Travelling with pets

The rules for transporting pets vary from airline to airline and country to country.

Travelling with pets

The main rule is that all animals must be kept in separate cages and travel in the baggage compartment. Some airlines accept cats and small dogs in the cabin provided they are in small cages or waterproof bags.

Other airlines do not, for example, accept rodents on board, not even in the baggage compartment. The rules in effect may also vary depending on the country to which you are travelling.

It is therefore important that you consult your airline well before departure.

Information about travelling with pets from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority regulates all import of live animals to Norway.

For Those Traveling to Svalbard

Due to the vulnerable wildlife on Svalbard there are strict rules for travelling to and from the island with animals, and for commercial flights only dogs are allowed (NB! This does not apply for anmials shipped as cargo as there are other sets of rules for this). To travel with a dog you must:

a)  Travelling to Svalbard:

  1. Approved and valid application to Mattilsynet 
    for importing dogs to Svalbard: Traveling with dogs, domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents to Svalbard | The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (mattilsynet.no)
  2. Valid rabies vaccine and rabies titer test
  3. Valid vaccines for canine distemper
  4. Treated for ectoparasites (fleas, ticks, and lice) 1-21 days before arrival on Svalbard

b) Travelling from Svalbard

  1. Valid rabies vaccine and rabies titer test
  2. Notify Mattilsynet before the journey: 
  3. Traveling with dogs, domestic birds, rabbits, and rodents to Svalbard | The Norwegian Food Safety Authority (mattilsynet.no)
  4. The dog must undergo a clinical examination at the vet, as well as vaccination against parasites 24-120 hours before departure.