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.
