Pet travel to Norway is subject to the rules of the European Union Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), making travelling with a pet dog or cat to Norway from a 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 Norway with a pet dog, cat or ferret are clearly stipulated for countries across the globe. So if you’re taking your dog on a Norwegian adventure soon, or relocating to Norway with your cat, here’s the information you need for importing a pet to Norway.
Estimated reading time: 5 minutes
Table of contents
- Tapeworm Treatment for dogs entering Norway
- Pet travel to Norway from another EU country
- Pet travel to Norway from a non-EU country
- Travelling to Norway with more than 5 pets
- Pet-Friendly travel options to Norway by plane, train & ferry
- Travelling from the United Kingdom to Norway with a pet
- Pets travelling without their owner
- Related Pages
Tapeworm Treatment for dogs entering Norway
if you’re entering Norway with a dog, from any country other than Finland, your dog must receive a Tapeworm Treatment. This has to be administered by a licensed vet 1-5 days before you arrive in Norway.
Pet travel to Norway from another EU country
In order to travel from another EU member state to Norway, 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 Norway.
Pet travel to Norway 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 Norway:
- 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 Norway. This isn’t required if you take a dog directly to Norway from Finland.
Travelling to Norway with more than 5 pets
Under the rules of the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), you can enter Norway with up to 5 pets as long as each pet meets the stated requirements for travel. If you are travelling to Norway 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 Norway by plane, train & ferry
Available options for travel to Norway with a cat, dog or ferret depend on your country of origin. However, you’ll be pleased to know that pet transport methods to Norway are widely available, including airlines, ferry companies and train services.
Travelling from the United Kingdom to Norway 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 Norway 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 Norway from the UK include:
Importing a pet to Norway 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 Norway, 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 Norway from Northern Ireland (NI)
For the reasons previously mentioned, NI is subject to the same Pet Travel Scheme rules to Norway 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 Norway 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 Norway with your pet cat or dog!
