Pet import requirements for Greenland

Greenland at a glance

The detail

For Greenland, start with this checkpoint: 30 days after 1st Rabies vaccine. Greenland is a North American autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. Confirm routing into North America with the airline before you lock crate training dates.

Import requirements

30 days after 1st Rabies vaccine

It is only possible to acquire permission to import a dog into the southern part of Western Greenland. This in cludes the area stretching from Kangaamiut down to Cape Farewell.

It is not possible to gain permission for the importation of a dog in the area north of the 66th latitude in the Western part of Greenland. This in cludes Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq and further north to Qaanaaq (Thule). The entire part of Eastern Greenland down to Cape Farewell east of the 44th western longitude is also in cluded in the no permission zone.

Import Requirements

The Greenlandic Representation can only issue a permission to import a dog when the following requirements have been met:

• Application permission to import a dog
• Rabies vaccination. The dog must have had the vaccination for at least 30 days and no longer than 12 months

• Vaccination certificates for distemper and parvovirus in fection
• Health certificate from a veterinarian that has been issued within the last 14 days and a documentation of ownership of the dog

• Permission from your local municipality
• Certificate confirming sterilization (female dogs only)

Please note that the permission granted to import an animal into Greenland by the Greenlandic Representation shall accompany the animal to Greenland to gether with the certificates and/or statements that have been provided to you.

The Greenlandic Representation can only issue a permission to import a dog when the following requirements have been met:

• Permission from your local municipality
• Rabies vaccination. The dog must have had the vaccination for at least 30 days and no longer than 12 months.
• Vaccination certificates for distemper and parvovirus in fection
• Health certificate from a veterinarian that has been issued within the last 14 days.
• Certificate confirming sterilization (female dogs only)
• Documentation of in surance conditions

Please note that the permission granted to import an animal into Greenland by the Greenlandic Representation shall accompany the animal to Greenland to gether with the certificates and/or statements that have been provided to you.

The Greenlandic Representation can only issue a permission to import a cat when the following requirements have been met:

• Permission from your local municipality
• Rabies vaccination. The cat must have had the vaccination for at least 30 days and no longer than 12 months.
• Health certificate from a veterinarian that has been issued within the last 14 days.
• Statement from the owner of the cat regarding tapeworm treatment and isolation for 14 days prior to departure.

Please note that the permission granted to import an animal into Greenland by the Greenlandic Representation shall accompany the animal to Greenland to gether with the certificates and/or statements that have been provided to you.

Requests regarding other animals or commercial importation; snakes, horses etc.

For the importation of these types of animals you must get in contact with the Danish

NAMMINERSORLUTIK OQARTUSSAT

____________________________

Grønlands Repræsentation

Kalaallit Nunaata Sinniisoqarfia

Greenland Representation

Strandgade 91

1401 København K

Telefon: +45 3283 3800

Mail: info@ghsdk.dk

You will need permission from the local municipality you will reside in.

Pets must show proof of sterilization.

Identification and microchip

Pets must be microchipped.

Rabies and vaccinations

Rabies vaccination. The cat & dog must have had the vaccination for at least 30 days and no longer than 12 months.

Tests and treatments

No specific tests required.

Tape worm treatment & isolation for cats within 14 days

Health certificate and permits

Within 14 days

To import pets or service animals into Greenland, you must have an import permit from the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen. If you are importing a dog or cat, however, you must first send an application to the municipality to which you are planning to move. Each municipality has its own regulations on dogs and cats, and you must the refore have written permission from the municipality. If you are moving from one municipality to another in Greenland, you must obtain written permission once again from the municipality to which you are moving.

If your application is approved by the municipality, you must send the confirmation with the relevant certificates to the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen, who will then issue an import permit.

The same procedure applies when re-importing a dog or cat after a stay abroad.

Your application must enclose the relevant certificates, which can be downloaded from the website of the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration.

If your animal has an EU Pet Passport before you move to Greenland, this will make it easier for you to bring your dog or cat back with you to Denmark, for example when you go on holiday.

It is only possible to acquire permission to import a dog into the southern part of Western Greenland. This in cludes the area stretching from Kangaamiut down to Cape Farewell.

It is not possible to gain permission for the importation of a dog in the area north of the 66th latitude in the Western part of Greenland. This in cludes Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq and further north to Qaanaaq (Thule). The entire part of Eastern Greenland down to Cape Farewell east of the 44th western longitude is also in cluded in the no permission zone.

Application to Import a Dog

Written permit from the local (municipal) authorities. Inquiries and applications can be

directed to:

● Kommune Kujalleq: kommune@kujalleq.gl

● Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq: kommuneqarfik@sermersooq.gl

● Qeqqata Kommunia: qeqqata@qeqqata.gl

● Kommune Qeqertalik: qeqertalik@qeqertalik.gl

● Avannaata Kommunia: avannaata@avannaata.gl

Application for permission will be processed as soon as possible.

If the application is in complete, the permit cannot be issued and you will be contacted.

Note that you must have approval from the Greenlandic municipality before you can request a permit.

The permission will be sent to the email address you have provided.

The processing time is approx. 3 weekdays.

See more about importing dogs here: Imports of animals, dogs[Get guidelines for the imports of animals to Greenland here.](https://grl-rep.dk/on ewebmedia/Vejledning_Indf%C3%B8rsel_dyr.pdf)

Restrictions and banned breeds

It is forbidden to import fighting dogs or muscle dogs to Greenland.

It is only possible to acquire permission to import a dog into the southern part of Western Greenland. This in cludes the area stretching from Kangaamiut down to Cape Farewell.

It is not possible to gain permission for the importation of a dog in the area north of the 66th latitude in the Western part of Greenland. This in cludes Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq and further north to Qaanaaq (Thule). The entire part of Eastern Greenland down to Cape Farewell east of the 44th western longitude is also in cluded in the no permission zone.

Customs, agents, and airports

While not legally mandated, using a customs broker for shipments to Greenland is highly recommended, as they can ensure proper customs clearance, paperwork completion, and compliance with regulations, potentially preventing delays and issues.

It is highly recommended to work with a customs broker as the destination agent.

Airports:

• Kangerlussuaq Airport, Kangerlussuaq (IATA: SFJ, ICAO: BGSF)
• Nuuk International Airport, Nuuk (IATA: GOH, ICAO:BGGH

3.

Greenland has one of ficial ground border crossing, established on Hans Island (Tartupaluk) in 2022.

Location: Hans Island, situated in the Kennedy Channel of the Nares Strait between Greenland (Kingdom of Denmark) and Ellesmere Island (Canada).

Crossing Status: This is a remote, uninhabited location, primarily accessed by researchers or Inuit hunters. There are no permanent or staffed border patrol stations, but the area is of ficially under the sovereignty of the two nations.

Practical Access: Travel between Canada and Greenland generally occurs via air or sea rather than by crossing the Hans Island land border, largely because it is in accessible by conventional transportation

Water Port: www.ral.gl

• Sisimiut. hfe@ral.gl
• Ilulissat harbours kag@ral.gl

When travelling to Greenland, you must get an import permit from the Greenland Representation in Copenhagen.

Export notes

It is suggested to contact your municipality for further in formation on export.

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Greenland is a party to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), and the Ministry of Agriculture, Self-sufficiency, Energy and Environment is responsible for implementing CITES and issuing permits.

Import of animals - poultry

The following animals will be considered poultry: Chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, guinea fowls, quails, pheasants, partridges and ostriches.

For the importation of poultry animals you must get in contact with the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, ‘Veterinary North’, mail: 10@fvst.dk.

The Greenlandic Representation can only issue a permission to import a parrot when the following requirements have been met:

• Health certificate from a veterinarian that has been issued within the last 14 days.
• Statement from the owner regarding self isolation of the concerning bird 14 days prior to departure

Please note that the permission granted to import an animal into Greenland by the Greenlandic Representation shall accompany the animal to Greenland to gether with the certificates and/or statements that have been provided to you.

For the importation of guinea pigs, squirrels, hamsters, regular aquarium fish, turtles/to rtoises, budgerigars and other living room birds you will need a permission.

For requests regarding the importation of these animals contact the Greenlandic Representation.

For aquarium fish: According to EU legislation aquarium fish shall be packaged in styrofoam boxes and be checked in before departure.

Please note that the permission granted to import an animal into Greenland by the Greenlandic Representation shall accompany the animal to Greenland to gether with the certificates and/or statements that have been provided to you.

Greenland's animal welfare regulations, overseen by the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, aim to ensure the welfare of animals, with specific focus on food establishments, feed establishments, and animal by-product processing, and in clude regulations for importing animals and animal products.

More in formation can be found here

Access to veterinarian care can be limited in Greenland.

It is only possible to acquire permission to import a dog into the southern part of Western Greenland. This in cludes the area stretching from Kangaamiut down to Cape Farewell.

It is not possible to gain permission for the importation of a dog in the area north of the 66th latitude in the Western part of Greenland. This in cludes Sisimiut, Kangerlussuaq and further north to Qaanaaq (Thule). The entire part of Eastern Greenland down to Cape Farewell east of the 44th western longitude is also in cluded in the no permission zone.

Public holidays in Greenland

Employees at most workplaces usually have the following public holidays off:

• 1 January: New Year's Day
• Easter: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday. Easter Sunday falls no earlier than 22 March and no later than 25 April
• Prayer Day: Always falls on the Friday before the fourth Sunday after Easter; no earlier than 17 April and no later than 21 May
• Ascension Day: Falls 40 days after Easter Sunday, always on a Thursday; no earlier than 30 April and no later than 3 June. Please note that some schools and day-care centres are closed on the Friday after Ascension Day.
• Whitsun: Whit Sunday and Whit Monday. Whit Sunday is the seventh Sunday after Easter: no earlier than 10 May and no later than 13 June
• 25 December: Christmas Day
• 26 December: 2. Christmas Day

You must fulfill your destination country requirements.

Official contacts

The Greenland Representation

Email: info@ghsdk.dk

The Veterinary and Food Authority of Greenland

Postboks 269

3900 Nuuk

Tel: +299 34 50 00

Fax: +299 34 63 55

E-mail: uumasut@nanoq.gl

Website: www.naalakkersuisut.gl

Current as of May 2025

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-05-07.

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