Travelling with pets to and from Norway
If you are travelling with pets to or from Norway, you should contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority prior to the trip in order to establish which rules apply.
It is the Norwegian Food Safety Authority that administers the veterinary regulations for live animals.
Ban on some dog breeds
Some dog breeds are considered dangerous, and are therefore not allowed to import into Norway without a special permit from the police. This means that you must apply to the police for permission to bring your dog to Norway.
To travel with dogs, cats or ferrets
Dogs, cats and ferrets has to be identified by a microchip or clearly readable tattoo. Only microchips applies for animals registered after 3 July 2011.
Normally, the animals must be vaccinated against rabies. The exception is animals that only travel between Norway and Sweden. If the animals come for countries outside the EU/EEA, they must also have undergone a test showing that the vaccination has given them satisfactory protection against the disease. The test is not required if the animals come from countries where the rabies situation is considered as good as in the EU/EEA, so-called listed third countries.
Dogs usually has to be treated against the fox dwarf tapeworm. The exception is if they come directly from certain EU/EEA countries that are considered free of the parasite.
The animals should as a rule be followed by a passport if they come from an EU/EEA country or a health certificate if they come from other countries, but there are some exceptions.
Please also note that if you are traveling with a pet to Norway from a country outside the EU/EEA, you can only arrive via Oslo Airport Gardermoen or via Storskog (Kirkenes)
The Norwegian Food Safety has prepared a quick guide for those who travel with up to five animals. The guide provides information on required vaccines and pet passports, based on whether you are travelling with a dog, cat or ferret.
You must always go through the red channel upon entering Norway at the border crossing. Excepted are persons travelling with a dog, cat or ferret directly from Sweden. If your papers are in order, you may pass through the green channel.
If you arrive by plane, we advise you to use the red channel, even if you arrive from Sweden.
To travel with dogs from Sweden
Please remember that your dog must be treated for the fox dwarf tapeworm parasite by a veterinarian, even if you are only going on a daytrip or a weekend stay. You must also bring with you a pet passport containing:
- details of ownership, a description of the animal as well as documentation validating the animals' identification.
- a signed confirmation by a veterinarian stating that the dog has been treated with praziquantel against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm. The treatment must be given in Sweden no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours before entering Norway. The treatment cannot be given in Norway prior to departure, OR
- a signed confirmation by a veterinarian stating that the dog has been treated for the fox tapeworm parasite with regular treatment every 28 days and that the dog has been treated minimum twice before entering Norway. These treatments may be done either in Norway or abroad.
If you do not possess approved papers, you must either return to Sweden or pay for quarantine.
The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has published a quick guide for persons who are travelling with up to five animals. The quick guide provides information on required vaccines and pet passports, based on whether you are travelling with a dog, cat or ferret.
Travelling with horses to and from Norway
Separate provisions apply when travelling with horses to and from Norway.
Travelling with caged birds, rodents or rabbits
Pet relocation
When moving to Norway from abroad, you may bring your pet with you without paying any customs duty or VAT, provided that you have lived abroad for at least one year, and that you have owned the pet. The customs duty and VAT exemption does not apply to pets in a business undertaking that are relocated to Norway.
You must contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to check any restrictions (eg. pet passport and vaccine requirements).
Updated: 04/11/2024