Can you bring a dog or cat from the UK to Norway?
Documents, tapeworm treatment and arrival from the UK.
Short answer
Yes, dogs and cats can travel from the UK to Norway with a microchip, a rabies vaccination, an animal health certificate and, for dogs, tapeworm treatment. Flying directly from the UK, the pet must arrive at Oslo Airport Gardermoen and go through the red lane. The UK is on the EU list of countries exempt from the rabies blood test.
Why
- The UK government says the pet must be microchipped before or together with the rabies vaccination, and travel can start at least 21 full days after the first vaccination.
- Norway is on the UK list of destinations where a vet must treat a dog for tapeworm 24–120 hours before arrival and record it in the travel document.
- Tolletaten only allows pets coming directly from a country outside the EU and EEA to enter through Oslo Airport Gardermoen or Storskog.
Details
The document a dog needs is an animal health certificate from a UK vet, with the microchip, rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment recorded in it. A pet passport issued in Great Britain cannot be used to enter the EU, and you need a new certificate for each trip. If you drive through the EU, the pet enters at an EU travellers' point of entry and can then cross into Norway at other border posts.
Tip
Time the vet visit close to departure: the certificate is valid for 10 days for entry, and the tapeworm treatment must be given 24–120 hours before you arrive in Norway.
What may differ
Northern Ireland is not covered by the UK entry on the EU list, and residents there can use EU pet passports. Cats do not need tapeworm treatment.
Common misconception
A British pet passport is still enough for travel to Europe.
What actually happens
Owners living in England, Scotland or Wales cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU and need an animal health certificate for each trip.
People also ask
- What documents does my dog need to travel from the UK to Norway?
Sources
- GOV.UK: Taking your pet to an EU country or Northern IrelandChecked at:
- GOV.UK: Tapeworm treatment for dogsChecked at:
- Norwegian Customs: Travelling with animalsChecked at:
- European Commission: Listed territories and non-EU countries for petsChecked at:
- Norwegian Government, EEA notes: Non-commercial movement of petsChecked at:
This answer is for reference only. Rules can change, so check Mattilsynet and Tolletaten before you travel.
Travelling to Norway with a petRelated questions
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Are emotional support animals recognised in Norway?
Emotional support animals do not count as service dogs in Norway, as NAV does not provide service dogs for psychological challenges and SAS carries them as pets.
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How do you find a dog sitter, dog daycare or kennel in Oslo?
One way to find a dog sitter in Oslo is Pawshake, an online service that connects dog owners with local sitters for dog walks, day care and overnight stays.
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Why are there no stray dogs in Norway?
Nearly 90 percent of the homeless animals helped by Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge are cats, while dogs are often ID-marked and easy to trace to a responsible owner.
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How do you adopt a dog or a cat in Norway?
You can adopt a dog or cat in Norway through the 25 local branches of Dyrebeskyttelsen Norge, which take in homeless animals and find them new homes.