Non-commercial movement of dog and ferret puppies and kittens from EU-countries to Finland

Dog and ferret puppies and kittens under the age of 12 weeks that have not been vaccinated against rabies are allowed to be imported from all EU-countries to Finland with the following requirements:

1. The animal is younger than 12 weeks during the transfer.
2. The animal has been identified by a microchip.
3. The owner has to carry a signed declaration confirming that the animal has not been in contact with any wild animals susceptible to rabies between the time of its birth and movement. The declaration can be signed by the owner. The model for the declaration form can be found here and in the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 577/2013. If the puppies or kittens are with their dam of which they are still dependent on, it has to show in the dam’s passport that she has been vaccinated against rabies before the birth of the puppies or kittens.
4. A veterinarian in the country of origin gives the dog puppy a treatment against echinococcus 1-5 days (24-120h) before the animal arrives across the border into Finland. The treatment is marked in the dog puppy’s pet passport by the veterinarian. Medication is not required if the dog puppy is brought straight from Ireland or Malta to Finland. The medication requirement does not apply to kittens or ferret puppies.
5. The animal is accompanied by a EU pet passport.
6. The ownership of the animal must be transferred to the new owner resident in Finland already before the animal leaves the country of origin.
7. The animal is allowed to enter Finland only, if the new owner themself goes to pick up the animal from the country of origin. The animal cannot be shipped to Finland alone by air cargo or any other kind of cargo.
8. The animal must arrive in Finland directly or by transiting through any country by airplane, but the airport cannot be exited while changing flights. The animal can only travel by car through countries that have allowed imports of young animals.

It is also allowed to transfer 12-16-week-old dog and ferret puppies and kittens that have been vaccinated against rabies from all EU-countries to Finland. In this case the at least 21 day waiting period after the vaccination does not have to be fulfilled. The puppy or kitten must be at least 12 weeks old on the day of the primary vaccination against rabies.

1. The animal is 12-16 weeks old during transfer.
2. The animal has been identified by a microchip.
3. The owner has to carry a signed declaration confirming that the animal has not been in contact with any wild animals susceptible to rabies between the time of its birth and movement. The declaration can be signed by the owner. The model for the declaration form can be found here and in the Commission implementing regulation (EU) No 577/2013.
4. A veterinarian in the country of origin gives the dog puppy a treatment against echinococcus 1-5 days (24-120h) before the animal arrives across the border into Finland. The treatment is marked in the dog puppy’s pet passport by the veterinarian. Medication is not required if the dog puppy is brought straight from Ireland or Malta to Finland. The medication requirement does not apply to kittens or ferret puppies.
5. The animal is accompanied by a EU pet passport.
6. The ownership of the animal must be transferred to the new owner resident in Finland already before the animal leaves the country of origin.
7. The animal is allowed to enter Finland only, if the new owner themself goes to pick up the animal from the country of origin. The animal cannot be shipped to Finland alone by air freight or any other kind of cargo.
8. The animal must arrive in Finland directly or by transiting through any country by airplane, but the airport cannot be exited while changing flights. The animal can only travel by car through countries that have allowed imports of young animals.

If the young animal is transported to another country after transfer to Finland, the requirements must be verified from the destination country.

Finnish Food Authority’s recommendation is that only vaccinated puppies and kittens over the age of 16 weeks are moved between countries. The recommendation especially applies to countries where rabies cases have been found in the past two years. In recent years, most rabies cases in the EU have occurred in Romania, Poland and Hungary. You can check the rabies situation in EU-countries.