How do you bring a pet to Iceland in 2026?

Apply for an import permit with Matvælastofnun (MAST). Holders of a kennitala can use the MAST portal (forms such as 2.14 for cats and 2.15 for dogs from approved countries, or 2.33 from non-approved countries); others send the signed English forms to petimport@mast.is. MAST publishes a permit fee that covers administration and arrival control; treat the live figure on the MAST site as authoritative. Prefer filing roughly 30 days before import.

Approved exporting countries split into Category 1 and Category 2 with different vaccine and test calendars. Use the matching Certificate of Health and Origin (D1 or D2), then send completed certificates to MAST for approval no later than five days before import. Book quarantine early: stations admit animals in three-day windows about every three weeks. Approved dog and cat stations include Reykjanesbær (Hafnir) near the airport corridor and Mósel in Hella. Arrival windows are typically daytime on those check-in days; call the station if your flight lands outside the published hours.

The animal stays in quarantine for at least 14 days (rules shortened from the old 28-day standard). Certified service dogs may have a separate home-quarantine permit path on the MAST site; read that track before you assume the same station stay. Rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, and other species use different MAST forms entirely.

Housing is a second gate. Many Reykjavík and Akureyri leases ban pets or demand written landlord consent, so lock a pet-friendly contract before you pay quarantine: How to rent a home and Rental contracts and deposits. Daily life after release still follows local dog rules: Dog-friendly Iceland. Sequence the human paperwork in parallel so domicile and kennitala do not stall while the animal waits: Paperwork after moving.