Country entry guide · Europe (EEA, non-EU)
Traveling to Iceland with your dog
Iceland has one of the strictest pet-import regimes in the world, and it is not the EU system. Although Iceland is part of the EEA, it is not an EU member and does not use the EU pet passport. Every dog — even for a two-week holiday — is treated as an import: it needs an import permit from MAST (the Icelandic Food and Veterinary Authority), may come only from an approved country, must complete a long list of vaccinations, a rabies antibody test and parasite treatments, and must then spend at least 14 days in a government quarantine station on arrival. There is no way around the quarantine for ordinary pets. Preparation takes months, so start early. This guide explains the whole path so you know exactly what to arrange before you book your flight to Keflavík.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes — from approved countries only |
| Import permit (MAST) | Required — apply in advance |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Required — always |
| Veterinary certificate | Required (D1/D2 health & origin certificate) |
| Tapeworm / parasite treatments | Required — two treatments |
| Quarantine | Required — min. 14 days at a station |
⏱️ Estimated preparation time
Times are indicative. The rabies antibody test alone adds a fixed 3-month wait.
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian, together with MAST, can confirm the exact procedure and timing for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Iceland
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
The exact steps depend on three things — Iceland (your destination) sets the scheme, but your dog's origin and history decide the timeline.
- 1 Country of destination — Iceland★★★★★
Iceland runs its own national scheme, not the EU one: an import permit from MAST, entry only from approved countries, entry only via Keflavík Airport, and a mandatory quarantine of at least 14 days on arrival for every dog.
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
The dog may leave only from an approved exporting country. Category 1 (rabies-free) countries have no waiting period after the antibody test; Category 2 countries add a compulsory 90-day wait. A non-approved country is refused except for residents relocating.
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
The dog must have stayed in an approved country (or another country of the same rabies category) for the 6 months before import, or since birth. A recent stay in a lower-category or non-approved country can block entry or force a change of route.
So read the requirements below as Iceland's framework, then confirm your dog's exact origin, history and timeline with your vet and with MAST before you commit to dates.
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | When | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | Must be implanted and readable before the rabies vaccination and all sampling; the same number must appear on every document. | No exceptions — a dog with no readable microchip is rejected on arrival. | MAST — Import of live animals (dogs) |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | A valid rabies vaccination is compulsory even from rabies-free countries; must precede the antibody test. | None — required for every dog regardless of the country's rabies status. | MAST — Guidance notes D1/D2; FAQ (rabies) |
| Rabies antibody test (titer) | Required | Blood taken at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, at an EU-approved laboratory. Category 1: no wait after the result. Category 2: at least 90 days must pass from sampling before import. | No exemption — the antibody test is required from every approved country, including rabies-free ones. | MAST — FAQ (Category 1/2); EU-approved lab list |
| Other vaccinations | Required | Leptospirosis, canine distemper, infectious canine hepatitis, canine parvovirus and canine parainfluenza — each at least 14 days before entry. A restarted leptospirosis course needs two doses 3–4 weeks apart. | Dogs from a non-approved country must also be vaccinated against canine influenza. | MAST — Guidance notes D1/D2; leptospirosis timeline |
| Parasite treatments (incl. Echinococcus) | Required | Two internal and external parasite treatments before import (at 21–28 days and again at 5–10 days before travel) using approved products; also lab tests (Brucella, Leishmania, Angiostrongylus vasorum) that must be negative. | Use only products covering all required parasites; incorrect products are a common cause of rejection. | MAST — Parasite treatment guidance (dogs) |
| Health & origin certificate (D1/D2) | Required | Official MAST certificate (D1 for Category 1, D2 for Category 2), completed and signed by an authorised vet in the country of export; every box must be filled and documents in English. | Paperwork submitted late (less than 5 days before import) or with missing lab reports is rejected. | MAST — Certificate D1/D2 |
| Import permit (MAST) | Required | Apply to MAST before import (online via the MAST portal with an Icelandic ID, or by form). Permit fee ISK 39,633. A quarantine place must be booked at the same time. | A dog imported without a permit is illegal and may be euthanised or returned at the owner's expense. | MAST — Import permit applications; Skatturinn (Customs) |
| Approved country of export | Required | Dogs may be imported only from a MAST-approved country (Category 1 or 2), where the dog has stayed for the last 6 months or since birth. | From a non-approved country only if the owner is a resident there, has owned the dog ≥6 months and is relocating to Iceland (Category 2 conditions apply). | MAST — Approved / non-approved exporting countries |
| Border check & point of entry | Required | Entry only via Keflavík International Airport, on predetermined quarantine-station arrival days, 06:00–17:00 (no weekends). No ferry, cruise, private plane or other airport is allowed. | Certified service dogs may travel in cabin and, in some cases, transit — with prior MAST approval only. | MAST — Transportation of pets (Keflavík) |
| Quarantine | Required | Minimum 14 days at one of two approved government quarantine stations, booked in advance; stations operate on an all-in/all-out basis, so arrival dates are fixed. | Home quarantine is possible only for certified assistance/service dogs, with an application to MAST at least one month before import. | MAST — Quarantine in Iceland (FAQ); quarantine stations |
| Puppies / minimum age | No fixed age, set by the steps | No formal minimum, but the requirements mean a dog is at least ~4.5 months from a Category 1 country and ~7 months from a Category 2 country. | Pregnant or lactating bitches, and dogs recently injured or with major surgery needing special care, are not permitted (except by special MAST permission). | MAST — FAQ (age); non-permitted importation |
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Category 1 — approved rabies-free country
From a Category 1 country (e.g. most EU/EEA states, UK, Japan, Australia, Switzerland, UAE, Singapore, Faroe Islands), the dog still needs a MAST import permit, microchip, rabies vaccination, an antibody test at least 30 days later (≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-approved lab), the other vaccines, two parasite treatments and a D1 certificate. There is no waiting period after the antibody result — but the 14-day quarantine on arrival still applies.
Category 2 — approved, rabies controlled (+90-day wait)
From a Category 2 country (e.g. USA, Canada, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Turkey, Greenland, Taiwan, Bosnia-Herzegovina), all the same steps apply, plus a compulsory 90-day wait counted from the day the antibody blood sample was taken before the dog may enter. The 14-day quarantine still applies. In practice, plan around 4–5 months of preparation.
Non-approved country — residents relocating only
Iceland does not accept dogs from non-approved countries as ordinary imports. MAST may authorise entry only if the owner is a resident there, has owned and cared for the dog for at least 6 months and is moving to Iceland; the dog must then meet Category 2 conditions, including a canine influenza vaccination, and complete the 14-day quarantine. Otherwise the dog must first spend 6 months in an approved country.
🛬 Arrival
Arrival is tightly controlled: every dog goes straight from the plane into quarantine, and there is no meeting your dog at the airport.
- Entry is allowed only through Keflavík International Airport, on the quarantine station's predetermined arrival days, between 06:00 and 17:00, never on weekends.
- On arrival the dog is checked (permit, microchip, documents) and transferred directly to the booked quarantine station for at least 14 days — the owner cannot take the dog home first.
- A dog in the cabin must be handed to a MAST-approved airport service provider (Aviör at Keflavík), paid in advance, who takes it to the pet reception.
- Carry the original documents in English; missing lab reports, an unreadable microchip or a banned breed lead to rejection on arrival.
- A dog imported without a valid permit is an illegal import — it may be euthanised or returned, and all costs fall on the owner.
- Pets may not disembark from cruise ships or ferries, and may not transit through any other Icelandic airport.
🧳 Real traveller experience
No reliable documented traveller feedback available.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Beyond health rules, Iceland bans the import of several dog types entirely. These breeds cannot enter, even in transit, and are refused on arrival.
Banned breeds and their cross-breeds (for at least 5 generations): Pit Bull Terrier / American Staffordshire Terrier / Staffordshire Bull Terrier / American Bulldog, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Dogo Argentino, Cane Corso, Presa Canario and Boerboel. Wolf-dog hybrids are also banned unless the dog is at least 10 generations removed from a wolf.
MAST may also reject any other dog whose breed, physique, temperament or origin it considers comparable to a banned breed, or otherwise a risk. Breeds closely related to those listed have already been refused. If in doubt, contact MAST before making any plans.
There is no waiver for banned breeds — arriving with one is treated as an illegal import. Always confirm your dog's eligibility with MAST in writing before you prepare or book anything.
🛂 Airports in Iceland
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
🧾 Preparation checklist
- ☐Confirm your dog is not a banned breed and comes from an approved country
- ☐Apply to MAST for an import permit and book a quarantine slot in advance
- ☐ISO microchip implanted and readable before all vaccinations and tests
- ☐Rabies vaccination, then antibody test ≥30 days later (≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-approved lab)
- ☐Category 2 origin: respect the compulsory 90-day wait from blood sampling
- ☐Leptospirosis, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza vaccines ≥14 days before entry
- ☐Two parasite treatments (21–28 days and 5–10 days before travel) and required negative lab tests
- ☐D1/D2 health & origin certificate fully completed, in English, submitted to MAST in time
- ☐Flight into Keflavík only, on an approved arrival day and time; suitable IATA crate
📚 Official sources
- MAST — Import of live animals (dogs and cats)
- MAST — Import of live animals: Frequently asked questions
- MAST — Guidance notes D1: importing dogs from Category 1 countries
- MAST — Guidance notes D2: importing dogs from Category 2 countries
- MAST — Guidance notes: parasite treatment of dogs before import
- MAST — Certificate D1: import of a dog from Category 1 countries
- Skatturinn (Iceland Revenue and Customs) — Import restrictions