Sweden Pet Passport & Import Regulations
NOTICE: The EU Commission has classified the United Kingdom as a Part 2 Listed Third Country. (more information here on this classification) If you are planning to travel to Sweden from the United Kingdom, a titer test will not be required; however, UK Pet Passports will not be accepted. A different health certificate will be required. See step #5.
There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering Sweden as long as the following requirements are met. Unless otherwise stated, the regulations below apply to domestic dogs, cats and ferrets including service and emotional support dogs and cats. Owners of other pets should refer to item 11.
Pet Microchip
The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Sweden is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15 digit pet microchip.
If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:
- You can bring your own microchip scanner.
- You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
- If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).
A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.
Rabies Vaccination
All dogs, cats and ferrets must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted to enter Sweden.
The first rabies vaccination after the microchip is implanted is called the primary vaccination and it should be a one year vaccine unless manufacturer specifications permit its use as a primary vaccination. If your pet's previous rabies vaccination had expired before being revaccinated, the next vaccination becomes the primary vaccination.
All vaccinations that are administered after the primary vaccination are called booster vaccinations.
If your pet is entering Sweden from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Sweden.
There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:
- the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
- the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.
Sweden does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.
Once your pet has entered Sweden, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.
If your pet is entering Sweden from a high-rabies country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).
Rabies Titer Test
If your pet is entering Sweden from a high-rabies country (click here), your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)
Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Sweden no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Sweden from a high-rabies country.
Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only
A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Sweden from any country.
Pet Health Certificate
The type of pet health certificate required for your pet depends on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. Choose from two options below.
Non-Commercial Transport: the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.
Non-Commercial Transport to Sweden from a country outside of the EU:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering Sweden from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies as well.
A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for Sweden. Endorsement by a government veterinarian must occur within 10 days of arrival.
This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.
Non-Commercial Travel to Sweden from another EU Member State:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.
Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Sweden from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.
No matter what country you are entering Sweden from, you or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.
Commercial Transport: the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 dogs, cats or ferrets are traveling with or without their owner.
Commercial Transport to Sweden from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. Step 3 does not apply.
A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.
This form is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.
Your pet must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at Göteborg-Landvetter or Stockholm-Arlanda Airports or a customs station when arriving by road. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.
All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.
Commercial Transport to Sweden from high-rabies countries outside the EU:
Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Sweden from these high-rabies countries. Pets must conform to all rules above and also have a titer test according to step 3 above. All dogs, cats and ferrets traveling to Sweden under commercial regulations must originate and terminate from registered facilities. Preapproval is required.
Commercial Transport to Sweden from another EU Member State:
Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.
If your pet is traveling to Sweden unaccompanied from another EU country, it must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Your veterinarian must supply and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. Your pet's transport must be accompanied by an Intratrade health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry and entered into the TRACES system.
Your pet can enter Sweden through all border crossings, but customs must be notified when crossing the border.
Traveling with more than 5 pets
If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and attending or training for a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #5)
Entering Sweden from Malaysia & Australia
If your pet is entering Sweden from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:
1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved
for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.
Cats may only enter Sweden from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
Entering Sweden by Air
Unless you are entering Sweden with or within 5 days of your pet from the following countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Faeroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Croatia, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino or Vatican City), your pet must enter Sweden by air at Göteborg-Landvetter or Stockholm-Arlanda Airports.
Pets should enter Sweden directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.
All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry. If your pet is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.
Puppies and Kittens
Non-vaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets are not permitted to enter Sweden from any EU Member State or country, except Norway. In this case, the puppy or kitten must be microchipped and have a Pet Passport issued in Norway.
For all other countries, rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age and only after a microchip is implanted. The youngest age a puppy or kitten can enter Sweden is 3 months and 22 days unless born and raised in Norway. In this case, the puppy or kitten must be microchipped and have an EU Pet Passport.
Banned Breeds
The following breeds are not permitted to enter Sweden: Czechoslovakian Wolfdog, Saarloos Wolfdog
Exporting Pets Living in Sweden
All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Sweden must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Sweden. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a high-rabies country, your veterinarian should do a rabies titer test before you leave Sweden if you intend to return. Export permits may be required for unaccompanied transports.
Other Animals
Birds (non-poultry), rabbits, rodents (mice, rats, guinea-pigs, golden hamsters, chinchillas, and gerbils), amphibia and ornamental fish may enter Sweden for non-commercial purposes with their owners in numbers less than 5 from other EU Member States including Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City State. They must have been born and raised in captivity. All animals are subject to inspection and must be healthy. Rabbits will require an import permit if entering Sweden from a non-EU country or one that is not listed above.
The above-mentioned pets can enter from rabies-controlled countries under non-commercial regulations when less than 5 in number and accompanied by their owner or legal representative. Rabbits and birds must be accompanied by an import permit which must be applied for at least 30 days prior to entry.
Birds must also be inspected within 48 hours of entry by a licensed veterinarian and either undergo pre-arrival quarantine in a governmental approved facility in Canada, Chile, Macedonia, Montenegro, New Zeeland, Serbia, or St Pierre et Miguelon or another rabies-controlled country or enter the EU through a country with approved quarantine facilities. (Sweden, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain or the United Kingdom). Tests must be done during the quarantine period.
Rabbits, birds, rodents and reptiles from non-EU countries except Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, may only be brought to Sweden through border inspection posts at Stockholm-Arlanda or Göteborg-Landvetter.
You need to notify Customs of your pet's arrival at least 48 hours in advance, and contact the local border inspection veterinarian at least one working day ahead of your pet's arrival.
Should your pet cross the border by land, you need to report to Customs and to the border inspection veterinarian. There will be a fee for inspecting your pet.
Owners are responsible for checking CITES requirements. (see step 11)
CITES
If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations. .
Need More Assistance?
To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.
Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.
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