Dogs in Finland: rules, tax and travel
Every dog must be microchipped and registered in the Finnish Food Authority dog registry. Dogs entering Finland need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival, unless they come directly from Norway, Ireland or Malta.
Leash rules and local keeping rules are set by municipalities.
Breed rules
No breed restrictions on import or ownership in Finland; only crosses of a domestic dog with another canine species (wolf hybrids) may not be imported. [1]
Registration and microchip
All keepers must register their dog in the Food Authority dog registry. Dogs born after 1 January 2023 must be chipped and reported within 3 months of birth. Dogs moving to Finland permanently must be registered within four weeks of arrival.[2]
Compulsory for dogs, arranged through a vet or authorised microchip setter, within 3 months of birth.[2]
Travelling to Finland with a dog
EU pet passport, ISO microchip (before rabies vaccination), rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older and at least 21 days before travel. Pets from Norway or Switzerland need a third-country passport. Dogs need a tapeworm treatment. More than five animals, or an animal travelling alone, falls under other rules.[3]
Dogs only. A vet gives a praziquantel treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival (at most 2 days if from outside the EU), recorded in the passport or certificate. Dogs travelling directly from Norway, Ireland or Malta are exempt. A 28-day interval option exists for dogs with an EU passport.[4]
What a dog costs in Finland
Running costs for a medium-sized dog of about 20 kg, from current prices: about 870 EUR a year, 957 EUR in the first year with gear and microchip. Each breed page has its own figure.
| Food | 450 EUR about 91 kg of dry food a year source |
|---|---|
| Routine vet care | 100 EUR source |
| Pet insurance | 300 EUR typical policy, varies by breed and age source |
| Dog tax | 0 EUR source |
| Liability insurance | 10 EUR source |
| Licence and registration | 10 EUR source |
Not confirmed yet: Dog tax, Licence or owner test, Liability insurance, Leash and muzzle, From outside the EU, Rabies antibody test, Quarantine. We only show what an official or named source states.
Laws change: this is general information, not legal advice. The authority linked on each line has the final word.
Sources
- norden.org/en/info-norden/travelling-finland-dogs-or-cats (official)
- ruokavirasto.fi/en/animals/animal-keeping-identification-and-registration/animal-identific (official)
- ruokavirasto.fi/en/themes/import-and-export/eu-countries-norway-and-switzerland/animals/do (official)
- ruokavirasto.fi/en/animals/travellers/search-engine/treatment-echinococcus-multilocularis/ (official)