Traveling with a dog within Europe or North America is relatively straightforward today. If you’re coming from countries like Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Germany, the USA or the UK, it usually comes down to a microchip, a rabies vaccination, and correctly issued veterinary paperwork.
There are, however, destinations where a typical tourist with a dog can hardly get in. Not because dogs are outright banned, but because the entry rules are designed primarily for long-term relocation rather than a short holiday.
In this article we divide countries and their specific territories into two groups: those that are practically off-limits for tourists with a dog, and those where entry is extremely complicated and time-consuming.
The list is likely not fully comprehensive. We focus mainly on sovereign states or special territories with their own animal-entry regimes. Around the world there are many other smaller geographic areas—national parks, protected islands or autonomous regions—where bringing a dog is prohibited or heavily restricted for various reasons. Our aim here is to highlight the most prominent and strictest examples.
Nearly impossible destinations
Faroe Islands
The Faroe Islands are one of the best-known places where a typical tourist can’t realistically bring a dog. Although part of the Kingdom of Denmark, they have their own veterinary rules. Importing a dog requires special permits and, in most cases, is allowed only for people moving to the islands or planning a long-term stay.
A short tourist trip with a dog is, in practice, not an option here. If you’re planning a week or two on the islands, your dog has to stay home.
Greenland
Greenland has a similarly specific regime. Beyond administrative permits, there are regional restrictions and the logistics of transporting animals are very limited. Combined with complicated flight connections, it’s a destination that is very impractical for tourist travel with a dog.
While entry isn’t absolutely banned, the system is geared more toward long-term moves than holiday stays.
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
South Georgia is an extremely protected area with some of the strictest conservation rules in the world. It’s a sub-Antarctic territory with no permanent civilian population, and visitor movements are tightly regulated.
Bringing pets is, in practice, not permitted. The territory is managed with an emphasis on absolute protection of local fauna and preventing the introduction of any diseases. For tourists, South Georgia is simply a destination you cannot visit with a dog.
Galápagos
The Galápagos are among the most sensitive ecosystems on Earth, and protection measures are extremely strict. The islands belong to Ecuador but operate under a special environmental regime.
Bringing pets to the Galápagos is, in practice, heavily restricted and intended mainly for residents with special authorization. Tourists are not allowed to bring a dog to the islands as part of a regular holiday. Protecting endemic species and preventing disease introduction take absolute priority.
For travelers, that means one simple fact: even if entering Ecuador with a dog is theoretically possible, you won’t get to the Galápagos with one as a tourist.
Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
Easter Island is administered by Chile but operates under a special regime controlling the movement of people and animals. The island is isolated, and local authorities prioritize disease prevention and protection of a fragile ecosystem.
Bringing a dog to Rapa Nui requires individual approval from Chilean veterinary authorities and the island’s local administration. Specific permits and documentation are needed beyond what’s required for mainland Chile. In practice, the system is geared more to residents or long-term moves.
For a tourist planning a short visit, entering with a dog is very complicated and administratively demanding. While it isn’t an outright ban, for a standard holiday Easter Island is a destination that’s close to impossible.
Extremely complicated destinations
Australia
Australia has some of the strictest animal-import rules in the world. The goal is to protect the local ecosystem and maintain the country’s rabies-free status.
Importing a dog requires an import permit, a series of veterinary checks including a rabies antibody test with precisely timed intervals, and mandatory post-arrival quarantine at an approved facility.
The whole process can take several months and is expensive. For a tourist planning a short stay, it’s practically unrealistic.
New Zealand
New Zealand takes a similar approach to Australia. Conservation and biosecurity are top priorities. Importing a dog is possible only from approved countries and involves administrative permits, serological testing, and mandatory quarantine on arrival.
While bringing a dog isn’t completely banned, the process is disproportionately long and costly for a short holiday.
Japan
Japan also enforces strict import rules, including rabies testing and mandatory waiting periods between steps. If conditions aren’t met exactly on schedule, a long quarantine may follow on arrival.
For a traveler planning a short trip, Japan’s system means months of preparation before departure.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong operates as its own veterinary zone with distinct rules. Dog import depends on the categorization of the country of origin and, in many cases, involves quarantine. The paperwork and costs can be significant.
Again, the system is designed more for relocation than short-term tourism.
Falkland Islands
The Falkland Islands are among the territories with very strict controls on animal import. The islands protect their rabies-free status, and any dog import is subject to individual approval, an import permit, and compliance with precisely defined veterinary conditions. In some cases, quarantine may be required.
The process is administratively demanding and tied to a specific travel timeline. For an ordinary tourist visit, it’s a very complicated scenario—realistically manageable for a long-term move rather than a short expedition.
Are you planning a trip abroad with your dog? Check the entry requirements for various countries directly in BorderCooler®.
Why are these countries so strict?
The common denominator is biosecurity. Many of these are island nations or geographically isolated territories that have long protected their status as free of certain diseases, especially rabies.
From the perspective of a typical traveler from the EU, USA or the UK, it’s important to understand this isn’t bureaucratic hassle but a system to safeguard the local ecosystem.
The reality is simple: if a country requires months of preparation, tightly scheduled tests and mandatory quarantine on arrival, it’s not a destination suited to a classic holiday with a dog.
Conclusion
Not every attractive destination is automatically accessible when you’re traveling with a dog. While Europe offers a relatively easy framework for moving pets, some island states and biosecurity-sensitive countries set rules so strict that a standard holiday with a dog doesn’t make sense.
If you’re planning a trip outside Europe, always check not only your own entry requirements but also the real options for your dog. In some cases, it’s more realistic to travel without your dog—or save that destination for a time when you plan to relocate, not just visit.