Bringing a pet to Sweden
Sweden follows the EU Pet Travel Scheme. All pet dogs must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and accompanied by an EU pet passport or a third-country health certificate. No routine quarantine applies to compliant animals. Rules differ by the origin country's rabies status: pets from high-risk countries need a rabies antibody titer test and must enter through a designated Traveller's Point of Entry. Start planning at least 4 months ahead if travelling from a high-risk country and confirm the exact route and paperwork with Jordbruksverket before booking flights.
Requirements for your pet
Showing requirements for a dog travelling from United States to Sweden.
Breed restrictions
Sweden does not ban any dog breeds. However, the Swedish Board of Agriculture has regulations on keeping certain breeds (e.g. American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) that may require special permits or conditions for ownership, but these do not affect import for non-commercial travellers. Always check with Jordbruksverket for the latest rules.
Documents checklist
- EU pet passport (or equivalent third-country health certificate)
- Rabies vaccination certificate with microchip number
- Signed declaration that the animal is not intended for sale or transfer
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, EU pet passport €20–40, health certificate (if needed) €50–150. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
Pets from EU/EEA countries and listed third countries (e.g. Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City) can travel on an EU pet passport. The 21-day waiting period applies after the first rabies vaccination; booster vaccinations do not reset the clock if kept up to date.
Breed restrictions
Sweden does not ban any dog breeds. However, the Swedish Board of Agriculture has regulations on keeping certain breeds (e.g. American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) that may require special permits or conditions for ownership, but these do not affect import for non-commercial travellers. Always check with Jordbruksverket for the latest rules.
Documents checklist
- Third-country veterinary health certificate (EU model certificate)
- Rabies vaccination certificate with microchip number
- Signed declaration that the animal is not intended for sale or transfer
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, health certificate €100–250, possible courier/endorsement fees. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
For non-EU listed countries (e.g. US, UK, Japan, Australia), the pet must be accompanied by an EU-model health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. The certificate must be endorsed by the origin country's official veterinary authority. No titer test or quarantine required if all conditions are met.
Breed restrictions
Sweden does not ban any dog breeds. However, the Swedish Board of Agriculture has regulations on keeping certain breeds (e.g. American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier) that may require special permits or conditions for ownership, but these do not affect import for non-commercial travellers. Always check with Jordbruksverket for the latest rules.
Documents checklist
- Third-country veterinary health certificate (EU model certificate)
- Rabies vaccination certificate with microchip number
- FAVN/RFFIT rabies antibody titer test result (≥0.5 IU/ml)
- Signed declaration that the animal is not intended for sale or transfer
Rough budget
Approximate ranges: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, FAVN titer test €100–250, health certificate €100–250, possible courier/endorsement fees. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
Pets from high-risk countries must enter through a designated Traveller's Point of Entry (TPE) and be declared to Swedish customs. The titer test must be done at an EU-approved laboratory. If the titer test result is below 0.5 IU/ml, the pet must be revaccinated and retested, and the 3-month waiting period restarts. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met.
Frequently asked questions
Showing requirements for a cat travelling from United States to Sweden.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU pet passport (or equivalent) issued by an EU/EEA country or approved third country
- Rabies vaccination certificate with vaccine batch number, date of administration, and valid until date
- Microchip certificate or documented scan record
- Signed declaration that the animal is not intended for sale or transfer of ownership
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, EU pet passport €20–40, health certificate (if required) €50–150. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
For cats from EU/EEA countries and listed third countries (Andorra, San Marino, Vatican City, Switzerland, Norway, etc.), Sweden applies the EU Pet Travel Scheme without additional national measures. The cat must be microchipped before rabies vaccination. No tapeworm treatment required for cats. No quarantine. Entry can be through any point of entry; no advance notification to Jordbruksverket required for non-commercial movement of up to 5 cats.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU veterinary health certificate for non-commercial movement of pets (Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 model certificate)
- Rabies vaccination certificate with vaccine batch number and valid dates
- Microchip certificate or documented scan record
- Signed declaration of non-commercial movement (Annex IV declaration)
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, EU health certificate €100–250 (varies by country), possible courier/endorsement fees €50–100. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
For cats from non-EU countries with controlled rabies status but not fully EU-equivalent (e.g., USA, UK, Japan, Australia, Canada, New Zealand), Sweden requires an EU health certificate issued within 10 days of travel by an official government veterinarian. The certificate must be endorsed by the competent authority of the origin country. No rabies titer test required if the cat was vaccinated in a country with controlled rabies status and the vaccine is valid. No quarantine. Entry must be through a designated point of entry (airports with customs) and the traveller must present the certificate to customs. Maximum 5 cats per non-commercial movement.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU veterinary health certificate for non-commercial movement of pets (Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 model certificate)
- Rabies vaccination certificate with vaccine batch number and valid dates
- FAVN rabies titer test result from an EU-approved laboratory
- Microchip certificate or documented scan record
- Signed declaration of non-commercial movement (Annex IV declaration)
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–60, rabies vaccination €20–50, FAVN titer test €100–250 (plus shipping to EU-approved lab), EU health certificate €100–250, possible courier/endorsement fees €50–100. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
For cats from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa, South Asia, Middle East), Sweden requires a valid rabies titer test (FAVN) with a result of ≥0.5 IU/ml taken at least 90 days before entry. The cat must be microchipped, vaccinated against rabies, and the titer test must be done by an EU-approved laboratory. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met. Entry must be through a designated point of entry (Stockholm Arlanda, Gothenburg Landvetter, Malmö, etc.) and the traveller must present all documents to customs. Maximum 5 cats per non-commercial movement. If the titer test is not done or fails, the cat may be quarantined or returned at the owner's expense.
Frequently asked questions
Showing requirements for a ferret travelling from United States to Sweden.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU pet passport (or equivalent) with rabies vaccination record
- Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Proof of ISO microchip implantation
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, health certificate €50–150, rabies vaccination €20–50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
Ferrets from EU/EFTA countries follow the EU Pet Travel Scheme (Regulation (EU) No 576/2013) for non-commercial movement: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, then a 21-day wait before travel, and either an EU pet passport or a health certificate. No titer test or quarantine is required.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU pet passport (or equivalent) with rabies vaccination record
- Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Proof of ISO microchip implantation
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, health certificate €50–150, rabies vaccination €20–50. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
Ferrets from low-risk countries (e.g., USA, UK, Japan) must meet the same requirements as EU-origin ferrets: ISO microchip, rabies vaccination at 12 weeks or older, a 21-day wait before travel, and a health certificate or EU pet passport. No titer test or quarantine is required. The UK is not part of the EU Pet Travel Scheme but ferrets from the UK can enter Sweden under the same non-commercial rules if they have an EU pet passport or a health certificate.
Minimum age: 3 months
Documents checklist
- EU pet passport (or equivalent) with rabies vaccination record
- Official health certificate issued within 10 days of travel
- Proof of ISO microchip implantation
- Rabies titer test (FAVN) result from an EU-approved laboratory
Rough budget
Approximate costs: microchip €30–50, health certificate €50–150, rabies vaccination €20–50, FAVN titer test €100–250. Confirm current prices with a local vet and Jordbruksverket.
Ferrets from high-risk countries (e.g., Thailand, Russia, most of Africa) must have a rabies titer test (FAVN) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The test must be done at least 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel. No quarantine is required if all conditions are met.
Frequently asked questions
Good to know
Non-commercial movement of up to 5 pets per traveller is allowed; more than 5 triggers commercial rules. All pets must be at least 15 weeks old to enter (12 weeks for rabies vaccination + 21 days waiting period). Pets from high-risk countries must enter through a designated Traveller's Point of Entry (TPE) and be declared to customs. Sweden has no quarantine stations for pets; non-compliant animals may be refused entry or returned at the owner's expense.
Airline rules & connecting flights
Government import rules are only half the picture — your airline sets its own pet policy on top of them: whether your petcan fly in the cabin at all, size/weight limits for the carrier, breed embargoes (many airlines refuse brachycephalic breeds like bulldogs and pugs in cargo), and seasonal heat restrictions. Check your specific airline's pet policy before booking — see IATA's Traveler's Pet Corner .
If your flight has a layover, the transit country can have its own pet rules — sometimes these apply even if you never leave the airport. If you're transiting through another country on the way to Sweden, check that country's pet-entry/transit rules separately (search "pets" on this site for that country too).