A practical 2026 guide to the CDC rules, Ruokavirasto’s export process, Finnair’s fees, estimated costs, and timeline for dogs and cats.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
4–8 weeks
$205–$785+
None required (mainland US)
Ruokavirasto only requires an official, municipal-veterinarian-issued certificate when the destination country demands one. Since the US doesn’t for the standard low-risk pathway, a private veterinarian’s certificate covers the Finnish side of this route.
A practical 2026 guide to the CDC rules, Ruokavirasto’s export process, Finnair’s fees, estimated costs, and timeline for dogs and cats.
Ruokavirasto only requires a municipal-veterinarian-issued official certificate when the destination demands one. The US does not for this low-risk pathway, so a private veterinarian's certificate is sufficient.
Private Veterinarian
A private veterinarian’s certificate is sufficient for this route since the US doesn’t require an official, government-endorsed certificate for the low-risk pathway.
Not Required
USDA does not endorse foreign-issued documents for this route. Check the final state separately.
Set by the Issuing Veterinarian
No universal validity window is published for the US route specifically; confirm the window with the certifying veterinarian and Finnair.
Carry Originals and Copies
Keep the health certificate and the CDC receipt accessible. Confirm whether originals are required at check-in and on arrival.
→ A private veterinarian’s health certificate is sufficient for this route
→ Every dog needs a readable microchip and CDC Dog Import Form receipt
→ Cats face no general federal health-certificate or rabies-document requirement
→ Finnair does not accept cabin pets in Business class on long-haul flights
→ Check the final US state’s requirements
→ Booking an unnecessary official government certificate
→ Trying to book a cabin pet in Finnair Business class
→ Assuming a hold pet transfers automatically at a Helsinki connection
→ Booking Finnair’s hold space too late
→ Forgetting the CDC Dog Import Form
Cabin or Cargo Hold
$130–$140 Cabin / $700 Hold
8 kg combined cabin limit; 75 kg hold limit
Fees shown are one-way; not available in Business class on long-haul flights; hold bookings for USA flights confirmed ~2 weeks out
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
The US doesn't require an official, government-endorsed certificate for this pathway.
Hold pets must be collected and re-checked by the owner at a Helsinki connection.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
$205–$785+ estimated basic preparation, plus Finnair's published pet fees
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — dogs
→ Private veterinarian health certificate — dogs and cats
→ Airline pet reservation confirmation
→ Microchip record — dogs
→ EU pet passport, recommended
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ Not for a compliant arrival at a mainland US destination.
→ Hawaii and Guam have separate programs.
→ No, when the dog has not been in a CDC high-risk country during the previous 6 months.
→ No, not for this specific route.
→ An official certificate is only required when the destination demands one, and the US doesn’t for this pathway.
→ A healthy appearance, minimum age of 6 months, readable microchip, and CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
→ This assumes no high-risk-country travel during the prior 6 months.
→ Generally yes.
→ The destination state may still require one.
→ Not on long-haul routes like Helsinki–US.
→ There isn’t room for a pet carrier under a long-haul Business Class seat.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Finland is not on the CDC high-risk list for dog rabies. Ruokavirasto’s own USA-specific page names Finland directly as an example of a low-risk country under the CDC’s simplified pathway.
An official, municipal-veterinarian-issued health certificate is only required when the destination demands one. The US doesn’t for this pathway, so a private veterinarian’s certificate is sufficient.
Finnair aims to confirm hold-pet bookings on USA flights at least 2 weeks before departure — book earlier for the best chance of confirmed space.
Many owners can manage this route directly. Professional help can be useful for a large pet, a restricted breed, or a hold/cargo booking.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Select your origin and destination countries.
Select your pet type, size, and breed characteristics.
Select how your pet will travel and any additional services.
Review your itemized breakdown and quote below, then submit your details.
