IMPORTING A DOG TO ICELAND
If you are moving to Iceland and want to bring your dog with you you´ll need to read this blog or watch my newest video. The video is for dogs arriving from Rabies free countries or countries in Category 1.
The rules for importing domestic animals to Iceland are unique - due to the isolation of the island we don´t have as many diseases in pets as elsewhere and Iceland is one of the few countries left that requires QUARANTINE for 2 weeks upon arrival.
Because the rules are more strict than elsewhere the process of importing a dog to Iceland is a bit complicated for pet owners and even for veterinarians who are unfamiliar with the rules and regulations.
I have imported a few dogs to Iceland so I´m going to tell you step by step what´s needed and why. I recently assisted an Icelandic family import a dog (RONJA) from a dog shelter in Spain to Iceland and I used the chance to videotape the procedures and made a video about Importing a dog from Category 1 according the regulations from The Icelandic Food and Veterinary office / MAST.
We have a great vet in town who read through the procedure with us and agreed to help us through it. The process took us in total 7 ½ weeks plus 2 weeks in quarantine in Iceland.
One of many vet appointments
The Icelandic Food and Veterinary office is the legal body in Iceland for importation of pets (in general the office is called MAST). MAST has a very good website with all information needed www.mast.is/en - check it out thoroughly with your vet before starting.
I emphasize that the responsibility is all in the hands of the owner/importer and failure to comply with the import conditions can have a grave result for the dog, according to regulations it could be exported upon arrival or even euthanized.
Preparations to import a dog can be from a few weeks up to 6/7 months depending where the dog is coming from. In this video I´m going through the process of importing a dog from CATEGORY 1, according to MAST, which are RABIES FREE COUNTRIES and you can see them here:
From MAST website, countries in category 1
Category 2 (countries where rabies is well controlled) is not covered here but you can find all information on the MAST website.
If you are importing a dog from a country not recognized as either Cat 1 or 2 MAST will deny importation unless the dog is first imported to a country in either category and lives there for at least 6 months and there goes through the procedure accordingly.
Before starting the importation process and as soon as you have decided to travel with your dog to Iceland the first things you need to do are:
Check the regulations on the website www.mast.is/en according to the land the dog is coming from.
Be sure to read up on banned breeds and other illegal importation of dogs.
Your dog needs a microchip implanted or read and confirmed (it has to be ISO compliant Microchip)
Check out the Quarantines, you have 2 kennels to choose from: Einangrunarstöðin Reykjanesbæ or Mósel
Check the arrival dates they offer and see how the dates suit your travel plans.
Apply for a import permit at least 30 days prior to import
Once you have thought this through and understand the basics of the procedure you go on and apply for an import permit to MAST. This needs to happen according to the rules preferably more than 30 days prior to import – I would say you need approx. 45-60 days. The application is easy and if you have an Icelandic ID number (kennitala) this is done online in the MAST portal - but if you do not have the ID number yet you print out a document online, fill it out and send a scanned copy by email.
You will also need to pay a permit fee, which in 2020 is the amount of ISK 37.400.-
2. Temperament Evaluation & plan ahead with your vet
Temperament Evaluation is common especially with bigger breeds. MAST will ask you in a written reply by email and send you all the documentation and instructions on how they want the evaluation done. The evaluation is 9 short exercises the dog needs to go through to prove he is not harmful to others. Be advised only the evaluation as described and sent by MAST is approved and it has to be done by a veterinarian (not a behaviorist nor a dog trainer).
MAST recommends that it is not done by the dogs usual vet as it might affect the outcome, but it can be done in the usual clinic the dog goes to. The test has to be videotaped and sent to MAST with a report from the examiner.
Book a session with your vet, explain the procedures you´ll need to dog to go through. Show him the documents needed (see below) and the temperament evaluation documents. Plan when to start the procedures and set a rough timeline for each vet visit – starting with the temperament evaluation and perhaps the Rabies Vaccination.
Once MAST has approved the Temperament Evaluation results an import permit is issued by MAST and the permit is valid for 1 year.
3. Pre-book Quarantine & flights
Once you have the permit by MAST you can start the vaccinations and blood work needed according to the regulations.
Now I would pre-book the quarantine and flights. Be sure to read the guidelines and regulations of the kennels, especially the cancel policy.
Usually it´s only 3 days in a month or every 3 weeks that dogs are allowed to enter, check what dates suit you. Choose a quarantine and check availability on your preferred travel dates.
4. Book a session with your VET 42-60 days prior to import
Take with you:
D1 Health Certificate
Instructions in English: www.mast.is/en/import-export/import-of-live-animals
Preferred travel date / ARRIVAL dates in Quarantines
Import permit / number if you already have it
Set a timeline for the procedures according to MAST regulations, remember to ask the vet how long time all test results are expected to take and for the original reports to arrive by mail because they need to accompany the dog to Iceland.
5. First Vet Appointment 40-60 days prior to import
First procedure is: Rabies – vaccination, which needs to happen 40-60 days prior to import.
If you have a puppy he needs to be at least 12 weeks to get this vaccination.
With Ronja we decided to save some time and the vet did this vaccination in the first vet visit when we went through all the procedure needed, made the timeline and explained the temperament evaluation.
We than had to wait +30 days to be able to take a blood sample to measure the rabies antibody. In the meantime, we did the temperament evaluation with her, which went splendid and got the import permit for her.
6. Vet Appointment: Antibody Titre Test +30 days / 10-20 days prior
31 day later was our next appointment where the vet did the rabies antibody testing. We had to wait a week to get the results because blood samples for antibody titre testing shall be taken at the earliest 30 days after vaccination by a laboratory approved by the European Union for this purpose.
Then we waited another week to have the original of the antibody titre test report – take good care of the original as it has to be sent to MAST with dog. MAST recommends that you do the testing no later than 10-20 days prior to import.
7. Confirm quarantine & flight
Once you know the dog had sufficient antibody in his system confirm the quarantine and flight.
Keep in mind pets can only enter Iceland by flight through the KEF international Airport, so arrange the travels according to the rules. If your dog is transported in the passenger cabin you´ll need to report it to MAST as they´ll otherwise assume it´s in the cargo. You also need to consider that the dog has to be used to travel in kennels (start training it no later than now!)
8. Vet Appointment: Vaccinations 14-42 days prior to import
According to MAST these vaccinations have to be done at least 14 days before importation, no more than 42 days (6 weeks).
Decide with your VET when to do these vaccinations. The question is should you do them alongside the Rabies blood works (the vet visit prior to this one) or when you have the results from the blood works. Here time is a factor – how long time do you have and how long time is the blood works going to take.
The vaccinations needed are:
1) leptospirosis
2)canine distemper
3) canine parvovirus
4) infectious canine hepatitis
5) canine parainfluenza
9. Vet Appointment: Blood sampling at least 30 days prior to import
Now we need to do some blood works.
Again ask your VET how long the testing takes, when to expect the results. Will you have the results in time, especially the original results from the laboratory.
- Brucella canis
- Leishmania spp (only intact dogs)
- Angiostrongylus vasorum: with this you have a choice of doing laboratory test (30 days prior) OR a treatment (10-5 days prior ) - ask your vet for consultation on the matter
You will need the original of the blood sample report in English and send it to MAST with dog.
10. Vet Appointment: Parasites 21-28 days prior to import
Parasite treatments needed are two, this is the first and it has to happen 21-28 days before import.
It is depending on the time needed for laboratory results, if you can do this in the same visit as last blood sampling (above) or if this is another vet appointment.
The treatment is for both internal & external parasites (see D1)
11. Book appointment
Check if you need to book a time ahead for the endorsement by official veterinarian on behalf of competent authority.
Check where the office is & how long-time officials need to go through the papers and endorse them. Ask if they want to receive the instructions by MAST before your appointment (get the contact details/email to send it to).
Ask to have this appointment the same day or day after last appointment with your vet (depending how far away the office is and opening hours) because MAST needs to receive this paperwork no later than 5 days prior to import.
12. Final Vet Appointment 5-10 days prior to import
=> I recommend day 9 !
In the final appointment we need:
Parasites – second treatment
Health examination
Angiostrongylus vasorum: IF you didn´t do the laboratory test (30 days prior) then you do the treatment now (10-5 days prior)
Completion of Certificate of Health and Origin (D1). Good to know: The owner fills in section 1-4 and the vet responsible for the procedures does the rest.
13. Endorsement by official veterinarian on behalf of competent authority +5 days prior to import
Now you take the documents and go to the office for your appointment.
Have all originals with you:
Certificate of Health and Origin (D1)
Blood results for all tests
Your passport
Dogs Passport
Copy of all papers
Instructions by MAST for official authorities
The authority sends all papers with the endorsement to MAST by email, ask them to send a copy to you if possible (better safe than sorry).
Again remember as this is important: MAST needs to receive all documents no later than 5 days before arrival.
14. Import Permit Issued by MAST
If all paperwork is satisfactory, the Certificate of Health and Origin is signed by MAST and a notification of approval is sent to the importer, usually right away or within 24 hours.
Crate training Ronja for her travels. Photo Credit: Sólveig
15. Transportation to Iceland
Again entrance is only allowed through KEF International Airport. Here are a few things you should know:
Dogs must be transported in a non-collapsible plastic cage large enough to be able to stand, lie down and turn around. The cage should be approved by IATA for international flights according to airline.
Have water available for the dog in a spill free container in the cage if allowed by your airline. Dog does not want food during travels it is more likely to spill all over him.
Be sure to teach the dog to travel in the cage as soon as you decide to transport him, this should not be the first time he sees or enters the cage.
According to the expert in the quarantine in Iceland do not give any remedies or natural substances to calm the dog down before travels. This has proven more problematic than helpful.
When at the airport attach to the cage in an envelope the following documentation, these are required to accompany the dog:
1) Import Permit (can be a copy)
2) Original Certificate of Health and Origin (D1).
3) Original (or certified copy) laboratory report for rabies antibody titre test
4) Original (or certified copy) laboratory report for other tests (B.canis, Leishmania spp. A.vasorum) if applicable
5) Customs declaration
Why customs declaration? Because if the owner has owned the animal for less than 12 months, he/she must pay VAT on the purchase price of the animal upon importation. Contact Icelandair Cargo to finalize the customs papers, they will tell you what papers are needed.
16. Arrival in Iceland
Upon arrival at KEF Airport, dogs are transported directly to the pet reception center where the import inspection takes place. It includes verifying the microchip, the required documentation that you taped on the cage and check for any obvious signs of disease.
If any issues arise during the inspection, the importer will be contacted by telephone. So have the phone close to you (approx. 1-2 hours after landing). As I said in the beginning
After the inspection the dogs are transported to the relevant quarantine station and owner is notified.
17. The quarantine
The dog stays in quarantine for 14 days, on regular basis it is checked by veterinarian. The staff take good care of the dog so he isn´t completely alone the whole time. The dogs have a private room and an outside area.
When leaving the premises, he will not have his collar, leash, toy or bed. As only things that can be sufficiently disinfected can exit the station (which are normally just the dog and the cage).
So bring with you a collar and leash when you go to pick him up.
Ronja in play session in quarantine Mósel. Photo Credit: Guðbjörg
This is the importation process for countries in CATEGORY 1, during summer 2020 when all rules have been recently updated by MAST .
For your information I do not work for MAST, the quarantines nor am I a vet.
I made the blog & video according the rules and regulations and using my experience, the responsibility for the process is always the dog owners or importers so read through everything carefully.
I wish you best of luck with the importation!
Finally in her new home in Iceland. Photo Credit: Sólveig