Home/Routes/Dominican Republic to Finland
DO
Dominican Republic
✈️
FI
Finland

Pet Transport from the Dominican Republic to Finland: 2026 Guide

18-24 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
High
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
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Lead time needed
18-24 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Dominican Republic to Finland typically takes around 18-24 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.

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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

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Overview

Planning a pet relocation from Dominican Republic to Finland is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Set aside roughly 18-24 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the sequencing. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.

A rabies titre test is required, and it carries a fixed waiting period, so start it early. The guide below walks through each stage so nothing gets missed.

Step by step

The Dominican Republic to Finland process

1
Before the rabies vaccination.
Confirm the ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.

Responsible: Vet in the Dominican Republic.

2
At least 30 days before the FAVN blood draw.
Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Vet in the Dominican Republic.

3
30 or more days after vaccination. Sample ships internationally; allow 2-3 weeks for results.
Draw blood for the FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and EU-approved laboratory.

4
Fixed. Cannot be shortened.
90-day mandatory wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: N/A

5
24 to 120 hours before the scheduled Helsinki arrival, once the 90-day wait has passed.
For dogs, administer the praziquantel tapeworm treatment.

Responsible: Vet in the Dominican Republic, close to the departure date.

6
Within 10 days of travel.
Obtain the DIGEGA-endorsed export certificate and travel via Madrid, Amsterdam or Paris.

Responsible: Vet and airline cargo handling.

Checklist

Finland: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired. ISO 11784/11785. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after the primary vaccination.
Rabies titre testRequired. The Dominican Republic is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, then a fixed 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 and Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636.
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permitNot required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate endorsed by DIGEGA, issued within 10 days of travel.
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Leaving Dominican Republic

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permitNo formal export permit required for personal pets.
Health certificateOfficial export health certificate from a veterinarian following the DIGEGA (Dirección General de Ganadería) protocol for exporting dogs and cats, validated and signed by DIGEGA. Completed in EU format for Finland. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1FAVN titre test plus international sample shipping: USD 180-280.
2DIGEGA-endorsed export health certificate: USD 90-160.
3Tapeworm treatment (dogs): USD 20-45.
4Cargo fee, Santo Domingo to Helsinki via a European hub: USD 1,100-2,100 depending on crate size and season.
5IATA-approved travel crate: USD 100-350.
6Total typical range: USD 1,900-3,700 over 5-7 months.
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the result date. Build in at least five to six months from the first vet appointment.
⚠ The tapeworm treatment window is tight: 24 to 120 hours before arrival. Book the final vet visit around your confirmed flight date.
⚠ There is no EU-approved FAVN laboratory in the Dominican Republic, so the sample must ship internationally in the correct cold-chain packaging.
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Finnair via Madrid
Iberia or Air Europa covers Santo Domingo (SDQ) to Madrid (MAD), connecting to Finnair's MAD-HEL cargo service. Finnair Cargo at Helsinki is well-versed in checking the tapeworm-treatment documentation on arrival.
Cargo Only
KLM via Amsterdam
SDQ to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), then a short KLM Cargo hop AMS-HEL, drawing on Amsterdam's strong live animal transit infrastructure.
Cargo Only
Air France via Paris
A Paris (CDG) routing with an onward connection to Helsinki, useful if the Madrid or Amsterdam schedules do not align with your travel dates.
Cargo Only

Finland import rules, explained

Finland has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.

Practical tips for this move

Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.

Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.

Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. Finland requires a praziquantel treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis, given 24 to 120 hours before arrival and recorded by a vet, as one of four EU destinations with this rule.
Yes. The Dominican Republic is an EU unlisted third country, so a FAVN or ELISA titre test is required, with a minimum result of 0.5 IU/ml and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date.
No. Finland’s tapeworm rule applies to dogs. Cats follow the standard microchip, vaccination and titre test sequence without it.
No. Pets travel via a connecting hub, most commonly Madrid connecting to Finnair, or Amsterdam with KLM.
Airline guides
  • Finnair via Madrid
  • KLM via Amsterdam
  • Air France via Paris
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →
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