Bringing a dog or cat into Norway

The short version

• Rabies blood test for some origins
• Tapeworm treatment for some pets
• Designated entry point for some trips
• Extra disease test for some origins

How early to start

The least time the officially fixed waiting periods allow, by where your dog is coming from. Vet, lab and paperwork appointment times come on top.

Where your pet is coming from matters

Norway sorts countries into groups. These are the groups exactly as the authority publishes them (Norway: where the pet travels from (Mattilsynet's 'Guide: Travelling with pets to Norway'), checked 2026-10-08).

• Mattilsynet's guide groups countries in its page data (region groups 'sverige', 'e-s-minus-unntak', 'malta-finland-irland-nord-irland', 'listef-rte-tredjeland-e-s-grensepassering', 'listef-rte-tredjeland-uten-serologisk-test', 'australia-og-malaysia', 'svalbard', 'tredjeland'). Its static third-country page (published 2023) still refers to Annex II of Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.
• 'England', 'Scotland', 'Wales' and 'Storbritannia' → GB. 'Netherlands Antilles' → BQ and CW (Sint Maarten SX is listed separately). Åland (AX) is grouped with Finland.
• unclear: the guide lists Guernsey, Isle of Man and American Samoa as non-listed third countries, and Samoa and Saint-Martin as listed — the opposite of the EU list (Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131). It also lists French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Réunion and Mayotte (French outermost regions, part of the EU) as third countries. We don't guess which is right.
• Ascension Island (SH-AC) isn't in the guide; it falls back to Saint Helena (listed), which matches the EU list.

Every requirement

For every pet

1. Identification

   Microchip

   Your pet must be identified with an ISO microchip (11784, HDX or FDX-B) before its rabies vaccination. If the chip isn't ISO-standard, bring your own reader.

   Details and the official words

   “The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination.”

   “The microchip has to comply with the ISO 11784 standard and it has to utilize HDX or FDX-B technology.”

Depends on your pet or your route

1. Vaccination

   Rabies vaccination

   Applies when: it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden

   Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated by an authorised vet. The vaccination is valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination; a booster given before the old one expires has no waiting period.

   Details and the official words

   “The animal must be at least 12 weeks old when the vaccine is administered.”

   “The period of validity starts not less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol required by the manufacturer for a primary vaccination.”

   “No anti-rabies vaccination is required for animals travelling only between Norway and Sweden.”

2. Blood test

   Rabies antibody blood test (titer)

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Any other third country — rabies antibody titer test needed or Svalbard — treated as a third country (titer needed); extra entry points

   Because you're coming from a country that isn't on the listed-country list, an authorised vet takes a blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination; an approved laboratory must measure at least 0.5 IU/ml. The sample must be taken at least 3 months before your pet enters Norway. No need to repeat it if boosters stay up to date.

   Details and the official words

   Mattilsynet's page doesn't say whether a Norwegian pet tested before it left the EEA can skip the 3-month wait when it comes home. We show the wait; ask Mattilsynet if that's your case.

   “The test must have been carried out on a blood sample collected at least 30 days after the date of vaccination and not less than three months prior to entering Norway.”

   “equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml”

   “The test does not have to be renewed following a satisfactory result provided that the pet animal is revaccinated within the period of validity of the previous vaccination.”

3. Treatment

   Tapeworm treatment (dogs)

   Applies when: your pet is a dog and it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment

   A vet must treat your dog (puppies too) against Echinococcus with praziquantel (or epsiprantel) 24 to 120 hours before you enter Norway, and record it in the certificate or pet passport. You can't do it yourself.

   Details and the official words

   Dogs that cross often between Norway and the EU (or the listed European countries) can instead follow the '28-day rule': treated twice at most 28 days apart before travelling, then every 28 days for as long as they keep travelling, with a final treatment in Norway.

   Not needed when coming directly from Finland, Ireland, Malta or Northern Ireland.

   “An anti-echinococcus treatment is required for dogs, including puppies.”

   “The treatment must be administered 24 – 120 hours prior to entering Norway.”

   “No anti-echinococcus treatment is required for dogs travelling to Norway directly from Finland, Malta, Ireland or Northern Ireland.”

   “The owners of the dogs may not treat the animals themselves.”

4. Paperwork

   European pet passport

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden, EU/EEA country — European pet passport or Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment

   From an EU/EEA country your pet needs a European pet passport issued by an authorised vet and signed by you, with its microchip, rabies vaccination and (dogs) tapeworm treatment.

   Details and the official words

   “The animal must be accompanied by a pet passport carrying details of ownership, description and ID-marking of the animal.”

   “No other vaccination card can replace the pet passport.”

5. Paperwork

   EU pet health certificate

   Applies when: it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden, EU/EEA country — European pet passport or Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment

   Your pet needs an animal health certificate (EU model) from an official vet in the country you're travelling from, valid for 10 days from issue until the check on entry. A pet returning to Norway can instead use its EEA pet passport if it was vaccinated (and titer-tested, if needed) before it left the EEA.

   The official wording is ambiguous. Confirm this point with the authority.

   Details and the official words

   Mattilsynet links a certificate model under the older EU rules (Regulation (EU) No 577/2013). The EU switched to a new model (Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705) for certificates issued from 1 October 2026. Ask your official vet or Mattilsynet which model Norway accepts.

   “As the main rule, the identification document must be in the format of an animal health certificate”

   “may be accompanied by a pet passport complying with the model laid down in Part 3 of Annex III to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013”

   “animals returning to Norway (or another EEA-country), may be accompanied by their pet passport as long as the animal received the anti-rabies vaccination and underwent the rabies antibody titration test (if necessary) before the pet left the EEA”

   “This certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the official veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks”

6. Paperwork

   Hendra virus statement (cats from Australia)

   Applies when: you travel from Australia and your pet is a cat

   The original health certificate from an official Australian vet must confirm your cat hasn't been in an animal holding facility where Hendra virus was detected in the 60 days before departure.

   Details and the official words

   “The certificate must confirm that the cat has not been in an animal holding facility where Hendra virus has been detected in the last 60 days before departure.”

7. Test

   Nipah virus test (dogs and cats from Malaysia)

   Applies when: you travel from Malaysia and your pet is a dog or cat

   Your pet needs a negative IgG ELISA test for Nipah virus antibodies at an approved lab, on a blood sample taken within the 10 days before departure. The official Malaysian health certificate must also confirm no contact with pigs, and no stay in a facility with Nipah virus, in the 60 days before departure.

   Details and the official words

   “The blood sample for the test must be taken within the last 10 days before departure.”

8. Paperwork

   Written authorisation if someone else brings your pet

   Applies when: someone else brings the pet (you are not travelling with it)

   If you can't travel with your pet, a person you authorise in writing may bring it, but you must travel within 5 days before or after the pet. The authorisation goes with the pet, and you may be asked for proof of your own trip (tickets, boarding passes, hotel bookings).

   Details and the official words

   “may take place up to five days before or after the movement of the owner”

   “The authorisation must be in writing and accompany the animals during their movement.”

9. Route

   Enter through Oslo Airport or Storskog

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Listed third country — no titer; enter through Oslo Airport or Storskog, Australia and Malaysia — listed, plus extra certificate requirements (Hendra / Nipah virus), Any other third country — rabies antibody titer test needed or Svalbard — treated as a third country (titer needed); extra entry points

   Your pet must enter Norway through Oslo Airport (Gardermoen) or Storskog (Kirkenes), where you contact Mattilsynet and show the pet and its documents. Pets from Svalbard can also use Tromsø (airport and port) or the port of Bodø.

   Details and the official words

   At Storskog, pets must arrive between 09:00 and 14:00.

   If you travel via another EU/EEA country, your pet can be checked at an EU travellers' point of entry there; after that you can use other Norwegian border crossings (take the red channel).

   “Animals from other third countries or territories must be brought into Norway only through Oslo Airport or Storskog.”

   “Once the pet has been checked at a travellers' point of entry, you can use other border crossings besides Oslo Airport and Storskog.”

   “Travelers with pets must arrive at Storskog between 09:00 and 14:00.”

10. On arrival

    Use the red customs channel

    Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: EU/EEA country — European pet passport, Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment or Listed European third countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican) — no titer, any border crossing

    At the border, choose the red channel and be ready to show your pet and its documents. You don't need to contact Mattilsynet beforehand.

    Details and the official words

    “Select the red channel and prepare to present your animals and required documents for inspection.”

Only if the destination asks for it

1. Notice · only if the destination asks

   Tell Mattilsynet you're coming (recommended)

   Applies when: the country you travel from is in the group: Listed third country — no titer; enter through Oslo Airport or Storskog, Australia and Malaysia — listed, plus extra certificate requirements (Hendra / Nipah virus), Any other third country — rabies antibody titer test needed or Svalbard — treated as a third country (titer needed); extra entry points

   Notify Mattilsynet at your entry point at least 48 hours before you arrive, so you don't wait long for the check. Oslo Airport: +47 22 77 79 00, bipg@mattilsynet.no.

   Details and the official words

   “The Norwegian Food Safety Authority should be notified at least 48 hours before arrival in order to avoid a long waiting time before the check can be carried out.”

When this route doesn’t work

• Not covered by us yet · The pet is being sold, adopted or rehomed, or you bring 6 or more pets

  More than five pets, or pets that will be sold or given to a new owner, count as a commercial movement into Norway. We don't cover commercial imports yet (there's an exception for more than five animals going to a competition or show).

• Not covered by us yet · The country you travel from is in the group: Mattilsynet's guide and the EU list disagree on this place — not covered

  Mattilsynet's guide and the EU country list disagree on whether pets from here need a rabies blood test (or whether this place counts as EU). We won't guess — ask Mattilsynet before you plan.

Restricted breeds

Six dog breeds are banned in Norway, including crossbreeds with any proportion of them: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino and Czechoslovakian Wolfdog. Wolf-dog hybrids are also considered dangerous.

Good to know

• Former stray dogs and cats (from shelters, ownerless, or of unknown background) can in practice only come to Norway if you've owned and kept the animal for at least 6 months before entering — be ready to prove it.
• Before you travel, check with Mattilsynet whether any safeguard measures apply to the country you're travelling from.When: It is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Sweden — no rabies vaccination needed for travel only between Norway and Sweden, EU/EEA country — European pet passport or Finland (incl. Åland), Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland — pet passport, no tapeworm treatment
• If your route passes through a country that isn't on the listed-country list, your pet still needs no titer test — but you must sign a declaration that it had no contact with animals that can carry rabies and stayed in the plane/vehicle or inside the international airport. If it leaves the airport there, ask Mattilsynet.When: Your route passes through another country and it is not true that the country you travel from is in the group: Any other third country — rabies antibody titer test needed or Svalbard — treated as a third country (titer needed); extra entry points