Pet travel to Finland is subject to the rules of the European Union Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), making travelling with a pet dog or cat to Finland from another European Union (EU) member state very simple. No need to panic if you reside in a country that isn’t a member of the EU PETS scheme, as the requirements for entering Finland with a pet dog, cat or ferret are clearly stipulated for countries across the globe. So if you’re taking your dog on an Finnish adventure soon, or relocating to Finland with your cat, here’s the information you need for importing a pet to Finland.
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Table of contents
- Tapeworm Treatment for dogs entering Finland
- Pet travel to Finland from another EU country
- Pet travel to Finland from a non-EU country
- Travelling to Finland with more than 5 pets
- Pet-Friendly travel options to Finland by plane, train & ferry
- Travelling from the United Kingdom to Finland with a pet
- Pets travelling without their owner
- Related Pages
Tapeworm Treatment for dogs entering Finland
if you’re entering Finland with a dog, from any country other than Norway, your dog must receive a Tapeworm Treatment. This has to be administered by a licensed vet 1-5 days before you arrive in Finland.
Pet travel to Finland from another EU country
In order to travel from another EU member state to Finland, your cat, dog or ferret must have:
- a working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- a valid EU issued Pet Passport
As mentioned, your dog also requires a Tapeworm Treatment before arriving in Finland.
Pet travel to Finland from a non-EU country
With a few exceptions, your pet dog or cat can travel with you to Finland from a non-EU country if they have:
- a working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- an Animal Health Certificate, or a Pet Passport that was issued by an EU member state
You can also use a Pet Passport issued in one of the following countries to travel to Finland:
- Andorra
- Switzerland
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Vatican City State
Remember that your dog also requires a Tapeworm Treatment before entering Finland. This isn’t required if you take a dog directly to Finland from Norway.
Travelling to Finland with more than 5 pets
Under the rules of the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), you can enter Finland with up to 5 pets as long as each pet meets the stated requirements for travel. If you are travelling to Finland with more than five pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) you must provide proof that:
- they are participating in a competition, exhibition or sporting event (by providing for example a registration document) and
- they are more than 6 months old
Pet-Friendly travel options to Finland by plane, train & ferry
Available options for travel to Finland with a cat, dog or ferret depend on your country of origin. However, you’ll be pleased to know that pet transport methods to Finland are widely available, including airlines, ferry companies and train services.
Travelling from the United Kingdom to Finland with a pet
As the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer part of the European Union (EU) following Brexit, the regulations for taking a cat, dog or ferret from the UK (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland) to Finland changed. This resulted in separate rules for the countries that form Great Britain (Scotland, England & Wales) and Northern Ireland (NI). Pet travel regulations were differentiated between Scotland, England & Wales and the EU and Northern Ireland in order to avoid a ‘hard’ border post-Brexit between Northern Ireland and the Ireland.
Some of the airlines, ferry companies and trains offering pet friendly routes directly to, with connections, or arriving close to Finland from the UK include:
Importing a pet to Finland from Scotland, England or Wales
- You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.
- Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated.
- Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
- Visit your vet to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
- Remember that if you’re taking your dog to Finland, they’ll need a Tapeworm Treatment. Then, on your return to the UK your pooch will need another Tapeworm Treatment 1 to 5 days before arriving on UK soil. Your vet must enter full details on the AHC following treatment.
Taking a pet to Finland from Northern Ireland (NI)
For the reasons previously mentioned, NI is subject to the same Pet Travel Scheme rules to Finland as other EU countries. This is due to its shared border with Ireland, an EU member state.
Pets travelling without their owner
As a rule, pets imported to Finland must travel with their owner. However, the owner may give written permission to another person to accompany their cat, dog or ferret on their behalf. In this case, the owner must be reunited with their pet within 5 days of the cat or dog’s relocation.
Always protect your pet from vector-borne diseases in a foreign country, and remember to leave a review if you’ve travelled to Finland with your pet cat or dog!
