Where do dogs quarantine in Iceland?
Pet quarantine in Iceland
The importer must book a place in a quarantine centre where the dog/cat must stay for a minimum of 14 days.
Pet Dogs and Cats
An import permit issued by Iceland Food and Veterinary Authority ( MAST) is required to import pets to the country. In addition to an import permit, pets must fulfill requirements of vaccinations and testing.
Importation of pets must comply with the MAST import conditions. Importers must apply for an import permit to MAST and the pets must fulfill health requirements (vaccinations and testing) in addition to staying in quarantine for 2 weeks upon arrival.
After microchipping, your pet must be vaccinated for rabies between 30 days and 12 months prior to entering Iceland. Dogs must have been vaccinated against Leptospirosis no less than 30 days and more than 6 months prior to entry.
This ban was a response to two things. One was a housing shortage, which made authorities feel like it would be too much to also have dogs in the city. The second was that dogs were not considered hygienic because they could be carries of a deadly tapeworm that could be spread to humans.
4 week quarantine - will cost you from 1000 euros for a cat to about 1750 for a large dog. This will need to be added to the transport fees, the surveillance fee for the issuing of an import permit, customs fee and veterinary fees associated with the import of the animal.
Today's modern airliners have special compartments for live animals where the temperature and pressure is the same as in the cabin. Most airlines even have special programs to take care of your pet and some even offer frequent flyer miles. Hundreds of pets travel alone every day and arrive safely at their destination.
Traveling internationally with a pet can be complicated, more so because of the regulations and paperwork than because of the actual trip itself. The reason for all those extra rules, regulations, and procedures boils down to one main reason: rabies. Many countries are proudly rabies-free and want to keep it that way.
Your pet can travel on the plane with you (either in-cabin, as accompanied baggage, or as cargo). Your pet will be charged accordingly. Some airlines no longer offer this option and some countries do not allow pets to enter the country in-cabin.
Do service dogs have to quarantine in Iceland?
All dogs, including Assistance Dogs, must quarantine for 2 weeks on arrival to Iceland. Quarantining at home will be permitted for Assistance Dogs if conditions are met. The multiple inspections will incur a cost. Arriving by boat/cruise/private vessel is prohibited.
Prohibited articles
Narcotics and dangerous drugs. Various weapons, e.g. daggers with blades exceeding 12 cm, switchblade knives and flick stilettos, knuckles and various truncheons, crossbows and handcuffs. Finely powdered snuff. Moist snuff to be used orally, also available in bags.
Flying a dog in the cabin usually costs between $125 and $200, while the cargo hold is typically over $1000. There are also licensed companies that offer international pet shipping companies — they usually charge between $1000 and $6000.
Dogs Were Once Banned in Reykjavik
Dog lovers across the globe will be shocked when they find out that our canine friends were banned from living in Reykjavík for 60 years! A ban on dogs in the city was issued in 1924 for three reasons. The first was that Reykjavík was a small but rapidly growing place at the time.
One third of all Icelandic households own pets, about as many families as own video camera recorders, reports news station NFS. According to a new household expenditure survey from Statistics Iceland cats are the most popular pet, 12% of households own a cat, followed by dogs which 8% of households own.
The breed has been in the country for over 1,100 years. That makes the Icelandic Sheepdog Iceland's only native dog! The Icelandic Sheepdog is an energetic medium-sized dog with a double, thick coat and pointy ears. Its tail is very bushy and tends to curl up, creating the most adorable fluffy overlook.
Dogs were forbidden in the capital
In 1924, a complete ban on dogs was enforced in Reykjavík. Those out in the countryside could own working dogs for farming, but in the city, it was illegal to keep a dog as a pet due to increased cases of fatal tapeworms passed on from dogs.
Iceland is free of hoof and mouth disease so if an Icelandic horse is taken away for a show, it can never return. Also used horse gear isn't permitted. Snakes, turtles, and most lizards are also prohibited mainly due to salmonella. Certain breeds of dog (including pit bulls) are banned.
No more American bulldogs. According to Article 14 in Regulation no. 200/2020, the breeds of “Pit Bull Terrier”, “Staffordshire Bull Terrier”, “American Staffordshire Terrier” and “American Bulldog” may not be imported to Iceland.
Yes, wolf dogs are illegal in Iceland. The Icelandic government has strict regulations regarding the import and ownership of certain dog breeds, including wolf dogs, due to concerns about potential risks to public safety and the environment.
How do I travel internationally with a large dog?
Typically, large dogs are only allowed to be flown as checked baggage or cargo. Cargo is the more costly option, but it allows you to fly separately from your dog, and it is easier to track their journey since they are not attached to your passenger ticket.
Most countries require pets to arrive with a health certificate (also called an international health certificate, a veterinary health certificate, a veterinary certificate, or an export certificate). You must verify the country requirements each time you plan to travel with your pet.
Usually dogs are only allowed to fly in the cabin—known as carry-on pets—if they can comfortably fit in a carrier that you can stow under the seat in front of you. A small number of airlines, including JetBlue, Alaska Airlines, and Etihad Airways, allow passengers flying with dogs to buy an extra seat for their pet.
Delta Air Lines
Flying to over 60 destinations worldwide, Delta lets you travel long distances with your pet through Delta Cargo. With Delta, you can fly with your cat, dog or bird to the United States, South America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, the Middle East, Canada, Australia, Asia and Africa.
You may be wondering if pets can fly alone and the answer is: YES! It is not always possible for your pet to fly in-cabin with you or as accompanied baggage on your own flight. In this case, pets typically travel "unaccompanied" as cargo. While this may sound scary, it's not!
