Author
Veterinary Consultant
Preparing to take your pet to Finland?
To successfully import your pet into Finnish territory, you must possess certain documents. These documents are established by the Food Safety Agency (Finnish Food Authority), and they include international veterinary passports, a list of necessary vaccinations, preventive measures, deworming, and microchipping. In addition, you must ensure that your pet is visibly healthy and not displaying any signs of illness or disease.
Travel Preparation
When bringing animals into Finland, travelers can only bring a maximum of five animals that are not intended for sale or transfer. The allowed animal species include:
- Dogs;
- Cats;
- Ferrets;
- Rodents (i.e., rabbits, hamsters, chinchillas);
- Parrots;
- Aquarium fish;
- Certain reptiles and invertebrates (not crustaceans).
Microchipping. A Mandatory Requirement for Importing Pets into Finland.
Since July 2004, a microchip with a unique 15-digit code has been a mandatory requirement for importing paths to Finland. The implant must be inserted under the skin of the animal (i.e., dogs, cats, and even fish) and must be indicated in the passport and certificate.
Rabies Vaccination. For pets to be imported into Finland, rabies vaccination must be completed at least 21 days after the chipping process but no more than 1 year before departure. However, it must not be done on animals younger than 12 weeks. In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, only inactivated vaccines are permitted for rabies prophylaxis in animals, regardless of the country of origin.
Rabies Antibody Titer Analysis. According to EU Directive No. 2003/60/EC of January 2014, rabies antibody titer test is mandatory for the import of animals into Finland. A specialized test is conducted to evaluate the body's immunity against the virus (minimum value allowed: 0.5 IU/ml). “NoviStem” laboratory is accredited annually through international certification and is included in the corresponding list published on the EC website.
Veterinary Passport. In order to import your pet to Finland, you must ensure that the animal's passport is valid and issued no more than 3 days before the trip. This passport will also bear stamps of the annual re-registration process. Additionally, a Veterinary Certificate Form 1 must be issued by a licensed veterinary clinic. This certificate indicates the installed microchip, which is in accordance with European standards, either ISO 11785 or ISO 11784. Once you arrive at the border checkpoint, the original veterinarian passport must be exchanged for an International Veterinary Certificate Form 5a. This process must be completed at least 3 days before scheduled departure and the documents must be written in either english, finnish, or swedish.
Additional Requirements for importing dogs into the Republic of Finland. Furthermore, for the entry of dogs into the Republic of Finland, confirmation of the prevention of echinococcosis (tapeworm) is a prerequisite, the data of which should be included in the veterinary passport. Further, poultry are required to undergo a mandatory clinical examination two days prior to importation, and are issued a statement confirming the absence of intentions to sell or transfer on their import. This process must be performed in compliance with applicable import regulations.
Customs and flight
Animals are allowed to be imported into Finland through certain authorized places of arrival, where veterinary service employees are on site. The quickest inspection process takes place at Helsinki International Airport, however motorists can also travel to Finland through the checkpoints at Imatra, Niirala, Salla, Vaalimaa, Vartius, etc.
For comprehensive information on the regulations for the importation of animals into Finland, it is advisable to consult with the Embassy or Consulate of Finland. They are responsible for providing the most up-to-date and official information on the necessary procedures and requirements.
FAQ
Is there a minimum age requirement for transporting animals into Finland?
A minimum age requirement of 4 months is required for importing animals info Finland.
What are the consequences of not meeting the requirements?
Animals that do not meet the established requirements may be denied entry or sent back to their region of departure.
How long are the documents valid for?
Veterinary Certificate Form 1 is valid for 5 days after the date of issuance.
Useful tips
Before traveling to Finland with your beloved pet, it is important to carefully address all pertinent issues with adequate time in advance. These include timely chipping, vaccination, test delivery for rabies antibody titers, and the required registration of documents. This proactive and thorough approach will help avoid potential problems and ensure a seamless customs process. For a successful vacation or a trip to an animal show in Finland, it is essential to consult our veterinary center in advance.
