Export of Pet Dogs, Cats and Ferrets to Finland

Note 1:
Sections I, II, III, IV, and VII must be completed in the EC Veterinary Certificate for Domestic Dogs, Cats and Ferrets - PDF (180 kb).

Note 2:
Every attempt has been made to ensure that the information contained on this site is up to date; however, countries can change their import requirements without notifying the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). It is strongly recommended that you contact the Embassy or official veterinary authorities in the country of destination to confirm that there are no changes, additional requirements, or any prohibitions related to certain breeds of dogs or cats.

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1. Have your pet identified

Before any other procedure is carried out, your pet must be identified with a microchip or a clearly readable tattoo. Please note that after July 3, 2011, tattoos will no longer be recognized, and microchip identification will become mandatory. However, animals that bear a clearly legible tattoo applied before 3 July, 2011 will not have to be identified with a microchip as long as the date of tattooing is stated on the certificate.

The microchip should comply with the ISO standard 11784. If it does not, the owner is responsible for providing a suitable microchip reader.

For easy reference, the CFIA has listed companies that manufacture ISO-compatible microchips.

2. Have your pet vaccinated against rabies

The animal must have been vaccinated against rabies with an approved inactivated vaccine or a recombinant vaccine. In the case of a primary vaccination, 21 days must have elapsed since completion of the vaccination protocol required by the manufacturer. A revaccination (booster) administered during the period of validity of the previous vaccination is valid on the day it is administered. However, a revaccination that is not carried out within the period of validity of the previous vaccination will be considered a primary vaccination.

Please note that according to European Union (EU) regulation, a rabies vaccination is not considered valid unless the animal was properly identified at the time it was vaccinated.

3. Before entering Finland, your pet must be treated for tapeworms (echinococcus)

Within 30 days of arrival to Finland, pets must be treated against echinococcus by a licensed veterinarian with an approved medication. The certificate must indicate the name and dosage of the medication, as well as the method of administration. Please ensure that the veterinarian rescans the microchip to confirm that the number is correct and that the chip is still readable.

Products used for treatment against tapeworms must contain Praziquantel as the active ingredient. To search for products that are registered and approved for use in Canada, please visit the Health Canada Drug Product Database. Please read the product label to ensure that it can be used for dogs and/or cats.

4. Certification

A veterinarian authorized by the competent authority (licensed veterinarian) must provide all the pertinent information, concerning identification and vaccination, by completing the Veterinary Certificate.

Once all the steps above have been successfully completed, contact your local CFIA Office to obtain an official endorsement by an official veterinarian (competent authority – CFIA veterinarian).

5. The fee for endorsement is $20.

6. Puppies, kittens, and young ferrets

No exemptions exist for puppies, kittens, and young ferrets; vaccination is required, as outlined above.

For further information or clarification on these procedures, please contact the relevant CFIA Office in the province where you reside.