasites.
Be accompanied by their owner.
Be less than five in number.
Have a licensed veterinarian issue a health certificate in accordance with destination country requirements.
Enter Finland at an approved Border Inspection Post (non-EU entries)
Provide at least one working day notice prior to entry.

Bird Import

All birds entering Finland from other EU Member States and Part 1 or 2 Listed Third Countries must meet the following requirements:

They must be pets.
They must be accompanied by their owner or legal representative of the owner.
They must be less than five in number.
They must not be intended for sale or transfer of ownership.
They must be marked with either a closed leg-ring or a microchip.
They must have lived in the country of export for at least 30 days before travel.
They must originate from an area which is not subject to bans or restrictions for infectious bird diseases.
They must be free of any symptoms of infectious diseases when inspected.
They must be accompanied by a health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination coutry.
Notice of arrival must be provided to the Border Inspection Post (Helsinki-Vantaa airport and the Vaalimaa road crossing point).

If your bird is entering Finland from the following countries, your bird must have been confined on a premises under official supervision (your veterinarian will attest for this) for at least 30 days prior to dispatch and effectively protected from contact with other birds: Canada, United States, Switzerland, Chile, Greenland, Iceland, Montenegro,
Macedonia, New Zealand, St Pierre and Miquelon, Servia or Russia.

Pretravel requirements for birds

One of the following must occur prior to travel:

Your bird must have undergone isolation for ten days prior to export OR
Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import OR
10 days of isolation and undergone a test to detect the H5N1antigen or genome OR
30 days of quarantine in a registered premise in an approved quarantine facility in the EU AND
Birds that are covered by CITES must have appropriate permits AND
The wildlife authority in the exporting country may require export permits.

Cockatiels, undulates, rose-ringed parakeets (also known as the ring-necked parakeet) and rosy-faced lovebirds are subject to CITES requirements.

Other invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia and mammals are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Finland. Mammals will need parasite treatment prior to entering Finland.

Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the destination country.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

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

Related: Learn more about CITES

Need More Information and Required Forms for Finland?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for step-by-step detailed instructions on regulations, permits, layovers, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Finland at minimal cost. Our information is current, verified and tailored to your pet’s itinerary.

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Here’s what is included in the Finland pet passport package:

Detailed instructions on importing your dog, cat or ferret to Finland from any country available in six languages
Required Vaccinations and Intervals
ISO-Compliant Microchip Information
Titer Test Instructions and Overview (required when entering from an unlisted country)
Approved EU laboratories for the titer test
Parasite Treatments
Border Inspection Posts
IATA Carrier and Crate Requirements
Layover Considerations & Requirements for Airline Pet Travel
Responsibilities of a Pet Transporter
FREE unlimited email support both for you and your veterinarian, should either of you have any questions

Also included at no additional cost:

Non-Commercial or Commercial EU Health Certificate for Finland
Sample Completed Health Certificate for your Veterinarian
Microchip Certificate
Airline Health Certificate

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Current information

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 destination country.

Finland Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Quarantine for Pets Entering Finland