Travelling to Finland with your pet

If you arrive from another EU country (or from Andorra, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar or Greenland) your pet needs an EU pet passport.

• In Italy it is issued by the veterinary service of your local ASL (in some regions also by authorised private vets), after registration in the pet registry.
• It must show the microchip number and a valid rabies vaccination.
• It is valid for the pet's whole life as long as vaccinations are up to date. Passports issued before 22 April 2026 remain valid.
• It is only issued to EU residents.

Dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785. A clearly readable tattoo is also accepted, but only if it was applied before 3 July 2011.

• The microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination (at the latest on the same day): if the vaccination date is earlier than the implant, the vaccination is not valid and must be repeated.
• Check that the number in the passport or certificate matches the one read by the scanner.

Your pet needs a valid rabies vaccination, given by an authorised vet and recorded in the passport or health certificate.

• Minimum age at vaccination: 12 weeks.
• The first vaccination becomes valid 21 days after the primary vaccination is completed: until then the pet cannot travel.
• A booster given before the previous one expires needs no new waiting period. If it is given after expiry, it counts as a new primary vaccination and the 21 days apply again.
• How long it lasts depends on the vaccine: the vet records it in the passport.

Every dog, puppies included, must be treated against the Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm with a praziquantel-based product (or one at least as effective) between 24 and 120 hours (1–5 days) before entering Finland. The time counts back from crossing the border, not from departure.

• A vet outside Finland gives the treatment and records it in the passport (if it is done the day before, ask for the time to be noted too).
• It is not needed if you arrive directly from Norway, Ireland or Malta; it is needed if you come from Sweden.
• Cats and ferrets are exempt.
• Frequent travellers can use the "28-day rule", with treatments repeated at intervals of no more than 28 days.

Entry into Finland is allowed, from EU countries only, for young animals:

• under 12 weeks and unvaccinated, or
• between 12 and 16 weeks, vaccinated but without the 21 days' wait.

They need a microchip, an EU passport and a declaration signed by the owner that the animal has had no contact with wild animals susceptible to rabies, or they must travel with the mother they still depend on, if her passport shows she was vaccinated before they were born.

Careful: any country you cross must also accept the derogation (Italy, for example, does not). Unvaccinated young animals cannot enter from non-EU countries.

In Finland dog puppies also need the echinococcus treatment; the Finnish authority still recommends travelling only with vaccinated animals over 16 weeks old.

The non-commercial rules cover up to 5 dogs, cats or ferrets per vehicle, travelling with the owner or with a person authorised in writing (the owner must travel within 5 days before or after the pet).

• More than 5 pets are allowed only for competitions, exhibitions or sporting events, with written proof of registration and animals over 6 months old; otherwise trade rules apply.
• The pet must not be sold or change owner.
• For birds, rodents, rabbits, reptiles and other species national rules apply: check them with the veterinary authority.