Greenland Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Greenland pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering the country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter Greenland will be comprised of proof of microchip, rabies and other vaccinations, blood tests, an import permit, and an international pet health certificate. All documents are detailed below.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dog and cats 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 GREENLAND below.

Dogs are not permitted in the northern and eastern areas of Greenland. Female dogs staying in Greenland longer than 3 months must be spayed prior to entry. Proof should be available.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, owners, agents, or anyone transporting a pet should ensure that their veterinarian is licensed by the governing authority in their country that is responsible for the movement of live animals. This veterinarian should administer all vaccinations and treatments, as well as issue all required documentation.

Quarantine for Pets Entering Greenland

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Greenland 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.

Greenland Pet Import Requirements

All steps required to conform to regulations to import a dog, cat or ferret to Greenland must be completed in the origination country. Steps 1-6 should be followed in the order given.

Step 1: Pet Microchip

Having your pet identified with a microchip is important when traveling internationally for several reasons. Firstly, a microchip will tie your pet to its documentation when entering a foreign country. Secondly, if, for any reason, your pet is separated from you during travel, the chances of reuniting with your pet significantly increase if you register your information in a microchip database.

All dogs and cats entering Greenland must be identified with a microchip in accordance with the procedures in the country of origin. The most accepted form of identification is a 15-digit pet microchip that meets ISO (International Standards Organization) Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO Standard 11785.

All documents should reflect the microchip number. If you want to be sure that veterinary inspectors can read your pet’s microchip, you can provide a microchip scanner that will read the microchip.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation on how to register it in the manufacturer’s or your government’s database.

Step 2: Vaccinations

Your pet must be vaccinated for rabies at least 30 days prior to entering Greenland if entering from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country. Booster vaccinations are exempt from the 30-day wait if administered before the previous vaccination expired.

The administering veterinarian should issue, sign, and stamp:

• a rabies certificate or
• government-issued vaccination booklet or
• EU Pet Passport

Note: Rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitute for proof of rabies vaccination.

Other Vaccinations

Dogs entering Greenland must have proof of two vaccinations for canine distemper and parvovirus administered no sooner than one year apart and still valid on entry.

Vaccinations for hepatitis, leptospirosis, and parainfluenza should be administered according to the disease status in the country of origin. Cats should be vaccinated against feline panleukopenia, feline rhinotracheitis, and feline calicivirus.

All vaccinations can be recorded on the pet health certificate (step 5) at intervals required by the origination country.

Step 3: Rabies Titer Test

A rabies titer test measures the amount of antibodies in your pet’s blood that will stimulate an immune response against the rabies virus. Simply said, if your pet gets bitten by a rabid animal after being vaccinated, its antibodies will be able to neutralize the virus. There are several different types of rabies titer tests. The first is the most popular and is accepted in countries that require it in their pet import regulations.

• Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization (FAVN)
• Rapid Fluorescent Focus Inhibition Test (RFFIT)

If you are importing a pet to Greenland, it is recommended that you travel with a rabies titer test. The test should not be administered within 30 days of the rabies vaccination.

Rabies titer test results will not be accepted as a substitute for proof of current rabies vaccination.

Step 4: Parasite Treatments

All dogs and cats entering Greenland should be treated for internal parasites by a licensed veterinarian in the country of origin prior to entry. Both dogs and cats must be treated for external parasites prior to travel to any foreign country. An attestation to this fact must be included in the pet health certificate (next step).

Step 5: Health Certificate

All countries worldwide require an original health certificate issued in the country of origin, including the following information:

A licensed veterinarian must complete the Pet Health Certificate for Greenland within 14 days of import. The issuing veterinarian should attest that your dog does not suffer from mange (sarcoptes mange), hair follicle mites or presents symptoms of contagion diseases in general.

Although it is not required, the governing authority responsible for the import and export of animals should endorse the forms. Endorsement may also be required as part of export procedures in your country.

Step 6: Import Permit

Approval from the Municipality where you will visit or reside in Greenland will be required prior to applying for an import permit from Greenlandic Representation. The application should be submitted far in advance of import.

The following municipalities will allow pet dogs: Ivigtut, Maniitsoq, Nanortalik, Narsaq, Nuuk, Paamiut and Qaqortoq.

Owners of cats must apply for an exemption to the Executive Order of 14 December 1943 Danish Veterinary and Food Administration. They must apply also to their municipality for permission for their cat to reside in the municipality. The decision regarding sterilization of the cat will be issued by the municipality during the application process.

All cats and dogs imported to Greenland must be registered in the municipality in which they will reside.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to Greenland

Unvaccinated puppies and kittens under 3 months of age can enter Greenland with proof of the mother’s rabies vaccination, which was valid when she gave birth. Proof of distemper and parvovirus vaccinations of the mother should also be available per step 2.

Breeds Banned from Import to Greenland

Greenland will not allow the import of dogs classified as dangerous or muscular (Boxers, Pit Bulls, etc.)

Entering Greenland by Air

All pets flying into Greenland can arrive via Nuuk International Airport. The following documentation must be available:

• Import Permit
• Original health certificate
• Rabies certificate
• Blood test results (if applicable)
• Municipality Permission

Pets can arrive in the cabin, checked baggage or air cargo, according to airline pet policies.

In all cases, pets must travel in a pet carrier or pet crate that is in accordance with the policies set by the International Air Transport Association.

Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA compliant?

All pets transiting the European Union are subject to additional requirements.

Importers should inform veterinary officials in advance. They will need to be available to check your pet and its pet passport documentation after landing.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of any signs of contagious diseases when evaluated at the entry airport. Importers will need to pay for further veterinary testing if the health of your cat or dog is not acceptable.

Importing Other Animals to Greenland

Owners of rabbits must apply to Greenlandic Representation for permission for import. They must have a pet health certificate issued within 14 days of import with a veterinary attestation that no case of myxomatosis or other rabbit diseases have not been reported within 10 kg of the origination location. Your veterinarian must also attest that your rabbit has not shown any signs of illness within 3 months of import. Rabbits will be subject to home quarantine when entering Greenland.

Registration with the municipality is required for imports of more than 4 rabbits.

Guinea pigs, squirrels, hamsters, aquarium fish, turtles and birds (except parrots and animals covered by CITES) can be imported with their owner without health certificates. If imported unaccompanied, they must have health certificates issued by a licensed veterinarian within 14 days of travel. As for rabbits, permission must be obtained from the Greenlandic Representation.

Parrots will need health certificates from licensed veterinarians stating that the parrot does not show signs of ornithosis, nor has the disease been diagnosed at the owner’s residence for the past 2 months. Also, a statement that the parrot has not had any contact with with animals from a farm infected with ornithosis for the past 2 months.

The owner of the parrot must attest that their bird will be kept in isolation from other birds and it will be permitted to remain in Greenland if it shows any signs of illness during the isolation period.

All animals imported to Greenland for commercial reasons must have an import permit.

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

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) prohibits the trade of some species of animals, including pets. This is important if you have a pet that isn’t a dog or cat, and it’s crucial if it’s a turtle or a parrot. If so, you will have to submit additional permit applications.

Over 180 nations participate in and enforce CITES rules and protections.

Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database

Related: Read more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements for Greenland?

Further details on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for Greenland are available at minimal cost. Unlimited email support for you and your veterinarian is included.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to Greenland?

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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 or
• return your pet to the country of origin, or
• euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Greenland pet import requirement.