If you are moving to Sweden with a pet, bringing animals from another EU country is straightforward, provided the requirements are met. This article outlines what you need to know before traveling with your pet.
Pets travelling to Sweden from an EU country
If you are moving to Sweden with a pet from another EU country, your pet must have a European pet passport issued by a licensed veterinarian, an ISO-compatible microchip (or clearly visible tattoo applied before July 2011), and a valid rabies vaccination. Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies as per the vaccine producer's recommendations. The rabies vaccine must be given after the microchip is implanted, and your pet may travel 21 days after the primary vaccination. Because of this timing, pets are usually at least 15 weeks old when they are allowed to travel.
No rabies blood test is required for pets travelling within the EU, and treatment against tapeworms is no longer mandatory when entering Sweden from another EU country. If your pet's microchip is not ISO standard, you must bring your own scanner so it can be read at the border if necessary.
Good to know:
Under normal non-commercial travel rules, you may bring up to five pets with you. Bringing more than five animals is only permitted if you can document that they are travelling to attend a competition, exhibition, or similar event, and additional conditions apply.
Pets travelling to Sweden from a non-EU country
If your pet is travelling to Sweden from a non-EU country, the requirements are stricter and depend on whether the country of departure is classified as listed on unlisted under EU rabies rules.
In all cases, your pet must be microchipped and vaccinated against rabies, with the vaccination given after the microchip was implanted. Travel is only permitted after the required waiting periods have been completed. Instead of an EU pet passport, your pet must travel with an EU animal health certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in your country of departure.
If your pet is coming from a listed non-EU country, no rabies blood test is required. If your pet is coming from an unlisted non-EU country, a rabies antibody test must be completed at an approved laboratory at least 30 days after vaccination, followed by a mandatory three-month waiting period before travel.
Treatment of tapeworms is not required for entry into Sweden. Pets must also be traveling for non-commercial reasons and must be traveling with their owner or arrive shortly before or after them.
You have to make sure that your pet:
- has undergone a rabies medical checkup, as well as treatments against ticks, tapeworms and echinococcus.
- wears an identification microchip.
- has a pet health certificate (E9.207 form) that was issued 90 days following the tests and vaccinations.
- is declared by its owner (that would be you).
Because the rules and timelines can vary depending on the country of origin, it is important to check the most up-to-date requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture before making travel arrangements.
Are pets quarantined upon arrival in Sweden?
Sweden does not apply a general pet quarantine on arrival if all the above entry requirements are met. Quarantine is only used if requirements are not fulfilled. This is the same for pets arriving from EU or Non-EU countries.
The standard pet travel rules apply to dogs, cats, and ferrets. Other animals, such as birds, reptiles, rodents, or rabbits, are subject to separate regulations and may require additional permits or be restricted depending on the species and country of origin, with more information in the useful links found below.
Useful links:
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