Travelling to Norway with caged birds, rodents and rabbits
It is important that animals crossing national borders do not carry contagious diseases and that illegal trade is prevented. Strict rules therefore exist for the import of animals into Norway. However, travelling with pets, referred to as non-commercial movement, is subject to slightly simpler conditions than those that apply to commercial import of the same species.
Non-commercial movement of pets
Birds, rodents and rabbits can all be kept as pets. However, the following bird species can never be regarded as pets: chickens, turkeys, Guinea fowl, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites. Rodents and rabbits intended for the production of food are also never regarded as pets.
The movement of pets is regarded as non-commercial if the purpose is not to sell or to transfer ownership of the animals. In addition, the movement must be triggered by the owner's need to travel to Norway, and it must occur within a period from five days before to five days after the owner's arrival. Pets must accompany either the owner or another physical person who has the owner's written authorisation to travel with the animals on the owner's behalf.
Five or less animals
The non-commercial movement of five or less birds, rabbits or rodents is permitted if the animals are accompanied by an identification document (PDF)
This document must satisfy requirements in terms of format, layout and language, and it must be issued by an authorised veterinarian in the country of dispatch. The document shall not be issued before departure from Norway.
The document must consist of a health certificate in which the veterinarian confirms that he or she has performed a health examination of the animals and found that they did not display any signs of disease. The document must be supplemented by a declaration by the owner or the authorised person that the movement is non-commercial in nature. The identification document remains valid for 10 days after its issue. In case of transport by sea, the period of validity is extended by the duration of the sea journey.
Exceptions:
- The requirement of a health certificate does not apply to non-commercial movement from EEA states of birds that do not belong to the family Psittacidae. Such birds must only be accompanied by the statement from the owner or the authorised person.
- The requirement of an identification document does not apply to non-commercial movement of five or less than five rodents from EEA states.
More than five animals
The non-commercial movement of more than five birds, rabbits or rodents into Norway is permitted if the animals fulfil the conditions for the commercial import of such animals. Contact us for more information.
Border control
The non-commercial movement of pets from the EU Member States, Andorra, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City, is permitted across all border crossings. It is not necessary to contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority when entering the country, but the person travelling with the animals must nevertheless be prepared to show the animals and present the necessary documentation for checking.
The non-commercial import of pets from other regions or countries is permitted only through Oslo Airport or Storskog. Import from Svalbard may additionally occur via Tromsø Airport, Port of Tromsø or Port of Bodø. The person travelling with the animals must contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority at the point of entry and present the animals and the necessary documentation for checking. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority should be notified at least 48 hours before arrival in order to avoid a long waiting time before the check can be carried out.
Gardermoen (Oslo)
Tel.: (47+) 22 77 79 00
BIP-gardermoen@mattilsynet.no
Storskog (Kirkenes)
Tel.: (+ 47) 78 97 00 40 / (+ 47) 95 77 91 21
BIP-Storskog@mattilsynet.no
Tromsø (port and airport) and Bodø (port)
Tel.: (+ 47) 22 40 00 00
postmottak@mattilsynet.no
Special protective measures
In the event of an outbreak of disease, special protective measures prohibiting or additional conditions for the import of pets from certain countries may be implemented. Contact us for more information.
Non-native and threatened species
The import of exotic rodents and rabbits is prohibited. The following species are not regarded as exotic however:
- Common rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)
- Chinchilla (Chinchilla laniger)
- Guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)
- Golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus)
- Campbell's (striped) dwarf hamster (Phodopus campellii)
- Roborovski hamster (Phodopus roborovskii)
- Siberian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)
- Dwarf hamster cross (Phodopus campellii x sungorus)
- Chinese hamster (cricetulus griseus)
- Domesticated rat (Rattus norvegicus)
- Domesticated (Mus musculus)
- Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unquiculatus)
- Degu (Octodon degus)
Read more about travelling to Norway with exotic animals
The import and planting out of foreign organisms is regulated by legislation on foreign organisms, with the support of the Nature Diversity Act. As a general rule, the import of organisms requires permission in accordance with the legislation, though there are a number of exceptions to this.
Contact the Norwegian Environment Agency for more information.
A number of species are also covered by the CITES regulations, which entails a requirement of export and/or import permission.
Contact the Norwegian Environment Agency for more information.