Finland (FI)

Finland is a Nordic parliamentary republic in Northern Europe, bordering Sweden, Norway, and Russia, with a southern coastline on the Gulf of Finland.

Capital: Helsinki

Region: Europe

Language: Finnish

Currency: EUR (€)

Cost of living: Expensive (index 76)

Emergency: 112

Bringing Pets to Finland

Requirements, costs and process for relocating with your pets.

Microchip

Required

Health certificate

Required

Import permit

Not required

Quarantine

Not required

Vaccinations

Rabies vaccination (rabies-rokote) — mandatory for all dogs and cats entering Finland from non-rabies-free countries. Must be administered AFTER microchipping. Echinococcus (tapeworm) treatment for dogs — mandatory from certain countries. Must be administered 1–5 days before entry (a vet administers and certifies this in the EU pet passport). Dogs must be dewormed (Echinococcus multilocularis treatment) before entering Finland from non-approved countries.

Restricted Breeds

No national breed ban in Finland (unlike Denmark). However, several dog breeds are subject to special conditions under the Animal Welfare Act.American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and Bull Terrier require liability insurance and experienced handling in some municipalities.

Plus Check current Finnish legislation at ruokavirasto.fi for any breed-specific restrictions.

💰 Costs

EU pet passport: approximately €50–100 from your vet (includes microchip registration and vaccination records). Echinococcus treatment: €30–60. Health certificate from vet for entry from non-EU countries: €80–200. Import health check on arrival (if required): €50–100. Annual vet costs in Finland: €200–400 (vaccinations, checkup). Dog licence in some Finnish municipalities: €60–100/year (not national, varies by municipality).

📋 Relocation Process

1. Microchip your pet (must precede rabies vaccination). 2. Vaccinate against rabies at least 21 days before travel (first vaccination). If pet already vaccinated and titres test done, re-vaccination may not be needed. 3. Get an EU Pet Passport from your vet listing all vaccinations and microchip number. 4. For dogs entering from Echinococcus-risk countries: get tapeworm treatment 1–5 days before arrival (vet certifies in the passport). 5. Enter Finland through a designated Border Inspection Post (BIP) if arriving from non-EU country. 6. Register with a Finnish vet after arrival. 7. Register your dog with your municipality (where required). Finland Food Authority (Ruokavirasto) website has complete pet import requirements.

Finland has strict biosecurity regulations to protect its disease-free status. The Ruokavirasto (Finnish Food Authority — ruokavirasto.fi) is the authority for animal import rules. Key Finnish-specific requirements: Dogs from "tapeworm countries" must be treated for Echinococcus multilocularis by a vet 1–5 days before entry — this is specifically required for Finland and is a different timing requirement than general EU rules. Coming from within the EU (after proper vaccination): straightforward with EU pet passport. Finland has excellent pet-friendly outdoor spaces — Everyman's Right means dogs can enjoy forests and countryside widely. Helsinki and major cities are generally very dog-friendly. Dog litter laws are strictly enforced in urban areas.