Pet Movement Legislation
Country of Departure
Pet Import from Norway to Russia
– Requirements and Official Guidelines
Entry Requirements for Cats and Dogs
Microchip Identification
Microchipping is mandatory before entering Russia. The chip must meet ISO 11784/11785 standards and be implanted prior to administering the rabies vaccine.
Rabies Vaccination
- The first rabies vaccine must be given after microchipping and no earlier than 12 weeks of age.
- A minimum of 20 days must pass between the date of vaccination and the date of travel.
- The vaccination must still be valid when the pet enters Russia.
Veterinary Certificate
- Issued in Norway by a licensed veterinarian.
- Should be in English and contain:
- Microchip information: number and date of implantation.
- Rabies vaccination: date, product name, batch number, and expiration date.
- Health declaration: stating the animal shows no clinical signs of disease.
Fit-to-Fly Certificate
Though not a formal requirement under Russian import rules, a Fit-to-Fly certificate issued within 1–5 days before departure is strongly advised. It should include a record of deworming treatment. Customs officials may request this document during inspection.
Parasite Treatment (Deworming)
- Mandatory for all pets entering Russia.
- Treatment must cover internal and external parasites.
- Should be administered 1–5 days before entry and recorded in the veterinary certificate.
➕ Form No. 15 – What Is It and When Is It Required?
Form No. 15 is not required for non-commercial pet importation. It is only used for commercial purposes such as sale, breeding, or transfer of ownership.
Some sources incorrectly state that this form is mandatory for all pet imports. In reality, it is only needed if the pet is being transported via cargo transport (cargo vans or air freight).
The key differences between transporting pets via cargo and via personal or courier transport are explained in our article:
How to Transport Your Pet: Cargo or Family Member?
Additional Information and Clarifications
- A maximum of two animals per person is allowed without special authorization.
- All documentation must be complete and accurate, even if border checks are rare on passenger flights.
- Extra vaccines (such as against distemper or leptospirosis) are not mandatory but may be helpful.
- In Norway, some veterinarians may mistakenly advise additional certificates or vaccinations based on outdated or commercial guidelines. Only the requirements for personal import apply here.
- Form 15 (used for commercial pet transport) is not applicable for non-commercial travel to Russia.
Share this guide
You can send this page to a veterinarian, courier, relocation agent, or any specialist involved in preparing pet travel documents or organising the transportation of a pet.
In practice, short instructions published on official websites are often incomplete or simplified. This frequently leads to mistakes in veterinary documents, problems during airline check-in, or difficulties at border control. If you have any doubts, it is better to share this page with the person preparing the documents or travel route and double-check everything before the trip.
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If you need to check the requirements for another pet travel route, you can return to the page where you select the departure and destination countries.
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