Entering Norway with a dog
If you want to travel to Norway with your dog, you should find out about the entry requirements in advance. Here you will find the most important information and tips for a good start to your next holiday!
- Your dog needs an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination
- 120-24 hours before entering the country, your dog must be treated for tapeworms by a vet
- When entering the country, you must go to customs, where your dog’s papers will be checked
- Some dog breeds are banned from entering Norway, including American Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Czechoslovakian Wolfhound
General requirements: Vaccination, documents, worming treatment
To enter Norway, your dog needs an EU pet passport, a tapeworm treatment and a valid rabies vaccination – rabies vaccinations must be refreshed every 1-3 years and are only valid after 21 days if vaccinated for the first time or after a delay. No entry is possible before then! Puppies can enter the country at the earliest at 15 weeks of age, as vaccination is only permitted from 12 weeks of age and the 21-day waiting period applies.
Worming treatment
All dogs, including puppies, must be treated with a recognised preparation against tapeworms before entering Norway. It is important that you pay attention to the correct timing of the treatment and that the worming treatment is administered by a vet and entered in the pet passport.
The worming treatment must be given 120 – 24 hours before entry, the date and time entered in the passport counts. Alternatively, there is the 28-day regulation, which is particularly practical if you cannot plan your entry precisely or will be crossing the border frequently. Your dog must then have been treated against tapeworms at least twice within a maximum interval of 28 days before entering the country.
Note: If you are staying in Norway for a longer period of time, it is recommended that you continue to refresh the worming treatment every 28 days to reduce the risk of infestation.
Norwegian customs with a dog
If you are travelling to Norway, you are obliged to declare your dog to customs yourself. You do this locally by choosing the “red zone” for customs and presenting your dog’s documents. The rabies vaccination and tapeworm treatment in particular will be checked here, but a chip check may also take place.
Which dog breeds are not allowed to enter Norway?
These 6 dog breeds are not allowed to enter Norway:
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Dogo Argentino
- Fila Brasileiro
- Pit Bull Terrier
- Tosa Inu
- Czechoslovakian Wolfhound
The entry ban also applies to all mixed breeds of these breeds.
Travelling to Norway with a dog
Travelling by car
If you are travelling by car or camper van, you have several options:
- Overland via Denmark and Sweden
- Drive through Denmark and then take the ferry from Hirtshals
You should inform yourself about the entry requirements in Denmark and the entry requirements in Sweden. If you want to travel to Norway with your dog, you probably already fulfil all the criteria, but it doesn’t hurt to take a look at the respective regulations.
Travelling by ferry
There is only one direct ferry connection to Norway from Germany:
- Kiel (Germany) – Oslo (Norway) approx. 20 hrs.
Alternatively, you can consider travelling via Denmark, where there are various routes and you won’t spend quite as much time on the ferry.
Please note! You should definitely book a dog cabin so that your dog can stay with you during the long journey. Dog cabins are only available to a limited extent.
Leash obligation in Norway
In order to protect nature and wildlife, leashes are compulsory in Norway from 1 April to 31 August. In cities, national parks and other protected areas, it is compulsory to keep your dog on a lead all year round.
On beaches, dogs must be kept on a lead from 1 April to 30 September – exceptions are indicated by signs. Find out about designated dog walking areas or dog beaches where your dog is allowed to run free.
Note: There are many wild animals in Norway, so if you are unsure, it is better to keep your dog on a lead.
Checklist: Entering Norway with a dog
- Does my dog have an EU pet passport?
- Does my dog have a microchip or a tattoo?
- Is my dog’s rabies vaccination still valid?
- Has the tapeworm treatment been carried out and documented correctly?
- Does my dog belong to a prohibited dog breed in Norway?
- Do I have all the necessary documents to hand?
More on the topic: Entering Norway with a dog
- Travel guide from the Norwegian authority Mattilsynet
- Tolletaten: Information from Norwegian customs
- Colourline: Taking dogs on the ferry