Pet Transport from Iceland to Switzerland

If you are relocating a pet from Iceland to Switzerland, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. Allow around 5-8 weeks and follow the steps in order to stay on …

5-8 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Moderate

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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Lead time needed

5-8 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Moderate

Airlines

2 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Iceland to Switzerland typically takes around 5-8 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The import process, in full

Start of planning.

Implant the ISO microchip if not already done.

Responsible: Icelandic vet

At least 21 days before travel.

Administer or confirm the current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Icelandic vet

As early as possible; some cantonal permit processes take weeks.

If the destination canton has a restricted-breed list, check whether the dog's type requires a local permit or behavioural test before arrival.

Responsible: You, direct with the cantonal veterinary office

4-6 weeks before travel.

Book the flight through Icelandair Cargo.

Responsible: You or your agent

Within 10 days of travel.

Get the MAST-endorsed health certificate on the EU form.

Responsible: MAST-accredited vet, endorsed by MAST

Day of travel.

Fly Keflavik direct to Zurich.

Responsible: Airline cargo handler

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before the rabies vaccination. Source: BLV, blv.admin.ch, checked July 2026.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required, with a 21-day wait from the date of first vaccination before travel. Source: BLV, blv.admin.ch.

Rabies titre test

Not required. Switzerland treats Iceland as equivalent to an EU member state for pet travel, under the same Annex II arrangement covering Norway and Liechtenstein, so no titre test applies on this leg. Source: BLV, blv.admin.ch, checked July 2026.

Quarantine

None for a compliant pet. Switzerland applies penalty quarantine only where documentation is wrong or incomplete.

Import permit

No formal import permit. The endorsed MAST certificate, or an EU pet passport where one has been issued, is the entry document.

Health certificate

MAST-endorsed certificate on the EU form, valid 10 days from issue to Swiss entry.

Export permit

No separate export permit for a private pet move. MAST's endorsement of the health certificate is the export step.

Health certificate

Official certificate on the EU-specified form, completed by a MAST-accredited vet and endorsed by MAST. Valid 10 days from the date MAST endorses it to the date of entry into Switzerland. Source: MAST, mast.is, checked July 2026.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Iceland to Switzerland move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.

Icelandair

Flies Keflavik (KEF) to Zurich (ZRH) direct, a genuine nonstop sector on Icelandair's European network. Since 1 November 2024, pets no longer travel as checked or excess baggage in the passenger hold. A pet now moves as manifested cargo booked through Icelandair Cargo, a different process from a standard passenger fare.

Cargo Only

Swiss International Air Lines

Does not currently operate the Keflavik sector itself, but is worth pricing as a live animal cargo alternative into Zurich if routed via a connecting European hub, particularly where Icelandair Cargo capacity is tight on your dates.

Cabin and Cargo

Costs

What this route typically costs

Rabies vaccination and vet check: ISK 15,000-30,000 (roughly EUR 100-200)

MAST certificate endorsement fee: around ISK 6,600 (roughly EUR 44)

IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 60-250

Cargo fee, Keflavik to Zurich: EUR 400-850 depending on crate size and season

Cantonal dog registration and, if a restricted breed, liability insurance: CHF 100-400 a year, varying by canton

Agent fee, if used: EUR 150-400

Total typical range: EUR 750-1,900, before any cantonal permit costs for a restricted breed

Critical points

Icelandair stopped taking pets as checked or excess baggage from 1 November 2024. A pet on this route now has to go through Icelandair Cargo as manifested freight.

There is no titre test and no quarantine on this leg for a compliant pet. That is Switzerland's federal position. It says nothing about whether your specific dog's breed can actually be kept in the destination canton.

Cantonal breed rules vary sharply. Zurich, Geneva and Ticino restrict breeds such as Pit Bull Terrier types and Rottweilers, requiring a permit, liability insurance and a behavioural assessment. Fribourg and Valais currently apply no equivalent restriction. Check the specific canton you are moving to, not a national answer, since there isn't one.

Dogs with cropped ears or tails are generally not permitted to be imported into Switzerland, a rule with no equivalent on Iceland's Netherlands or Germany routes.

The MAST certificate is only valid for 10 days from endorsement to Swiss entry. Time the vet appointment close to your travel date.

How Switzerland handles incoming pets

Switzerland has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.

What experienced owners do

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.

Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Switzerland treats Iceland as equivalent to an EU member state under its own bilateral veterinary agreement, so a pet moving from Iceland needs only a microchip, a current rabies vaccination with the standard 21-day wait, and a MAST-endorsed certificate. No titre test applies.

Yes. Icelandair flies Keflavik to Zurich direct. Since 1 November 2024, the pet travels as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo rather than as checked or excess baggage, so book through the cargo channel rather than a standard passenger fare.

There is no federal breed ban. Individual cantons decide this themselves. Zurich, Geneva and Ticino restrict breeds such as Pit Bull Terrier types and Rottweilers, requiring a local permit, liability insurance and a behavioural assessment, while cantons such as Fribourg and Valais currently have no equivalent restriction. Check the specific canton you’re moving to.

Generally, no. Switzerland applies this restriction regardless of canton or the dog’s country of origin. Confirm the current position with the destination canton’s veterinary office before travel if this applies to your dog.

No routine quarantine applies to a compliant pet. Switzerland only imposes penalty quarantine where documentation is missing or incorrect, whatever the pet’s country of origin.

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