Can I bring my pet with me when I stay in an emergency accommodation or asylum reception centre?

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Pets in asylum reception centres

As of 15 February 2024, people who arrive from abroad with animals will no longer be allowed to have their pets living with them in asylum reception centres. This comes in the wake of a decision by the Government. This means that you will not be able to have your pet living with you at the National Arrivals Centre or to bring it to an asylum reception centre. You can read more about the requirements for bringing pets from abroad. 

If you started living in a UDI reception centre with your pet before this date, you may continue to do so for the time being while waiting to move out of the reception centre. Beginning on 15 July 2024, it will no longer be possible to have pets in an asylum reception centre. 

If you have brought your pet from abroad, your pet must be checked at the border by the Norwegian Food Safety Authority. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority must control all pets that come to Norway to minimise the risk of spreading deadly diseases, such as rabies, to humans and other animals in Norway.

As of 1 July 2023, pets brought into Norway from Ukraine are subject to the standard requirements regarding microchipping, rabies vaccination, blood testing, tapeworm treatment and health certificates.

Pets coming to Norway from 1 July that do not meet the animal health requirements must be kept in quarantine paid for by the pet owner, returned directly to Ukraine or euthanised.

You can read more about bringing pets from abroad on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's website (external website).

If your pet has not been checked at the border when you arrived, you must immediately contact the Norwegian Food Safety Authority by telephone: +47 22 40 00 00.

You can read more about bringing pets from abroad on the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's website (external website).

Here you can find information in English and Ukrainian about financial help from the Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals (pdf, 2,3 MB).

You are responsible for your own pets under almost all circumstances.

The vast majority of animals coming to Norway from Ukraine do not arrive in accordance with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority's guidelines and must therefore be held in quarantine.