What is a Pet Passport?
We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill Iceland 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 Iceland will include an import permit, proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, rabies titer test and an export health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country.
Animals Eligible for These Requirements
Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs and cats including service and assistance dogs and cats. These regulations do not include the import of Wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats, unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree.
Layovers
Flights to Iceland should be direct or transit through a rabies-controlled country or another EU Member State if possible*. *Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.
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. The agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals should either license or employ your veterinarian.
Quarantine When Entering Iceland
Pets entering Iceland from all countries will be subject to a minimum of 14 days of quarantine. Reservations for quarantine must be made in advance of travel.
Iceland Pet Import Requirements
All steps required to conform to Iceland pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-7 in the order given.
Step 1: Country Classifications
Iceland classifies countries into two groups. 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 One 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 the country of origin is not included in these groups, your pet cannot enter Iceland.
Step 2: 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.
Your pet must be identified with a 15-digit pet microchip which is compliant with International Standards Organization standard 11784 or Annex A of ISO standard 11785 prior to entering Iceland. All documentation must reflect the microchip number. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, importers can provide a microchip scanner that will read their pet’s microchip.
Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital or trained nurse should implant the microchip. Documentation should be provided as to the manufacturer of the microchip and registration instructions.
The microchip number must be recorded accurately on all required documents.
Step 3: Vaccinations | Testing
All cats and dogs must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Iceland. The administering veterinarian should record vaccination information, sign and stamp one of the following documents depending on veterinary practices in the country of origin:
- a rabies certificate
- a government-issued vaccination booklet or
- an EU Pet Passport
Dogs must also be vaccinated against canine distemper, infectious contagious hepatitis and canine parvovirus according to manufacturer’s instructions or no less than 14 days and no more than 1 year prior to import to Iceland.
Dogs must have been vaccinated against leptospirosis and tested for Brucella canis and Angiostrongyliasis vasorum within 30 days of import or treated for Angiostrongyliasis vasorum.
Cats must be vaccinated against feline viral rhinotracheitis, panleukopenia and feline leukemia within 6 weeks of import. They must be tested for antibodies within 14 days of import. They must be tested for FIV and FeLV.
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.
Veterinarians must record vaccinations on the international health certificate (step 5).
Step 4: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test
A rabies titer test, also known as a rabies antibody test or rabies serology test, is a blood test that measures the level of rabies antibodies in your pet’s blood. The test will assess the effectiveness of a rabies vaccination or determine your pet’s immune response to the rabies virus. When required, a licensed veterinarian will administer the test more than 30 days after the most current rabies vaccination.
To enter Iceland from either Category 1 or 2 countries, (see step 1), 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.
Note that rabies titer test results or veterinary exemption letters are no substitution for proof of rabies vaccination.
Step 5: Parasite Treatments
Dogs and cats must have two treatments for internal and external parasites prior to entering Iceland within specific time periods. The administering veterinarian can record these treatments on the health certificate or issue you a record of treatment.
Step 6: Import Permit
A special Import Permit 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.
Step 7: Health Certificate
All countries worldwide require an original health certificate including:
- details of your pet and
- vaccinations and treatments and
- veterinary attestations regarding symptoms of contagious diseases at the time of export.
Further, your veterinarian must certify that your pet is healthy enough to travel and is not from a region that is subject to rabies restrictions. The health certificate must properly identify your pet. Your veterinarian will include additional details and treatments on the certificate depending on the country of origin.
A licensed veterinarian in the origination country must complete the health certificate within 5-10 days of entry.
Related: Pet Health Certificate for Iceland
A government veterinarian must either issue the certificate or endorse the certificate after issuance by a licensed veterinarian. This official represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.
All documentation including test results, health certificate and vaccination records must be submitted at least 5 days in advance of import via email.
Note: EU Pet Passports or EU health certificates are not accepted in Iceland.
Step 8: 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.
Other Information
Importing Puppies and Kittens to Iceland
If entering Iceland from Category 1 (see step 1), puppies and kittens can enter at the age of 5 months. If entering from any other 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 2, 3 and 4.
Related: More information on transporting a puppy.
Breeds Banned from Import to Iceland
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.
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 according to airline pet policies.
Related: Is your pet’s crate IATA-compliant?
Flights should be direct if the duration of the flight does not violate animal welfare laws. Layovers should be short and not involve a change in airline companies. If your pet’s itinerary involves a layover in the European Union, then additional requirements will apply.
Importers will need to provide advance notice to veterinary officials at the airport so they will be available to inspect your pet and its passport documentation upon landing. This is especially important if your pet will be arriving outside of normal business hours.
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.
Importing Other Pet Animals to Iceland
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 authorized laboratory must be used. These pets will be subject to supervised home quarantine.
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 crucial 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 this is the case, importers will have to submit additional permit applications. The agency that issues these permits is responsible for the protection of wildlife in your country.
Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.
Related: Search the CITES database or Search the Species+ database
Related: Read more about CITES
Have Questions About Importing a Pet to Iceland?
Have a comment about importing a pet to Iceland? Post it below and we will respond. You can also reach out by posting to our Blog, X (Twitter), Facebook, or Email or follow our activities on Instagram and TikTok.
Please note that the accuracy of comments made from Facebook users other than Pet Travel have not been verified. We do not endorse any person or company that may offer transport services through posts to this webpage.
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. To avoid these consequences, we suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Iceland pet import requirements.
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