Pet Transport from Norway to the United States

Norway, Sweden and Denmark share nearly identical US import outcomes because all three are rabies-free and all three operate under high veterinary standards. The only practical difference is the issuing authority for the health certificate: in Norway it is Mattilsynet (the Norwegian Food Safety Authority), in Sweden it is the Jordbruksverket (Swedish Board of Agriculture), and in Denmark it is the Fødevarestyrelsen (Danish Food Administration).

The CDC Dog Import Form process is the same regardless of origin country. You complete it yourself on the CDC website, print it, and present it at the US port of entry. It does not need to be endorsed by any government body.

One consideration: Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) has slightly fewer direct US routes than Copenhagen (CPH). If you have flexibility, Copenhagen can offer more cargo options. That said, SAS operates direct services from OSL to JFK and IAD, which covers most US entry points well.

Not every private vet in Norway is authorised to issue an export health certificate for the United States. The certificate must come from a veterinarian holding Mattilsynet authorisation for official health documentation. Most large veterinary practices in Norwegian cities will have at least one such vet, but it is worth confirming before you book.

The certificate covers the microchip number, vaccination history (including rabies), owner details, and a declaration that the animal is fit for travel. It must be dated no more than 10 days before the pet’s arrival in the US. Critically, that is arrival date, not departure date. A 10-hour transatlantic flight eats into that window, so aim for a vet appointment the day before or morning of departure.

Norway operates its own veterinary certification system separate from EU forms (since Norway is EEA but not EU). The format is nonetheless well-recognised by US customs. If your airline or the US port of entry requires an English-language version, most Mattilsynet vets can issue bilingual certificates or provide a certified translation.

If you are using a cargo service rather than checked baggage, the cargo airline may require additional documentation from Mattilsynet or from their own ground handling agent. Confirm exactly what paperwork the cargo provider needs alongside the standard health certificate.

SAS is the primary carrier for direct services from Oslo Gardermoen (OSL) to US destinations, including JFK and IAD (Washington Dulles). SAS accepts small pets in the cabin (under 8 kg including carrier) and larger dogs as checked baggage or cargo. Transatlantic pet spaces are capped, so book as early as possible.

Norwegian Air Shuttle covers additional US routes from OSL but does not allow in-cabin pets on transatlantic flights. Pets travel as cargo only. This can work well for larger dogs, but the lack of a cabin option means small pet owners may prefer SAS.

Lufthansa connects OSL to the US via Frankfurt (FRA), which adds a transit leg but opens up routes to a wider range of US cities. Pets travelling via FRA must be handled correctly at the transit airport, and cargo-only rules apply on the Atlantic segment.

On arrival at a US airport, customs inspection is straightforward for pets from non-high-risk countries. The officer checks the health certificate, the CDC Dog Import Form, and typically scans the microchip. The inspection happens at the port of entry while the owner is present, and there is no holding period for compliant animals.

Costs for this route typically run USD 800-1,800 for air cargo from OSL to the US, plus NOK 1,500-4,000 for the health certificate. Professional agents charge USD 400-900 but handle the end-to-end coordination, which many owners value when moving internationally for the first time.