Pet travel route
Dog or cat from Iceland to the United States: the rules
Possible. There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip and CDC Dog Import Form.
Rules checked up to 12 October 2026From 11 official pages
In short
- Dogs and cats differ on this route: choose Dog or Cat to see just yours.
- The United States puts Iceland in the group “Dog rabies-free or low-risk country”, which decides part of the rules.
- No rabies blood test, import permit or quarantine on this route for a pet that meets the rules.
- Coming back to Iceland? One step has to happen before your pet leaves.
At a glance
How early to start (dogs)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
No official wait still means appointments: microchip and CDC Dog Import Form. Book them early; lab and paperwork times are not counted.
On this route (dogs)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
How early to start (cats)
No official wait
whether or not your pet is already microchipped and vaccinated
The least time the official waiting periods allow. Vet, lab and paperwork appointments come on top.
On this route (cats)
- No rabies blood test
- No import permit
- No quarantine
Which rules apply to you
The United States puts Iceland in the group “Dog rabies-free or low-risk country”. See every group
Official name: Dog rabies-free or low-risk
Rule-change alertsChecked daily
Know the moment the rules change from Iceland to the United States
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Rule change for pets travelling from Iceland to the United States
Iceland: MAST's certificate is separate from the exporting country's certificate. Tap to see what changed.
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Iceland → United States
What your pet needs
In the order you do them. Each step says whether Iceland (leaving) or the United States (entering) asks for it.
Dogs
Get ready
Age ruleEntering the United States
Dog at least 6 months old
Dogs must be at least 6 months old when they enter or return to the U.S.
Details and the official words
“Dogs must be at least 6 months old at time of entry or return to the U.S.”
IdentificationEntering the United States
Microchip
Your dog must have a microchip that a universal scanner can detect. If it has been in a high-risk country, the chip must have been implanted before the rabies vaccine.
Details and the official words
“Dogs must have a microchip that can be detected with a universal scanner to identify them.”
“The microchip must be implanted before getting the rabies vaccine, or else the vaccine will be invalid.”
In the days before you travel
PaperworkEntering the United States
CDC Dog Import Form
Fill in the free CDC Dog Import Form online (one per dog) and keep the emailed receipt to show on arrival. You can submit it up to the day of travel; the receipt is valid for 6 months unless your dog visits another country in that time.
Details and the official words
The receipt stops being valid if your dog visits a high-risk country, or a different low-risk country, during those 6 months — then you need a new form.
If your travel date or port of entry changes, submit a new form.
“the receipt is valid for 6 months from when it's issued unless the dog visits a high-risk country or a different dog rabies-free or low-risk country during that time”
Good to know
- Your destination state may have its own rules (for example a rabies vaccination or health certificate). Check with the state veterinarian before you travel.
- If your dog comes from a region affected by screwworm, USDA requires a certificate from a full-time salaried government vet confirming a screwworm inspection within 5 days before shipment. Check USDA's list of affected regions.
- MAST publishes its own procedure only for trips to EU/EEA countries and Great Britain. For other countries, follow the destination's import rules; some destinations need the documents officially endorsed by MAST, so contact petimport@mast.is in good time.
Cats
Travel day and arrival
On arrivalEntering the United States
Cat appears healthy on arrival
Cats must appear healthy on arrival and may be inspected. No federal proof of rabies vaccination is required, but CDC recommends it and your destination state may require it.
Details and the official words
“Cats are not required to have proof of rabies vaccination for importation into the United States.”
“APHIS Veterinary Services does not have any animal health requirements related to bringing (importing) a pet cat”
Good to know
- Your destination state may have its own rules (for example a rabies vaccination or health certificate). Check with the state veterinarian before you travel.
- MAST publishes its own procedure only for trips to EU/EEA countries and Great Britain. For other countries, follow the destination's import rules; some destinations need the documents officially endorsed by MAST, so contact petimport@mast.is in good time.
Money
What it costs
Government fees exactly as the official pages state them, and what vets and labs in Iceland publish for the steps above. The two are never added together.
Government fees on this route
CDC Dog Import FormEntering United StatesFree
Dogs only; one form per dog. No CDC fee is published for cats.
“How much does it cost? Free How many dogs can be included on one form? Each dog must have its own form.”
Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries · as of 2024-07-22
May also apply, depending on your case
MAST endorsement of the pet health certificateLeaving Iceland6,606 ISK
“The endorsement fee is ISK 6.606.”
Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST) · as of 2026-10-05
MAST clinical examination and export certificate (unaccompanied pet to the EU)Leaving Iceland13,211 ISK
“The endorsement fee is ISK 13.211”
Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST) · as of 2026-10-05
What vets and labs charge Not official figures
We have no published vet or lab prices for Iceland yet.
Prices that businesses publish on their own pages, quoted as we read them; yours can differ. Ranges are the lowest to highest of these examples, never our estimate. How we collect prices
Airline fees aren’t included: check your airline’s pet page.
Round trip
Coming back to Iceland
Your pet has been in a country that isn't on MAST's approved list in the last 6 months. Dogs and cats must have stayed in approved exporting countries for the 6 months before import (or since birth). Wait until the pet has spent 6 months in approved countries, or ask MAST.
Your pet has been in a country that isn't on MAST's approved list in the last 6 months. Dogs and cats must have stayed in approved exporting countries for the 6 months before import (or since birth). Wait until the pet has spent 6 months in approved countries, or ask MAST.
Nearby routes
Other routes
Where this comes from
Official sources
- Bringing a Dog into the U.S.
- Dogs from dog rabies-free or low-risk countries
- Entry for U.S.-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries
- Entry for foreign-vaccinated dogs from high-risk countries
- Instructions for the CDC Dog Import Form
- High-risk countries for dog rabies
- Bringing an Animal into the U.S.
- Bring a pet dog into the United States
- Bring a pet cat into the United States
- 42 CFR 71.51 Dogs and cats (CDC), version history
- Export of animals: cats and dogs to EU/EEA countries, the UK and other countries (MAST)
Last checked against the official pages: 2026-10-12.
Questions owners ask
Does my dog or cat need a rabies blood test to go from Iceland to the United States?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for a rabies blood test.
Do I need an import permit to bring my dog or cat into the United States?
No. The official rules we have verified for this route don't ask for an import permit.
Will my dog or cat be quarantined in the United States?
Not on the routes we have verified: the official rules list no quarantine for a pet that meets the requirements.
How early should I start preparing my pet for Iceland to the United States?
There is no official waiting period for a dog, but you still need: microchip and CDC Dog Import Form.
Every rule here is quoted from the official page and checked word for word; not legal advice. How we verify · Report a mistake
Read next
Turn this into dates for your pet
Where from, where to, when. You get every step with its deadline and the official page it comes from.