These requirements only concern pets who accompany their owner and who are not intended to be sold or transferred to another owner.
If the puppy or kitten is shipped in commercial purposes for example by cargo, the import requirements can be found on our website Trade of dogs, cats and ferrets between EU countries.
Import requirements for dog and ferret puppies and kittens from EU-countries. (non-commercial movement)
Import requirements for dog and ferret puppies and kittens from Norway. (non-commercial movement)
Import requirements
1. Identification
The animal must be identified by a microchip or clearly readable tattoo. The microchip has to comply with the ISO 11784 standard and it has to utilize HDX or FDX-B technology. The microchip can be read with a microchip reader complying with the ISO 11785 standard. If the microchip does not comply with the standard requirements, the importer has to provide a microchip reader capable of reading the microchip. As of 3 July 2011 only a microchip will be approved as identification. Tattooing is accepted as a method of identification if it is done before 3 July 2011. As of 3 July 2011 the animal, which bears a clearly readable tattoo, has to be accompanied by proof that the tattooing was done before 3 July 2011.
The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination.
2. Vaccination against rabies
The import of unvaccinated puppies and kittens from third countries outside the EU to Finland is forbidden.
Puppies and kittens under the age of 12 weeks are not to be vaccinated. This only applies to puppies and kittens of the following species: dogs, cats and ferrets. The puppy or kitten must be at least 12 weeks old on the day of the primary vaccination against rabies.
The animal must be vaccinated against rabies with an inactivated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO standard).
The rabies vaccination and revaccination, if necessary, must be carried out in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory. The animal must be identified before the rabies vaccination. The vaccination must be carried out at least 21 days before import. If a vaccine has a divergent beginning of protective immunity the period of validity of the vaccination starts from the establishment of protective immunity, which shall not be less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol required by the manufacturer for the primary vaccination. Information of the vaccine (name, manufacturer, batch number) and the vaccination date, the valid from date and the valid until date are filled in the pet passport.
3. Echinococcus treatment
The treatment is an appropriate dosage of medicine containing praziquantel or epsiprantel against tapeworm causing echinococcosis approved for the species concerned. The treatment is administered abroad 1-5 days prior to entering Finland. A veterinarian in a country outside of Finland marks the administered treatment in the pet passport. The treatment cannot be administered at the border just before crossing.
The anti-echinococcus treatment is not required of cats or ferrets.
4. Third country pet passport
Pets arriving from Switzerland require a third country pet passport. The model for the pet passport can be found in the implementing regulation 577/2013 part 3 of annex III (pdf). The pet passports of other third countries are not acceptable identification documents.
The animal must be accompanied by a third country pet passport carrying the identification information of the animal and an entry by a veterinarian concerning a valid rabies vaccination and when necessary a clinical examination and echinococcus treatment (parts I-V and when necessary parts X and VII).