Pet Transport from Norway to the United States

Taking your dog or cat from Norway to United States comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Plan on roughly 2-4 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is manageable. No routine …

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2-4

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

None

Quarantine on arrival

Medium

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

2-4 weeks

Quarantine

None

Route complexity

Medium

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from Norway to United States typically takes around 2-4 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.

Regulations checked June 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant

Step by step

The Norway to United States import process

As early as possible

Confirm ISO microchip and current rabies vaccination

Responsible: Owner and vet

Before travel

Complete CDC Dog Import Form online at cdc.gov

Responsible: Owner

Appointment within 10 days of US arrival

Book Mattilsynet-authorised vet for health certificate

Responsible: Owner

At least 4 weeks before departure; transatlantic pet spaces are limited

Confirm airline pet space booking

Responsible: Owner or agent

Requirements

United States entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 microchip required

Rabies vaccination

Valid rabies vaccination required

Rabies titre test

Not required. Norway is not a CDC high-risk country for dog rabies

Quarantine

No quarantine for compliant pets from non-high-risk countries

Import permit

No import permit required

Health certificate

Official Mattilsynet-endorsed health certificate; CDC Dog Import Form completed by owner

Leaving Norway

Export requirements

Export permit

No export permit required

Health certificate

Official health certificate issued by Mattilsynet (Norwegian Food Safety Authority) authorised veterinarian

Costs

What this route typically costs

Health certificate from Mattilsynet vet: NOK 1,500-4,000

Air cargo Norway to US: USD 800-1,800 depending on pet size

Airline cabin fee (small pets): USD 100-200 each way

Professional relocation agent: USD 400-900 (optional)

Critical points

A dog must be at least six months old on the day it enters the United States, whatever country it comes from. There is no exception for a well-documented puppy, so a litter move has to wait. The microchip rule sits alongside it: the chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, or the CDC treats that vaccination as invalid. Source: CDC, cdc.gov/importation/dogs, read 2026-09-02.

The 10-day health certificate window applies from certificate date to US arrival, not departure.

CDC Dog Import Form must be completed before arrival. Without it, entry can be refused.

Norwegian Air Shuttle does not accept in-cabin pets on transatlantic routes.

Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply on many airlines for transatlantic cargo routes.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)	OSL to JFK, IAD and other US gateways. Small pets in cabin where permitted; larger dogs as cargo.	Mixed
Norwegian Air Shuttle	OSL to various US cities. Pets as cargo only on transatlantic routes.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa (via Frankfurt)	OSL to US via FRA. Cargo-only for pets on the Atlantic leg.	Mixed

United States entry requirements at a glance

Getting a pet into United States is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.

Getting the details right

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.

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.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

No. Norway is not classified as a high-risk country for dog rabies by the CDC. A valid rabies vaccination and official health certificate are sufficient. No titre test is required.

A Mattilsynet-authorised veterinarian. Not all private vets hold this authorisation, so confirm before booking. The certificate must be dated within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the US.

The CDC Dog Import Form is required for all dogs entering the US, regardless of origin country. It is completed by the owner at cdc.gov before travel. Cats have no equivalent federal requirement.

No. Norwegian Air Shuttle does not offer in-cabin pet transport on transatlantic routes. Pets travel as cargo only. SAS is the main option for small in-cabin pets from Oslo to the US.

SAS operates direct services from OSL to JFK (New York) and IAD (Washington Dulles). Other US cities typically require a connection, either via a European hub or via another US gateway.

Airline guides

SAS (Scandinavian Airlines)
Norwegian Air Shuttle
Lufthansa (via Frankfurt)

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

CDC · United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, dog import rules