🐕 Can I bring my dog to Iceland from abroad?

With conditions

Quick answer

Conditional — yes, but only with an import permit from MAST and mandatory isolation; there is no just turning up with the dog. Taking a dog out of the country is simple, but bringing one in, or home again, is the costliest and most complicated part. Under regulation no. 200/2020, importing dogs and cats is not permitted without a permit from the Food and Veterinary Authority (MAST), and on arrival the animal goes to an isolation station for at least 14 days. Here is the factual error: isolation was cut from four weeks to 14 days, so older guidance about a month's stay is out of date — but isolation has not disappeared. The myth that catches travellers out: that an EU pet passport is enough to bring the dog to Iceland. That is wrong — Iceland is outside the pet passport system and requires a microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an antibody test (blood sampled at least 30 days after vaccination) plus other treatments. Only assistance dogs can apply for home isolation. Apply for the permit well ahead.

📋 The rules

Importing dogs and cats is not permitted without a MAST permit; only the authority's valid forms apply (regulation no. 200/2020).
On arrival the animal goes to an isolation station for at least 14 days — cut from four weeks, but not abolished.
A microchip, valid rabies vaccination and antibody test are required; the blood sample for the antibody test may be taken at least 30 days after vaccination.
An EU pet passport is not enough — Iceland is outside that system and sets its own import conditions.
Only certified assistance dogs can apply for the isolation to take place as home isolation under MAST supervision.

🔓 Exceptions

Assistance dogs travelling with their owner can get permission for home isolation instead of a stay at an isolation station.
Taking a dog out of the country does not require isolation; the conditions concern import and return, not departure.
Special rules can apply to import from certain countries (country categories) and to animals from areas with a different disease status.

⚠️ Penalties & fines

Bypassing the rules is costly and risky. If a dog arrives without a permit or the right certificates, MAST can refuse it entry, return it at the owner's cost or, in the worst case, decide on euthanasia if disease control cannot be ensured. The isolation at an isolation station itself costs the owner a substantial sum for each 14-day stay, and on top come vaccinations, the antibody test, the microchip and a veterinary certificate. The hidden cost is time: the antibody test may not be taken until at least 30 days after vaccination, and the whole process must begin months in advance — anyone who forgets cannot rush past the wait. Import without a permit can also carry penalties under the rules on importing animals. The safest course is to contact MAST early, follow the authority's checklist exactly and book a place at an isolation station in good time, because places are few and demand is high in peak season.

📎 Official sources

Last verified: 2026-07-12

❓ Frequently asked

Can I bring my dog to Iceland?

Yes, but only with an import permit from MAST and after meeting strict conditions on vaccination, microchip and an antibody test. The animal then goes to an isolation station for at least 14 days on arrival, so there is no such thing as simply turning up with the dog without preparation.

Is an EU pet passport enough?

No, Iceland is outside the EU pet passport system and sets its own, stricter import conditions. The passport alone does not allow a dog to enter the country; you need a specific MAST permit, the required certificates and isolation regardless of what documents accompany the animal from abroad.

Is isolation still four weeks?

No, isolation was cut from four weeks to at least 14 days by regulation no. 200/2020, so older guidance about a month's stay is out of date. Isolation has not been abolished, though, and the animal stays at an approved isolation station under supervision throughout.

Can I skip isolation by keeping the dog at home?

Generally not, because isolation takes place at an approved isolation station, not at the owner's home. The exception is certified assistance dogs, which can apply for home isolation under MAST supervision, but ordinary pet dogs do not have that option.

What if I just take the dog abroad on holiday?

Taking a dog out of the country is simple and needs no isolation, but the problem is the return, because all the import rules then apply again. You therefore need to arrange vaccination, the antibody test and a place at an isolation station well ahead before you leave, or the dog cannot come home smoothly.

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