Importing dogs, cats and ferrets from non-EU countries

The main purpose of the import requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets is to prevent the spread of rabies in the EU. The animal’s importer is responsible for ensuring that the animal meets the import requirements when it enters the EU.

If an animal does not meet the import requirements it is either

a) returned to the country of origin or
b) the animal is placed in official quarantine until the import requirements are met (there are no official quarantine facilities in Finland; importers may if they wish find out if the animal can be transferred to official quarantine in another MemberState) or
c) as a last resort, the animal is put down.

Notice that the animal must be identification-tagged prior to rabies vaccination! Vaccinations given before identification-tagging are not valid!

Importers are responsible for all costs incurred if an animal does not meet the import requirements.

For imports of dogs, cats and ferrets from Norway, Andorra, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican, the same import requirements apply as for imports from EU countries.

Pets travelling with a passenger

Passengers import not more than five pets under non-commercial import conditions, if the animals are not intended for sale or conveyance to a third party and the animals are not intended for commercial activity. The person accompanying the animal need not be the animal’s owner. Imports are also considered non-commercial if the animal’s transport box is placed in an aircraft hold, as long as the accompanying person travels in the same aircraft. The conditions for non-commercial imports are listed in the column on the left.

For advice on non-commercial movements of dogs, cats and ferrets, please contact kolmasmaa@evira.fi.

Pets travelling without an accompanying person=commercial import

Pets that travel without an accompanying person (usually as airfreight) must meet the commercial import conditions. Imports are also commercial if there are more than 5 pets or the animals are intended for sale or conveyance or they are intended for commercial activity. The conditions for commercial imports are given in the column on the left

Advice on commercial movements is available by e-mail from: lentoasema@ evira.fi.

Puppies aged under 3 months

For the import conditions for puppies aged under 3 months that have not been vaccinated against rabies go to the link in the column on the left : Import of young dogs and cats to Finland

(Instruction 18041EN)