Luna is not going to Svalbard, and neither is any other cat: importing cats or ferrets there is not permitted at all. Svalbard builds on Norway's rules and adds its own on top, so dogs can come, but only with an import permit, a microchip, a titer test and a health certificate. Dog owners should treat it as a separate destination from mainland Norway.

Pet import to Svalbard is regulated by Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority). The core requirements are summarized below: a microchip, a rabies vaccine within the right window, and a government-endorsed health certificate. Some destinations also require a titer test or short quarantine — those are flagged in the table.

Who sets the rules here

Svalbard applies the rules of Norway as its baseline, and adds requirements of its own on top.

Official source
mattilsynet.no
Relationship to Norway
inherits, plus local rules

How Svalbard handles your pet

Each fact comes straight from the operator’s published policy. Tap the to read the exact wording; the opens the source page.

Health & documents

Microchip · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Quarantine · Required Noverified 2026-10-03
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Rabies titer test (FAVN) · Test must follow vaccination days30 daysverified 2026-10-03
Import permit · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Import permit · Lead time28 daysverified 2026-10-03
Import permit · Issuing authorityMattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority)verified 2026-10-03
Import permit · Documents required to obtainCopy of the dog’s passport or health certificate with vaccinations and blood titers, sent to postmottak@mattilsynet.no at least four weeks before travel.verified 2026-10-03
Flea treatment · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Flea treatment · Timing notesTreatment against parasites must be given 1-21 days before travel and be certified by a veterinarian.verified 2026-10-03
Tick treatment · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Tick treatment · Timing notesTreatment against parasites must be given 1-21 days before travel and be certified by a veterinarian.verified 2026-10-03
Health certificate · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Health certificate · Endorsed byauthorized/official veterinarianverified 2026-10-03
Health certificate · Government endorsed Yesverified 2026-10-03
Other vaccinations · Distemper Yesverified 2026-10-03
Rabies vaccination · Required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Rabies vaccination · Booster required Yesverified 2026-10-03
Rabies vaccination · Min age at vaccination12 weeksverified 2026-10-03
Tapeworm treatment · Required Noverified 2026-10-03

Other rules

Pets accepted Acceptedverified 2026-10-03

Timing chain

Day -90 microchip implant · Day 0 arrive at customs

Ports of entry

  • Svalbard Lufthavn Longyear (Longyearbyen Airport)

verified 2026-10-03

The import permit application has to reach the authority at least 28 days before the intended travel date, and that deadline shapes the budget more than any fee. The titer test and the health certificate both need to fit around it, so a late application usually means rebooking flights rather than paying extra, which is the expensive outcome on a remote Arctic route.
My spreadsheet for Svalbard was short, because the first row said no cats. For a dog, the order is the import permit application at least four weeks ahead, the microchip, the titer test and the health certificate, then the flight north. Luna stayed home; a friend's dog made the trip instead. Build the plan around that four-week deadline and the rest falls into place.
Get YOUR personalized plan for Svalbard →

Glossary

ISO chip
ISO 11784/11785 — the universal microchip standard.
FAVN
Fluorescent Antibody Virus Neutralization — a rabies serology test required by rabies-free destinations.
Brachycephalic
Snub-nosed breeds (French Bulldogs, Pugs, Persians, Himalayans) with restricted airline acceptance due to heat-stress risk.
AVIH
Animal Vehicle In Hold — IATA's term for cargo pet shipment, with fees that vary by carrier and route.