Traveling with dogs, domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents to Svalbard
It is against the law to import living mammals and birds to Svalbard, with certain exceptions for domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents. Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) can give permission for the import of dogs in individual cases.
Traveling with dogs to Svalbard
In order to bring a dog to Svalbard, you must first obtain permission from Mattilsynet. The requirements have been set to ensure that the import of dogs does not cause an increased risk to the animal health of Svalbard.
Application and processing time
Send an application for permission with a copy of the dog’s passport or health certificate with vaccinations and blood titers to postmottak@mattilsynet.no. You must send all the required documents before we can process your application.
It takes approximately three weeks to receive an answer to your application. If you want to be certain you receive an answer in time, you must ensure that we receive your application four weeks before you intend to travel.
Please be aware that there may be periods of time when there are no veterinarians on Svalbard. This will mean that your dog will be unable to return to the Norwegien mainland or any other parts of the EU/EEA area, due to it not being possible to obtain the required treatment and documentation during these times.
The following requirements must be met to travel to Svalbard with a dog
- The dog must be accompanied by a pet passport issued by the EU/EEC, or a health certificate if the dog is traveling from a listed third country, outside of the EU/EEC.
- The dog must be microchipped. The identification number of the microchip must be clearly stated on the accompanying veterinary certificates and all original documents.
- The dog must be vaccinated for rabies in accordance with the vaccine producer’s recommendation. The vaccination for rabies must be given when the dog is at least 12 weeks old, and be entered into the dog’s passport by an authorized veterinarian within the EU/EEC area.
- Dogs that will be traveling between the mainland and Svalbard are required to have a rabies titer. You must ensure that a blood test is taken of your dog to demonstrate an adequate level of antibodies to rabies, and that the results of the blood titer are entered into the dog’s passport by an authorized veterinarian within the EU/EEC area before travel to Svalbard. For dogs from third countries (outside of the EU/EEC) the blood titer results must be documented on the health certificate by an authorized/official veterinarian in that country. The blood test must not be taken sooner than 30 days after the last rabies vaccine.
- The dog must be vaccinated for canine distemper and be treated for ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, and lice) before travel to Svalbard. Treatment against parasites must be given 1-21 days before travel and be certified by a veterinarian.
- The dog, passport/health certificate, and the document granting permission to import a dog to Svalbard must be presented for inspection at Svalbard airport upon arrival. Svalbard Lufthavn Longyear AS will carry out the inspection. Contact the service center and have the documents ready
- In the case that you are traveling to Svalbard by boat, you must contact the office of Sysselmesteren (the Governor of Svalbad) for the inspection. Bring the dog, the passport or health certificate, and the document permitting import of the dog to Svalbard.
Download the application for permission to import a dog to Svalbard (ODT)
Cats and ferrets are not permitted
It is not permitted to import cats or ferrets to Svalbard.
Importing domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents to Svalbard
Permission is not required to import the following animals to Svalbard:
- domestic birds, rabbits, or rodents from Norway and Sweden
- domestic birds from Finland
The animal must be accompanied by an identfication document that is issued by an authorized veterinarian in the country from which the animal is being imported.
Upon return to the mainland, they must be accompanied by a health certificate for non-commercial transportation of domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents.
The consequences of violating the conditions for import of animals to Svalbard
If you bring an animal to Svalbard without the required permission, Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority) can demand that the animal leave Svalbard as soon as possible.
This could happen by:
- Immediate expulsion without the animal being allowed to leave the airport terminal. In that case, the animal will be returned without restrictions to the mainland.
- Expulsion after a short stay on Svalbard. The animal must in that case be quarantined for four months at the owner’s expense.
- Euthanasia of the animal to prevent it remaining in Svalbard.
Housing of dogs in Svalbard
- Dogs must not be left chained outside without supervision, but kept in a dog kennel or inside the home.
- The Norwegian Animal Welfare Act (dyrevelferdsloven) applies to Svalbard, and all dogs must be kept in accordance with the law.