Pet Transport United States to Iceland

Bringing your dog or cat from United States to Iceland takes some coordination, but the requirements are well defined. There is a fair amount of paperwork here, so plan on around 18-24 weeks. Your pet …

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18-24

Weeks lead time needed

Start this early minimum

14 days

Quarantine on arrival

High

Route complexity

Airlines on this route

Lead time needed

18-24 weeks

Quarantine

14 days

Route complexity

High

Airlines

3 carriers on this route

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In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Iceland typically takes around 18-24 weeks. Expect 14 days of quarantine on arrival. A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.

Regulations checked July 2026

Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team

Step by step

The United States to Iceland import process

Start of planning, at least 5 months before travel.

Implant the ISO microchip, then begin the rabies vaccination course.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Runs alongside the rabies vaccination schedule, finishing close to travel for the canine influenza dose.

Complete leptospirosis, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus, parainfluenza and, for dogs, canine influenza vaccination. Canine influenza must be given no sooner than 14 days before import.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Around 4-5 months before travel, allowing for lab turnaround.

Draw blood for the titre test at least 30 days after vaccination, send to an approved laboratory. The 90-day Category 2 wait starts from this date.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet and the laboratory

At least 4-6 weeks before travel.

Apply to MAST for the import permit.

Responsible: You or your agent

As early as possible.

Book isolation station space at Reykjanesbae or Mosel. Intake dates are limited, so do this well before the 90-day wait completes, not after.

Responsible: You or your agent, direct with the station

Final month before travel.

First parasite treatment 21-28 days before import, second 5-10 days before import.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

Within the certificate's validity window, close to departure. Allow 3-5 business days for endorsement.

Complete the USDA APHIS health certificate and get State Veterinarian endorsement.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet, then USDA APHIS State Vet

Day of travel, on a predetermined arrival slot.

Fly a US gateway to Keflavik via Icelandair Cargo, hand over to quarantine station transport on arrival.

Responsible: Cargo handler and MAST border check

Immediately after arrival.

Minimum 14 days in isolation before release.

Responsible: Quarantine station staff

Requirements

Iceland 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, implanted before the rabies vaccination course begins. Source: MAST, mast.is, 2026.

Rabies vaccination

Primary rabies vaccination after the microchip. MAST also requires leptospirosis cover, plus current distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza vaccination for dogs. Because the US sits on MAST's Category 2 list, dogs need an additional canine influenza vaccination, given no sooner than 14 days before import, a condition that does not apply to pets arriving from most Category 1 countries. Source: MAST guidance notes, mast.is, 2026.

Rabies titre test

Required. Blood drawn at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. Because the United States is Category 2 rather than Category 1, a further 90 days must pass from the date of the blood draw before the pet can enter Iceland, on top of the 30-day post-vaccination wait. Source: MAST, mast.is, 2026.

Quarantine

Mandatory minimum of 14 days at one of two approved isolation stations, Einangrunarstoedin i Reykjanesbae or Einangrunarstoedin Mosel, for every dog and cat entering Iceland regardless of origin. Arrivals are only accepted on predetermined days, generally between 06:00 and 17:00. Source: MAST, mast.is, 2026.

Import permit

Required from MAST before travel, submitted with the application form, a photo of the pet, the health certificate and laboratory results. Base fee is around ISK 40,000 (roughly USD 290). Quarantine station space is booked separately and on a limited schedule. Source: MAST, mast.is, 2026.

Health certificate

MAST's Category 2 import certificate, completed by the USDA-accredited vet and carrying the USDA APHIS endorsement.

Leaving United States

Export requirements

Export permit

No export permit required from the US side for companion animals.

Health certificate

USDA APHIS Veterinary Health Certificate (VS Form 7001 or equivalent international health certificate) completed by a USDA-accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the USDA APHIS State Veterinarian. Allow 3-5 business days for endorsement.

Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA APHIS endorsement fee: USD 38 per certificate, plus courier costs if posting documents

Titre test at an approved laboratory: USD 170-350

Leptospirosis, core and canine influenza vaccination course: USD 90-220

MAST import permit base fee: around ISK 40,000 (roughly USD 290)

Quarantine, 14 days: around ISK 220,000 for a dog (roughly USD 1,600), ISK 100,000-110,000 for a cat (roughly USD 720-800)

IATA-compliant travel crate: USD 80-300

Cargo fee, US gateway to Keflavik: USD 900-2,200 depending on crate size and season

Agent and handling fees: USD 350-700

Total typical range: USD 2,700-4,900 for a dog, lower for a cat

Critical points

The US is a Category 2 country on MAST's list, alongside Canada and Turkey, not Category 1 like most EU states. That adds a fixed 90-day wait from the titre blood draw, on top of the standard 30-day post-vaccination timing, so budget five months minimum before this route even reaches the flight stage.

Dogs from the US, Canada or Singapore specifically need a canine influenza vaccination no sooner than 14 days before import, a requirement that does not apply on most other Iceland routes on this site. Confirm your vet has this on the schedule, since it is easy for a US clinic unfamiliar with Iceland's rules to miss it.

The 14-day quarantine applies to every pet entering Iceland, US-origin or otherwise. It is not a penalty for incomplete paperwork, it is the baseline rule, and isolation station space is booked on a limited schedule that fills up, particularly in summer.

Icelandair stopped taking pets as checked baggage on 1 November 2024. Confirm current Icelandair Cargo capacity from your chosen US gateway, or price the Lufthansa-via-Frankfurt alternative, before committing to a travel date.

MAST does not accept a standard USDA health certificate without its own Category 2 form layered on top. Brief your USDA-accredited vet early and confirm the exact document MAST expects before the appointment, not after.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
Icelandair	Icelandair flies Keflavik (KEF) nonstop to nine year-round US gateways, including Boston (BOS), New York JFK, Newark (EWR), Washington Dulles (IAD), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Denver (DEN) and Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), plus seasonal cities. Since 1 November 2024, Icelandair no longer accepts pets as checked or excess baggage on any of these routes. The move now goes through Icelandair Cargo as manifested freight, booked separately from a passenger fare.	Cargo Only
Lufthansa	No direct US to Iceland cargo capacity comparable to Icelandair's, but a workable alternative if Icelandair Cargo space is tight on your dates: fly the pet from a US gateway to Frankfurt on Lufthansa, which operates its own Frankfurt Animal Lounge for live animal handling, then connect Frankfurt to Keflavik.	Cabin and Cargo
United Airlines	United's PetSafe cargo programme does not serve Keflavik directly. Relevant mainly as the US-side leg if you are routing a pet onward through a European connection rather than flying the whole way with Icelandair.	Cargo Only

Iceland entry requirements at a glance

The requirements for Iceland are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

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

MAST classes the United States as a Category 2 country, the rabies-controlled tier alongside Canada and Turkey, rather than Category 1 where most EU states sit. That adds a fixed 90-day wait from the titre blood draw date, on top of the standard 30-day post-vaccination timing every route requires. A Category 1 pet can travel as soon as the lab confirms the result; a Category 2 pet cannot.

Yes. MAST requires dogs arriving from the United States, Canada or Singapore to have a canine influenza vaccination given no sooner than 14 days before import, in addition to rabies, leptospirosis, distemper, hepatitis, parvovirus and parainfluenza cover. This is specific to those three origin countries rather than a universal rule.

No. The mandatory 14-day isolation at Einangrunarstoedin i Reykjanesbae or Einangrunarstoedin Mosel applies to every dog and cat entering Iceland, regardless of origin country or how complete the paperwork is. There is no waiver for US-origin pets.

No. Icelandair stopped accepting pets as checked or excess baggage on any route, including from the US, on 1 November 2024. The pet now travels as manifested cargo through Icelandair Cargo, a separate booking process from a standard passenger fare.

Plan for roughly USD 2,700 to USD 4,900 for a dog, covering the titre test, the full vaccination course including canine influenza, the MAST import permit, the 14-day quarantine fee of around USD 1,600, the crate and the cargo flight. Cats typically cost less, mainly due to lower quarantine fees.

Airline guides

Icelandair
Lufthansa
United Airlines

Breed guides

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Pet Transport United States to Iceland

The United States to Iceland import process

Iceland entry requirements

Export requirements

What this route typically costs

Critical points

Approved carriers on this route

Iceland entry requirements at a glance

Getting the details right

Common questions about this route

Airline guides

Breed guides

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