What are the rules for bringing a dog to Sweden?

What are the rules for bringing a dog into Sweden? There are three basic requirements for a dog travelling from another EU country: the dog must be identified, it must be vaccinated against rabies, and it must have a valid travel document showing this. In addition, there are rules regarding declaration at the border and specific requirements for dogs coming from countries outside the EU.

These are official regulations, and they are subject to change. You should therefore always check the current requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture before you set off. This article outlines how the system works in broad terms so that you know what to look out for, but it is no substitute for the official information provided by the authority. Once the formalities are sorted, the rest is straightforward: there is dog-friendly mountain cottages in Sälen where dogs are allowed inside, and Sälenfjällen is a great area for a dog that likes snow.

Short answer: three requirements that always apply

For a dog travelling into Sweden from another EU country, the regulations are based on three parts:

• ID labelling. The dog must be marked so that it can be identified, usually with a microchip.
• Rabies vaccination. The vaccination must be valid on entry, and it must have been administered after the animal was microchipped to be valid.
• Travel documents. An EU pet passport, issued by a vet, showing the pet’s identity and vaccination history.

In addition, the dog must be declared on entry in accordance with the applicable regulations. There is also a waiting period between vaccination and travel, and there are age restrictions for young dogs. Please check with the Swedish Board of Agriculture to find out exactly how many days’ notice is required and what age limits apply, as these details are crucial and are subject to change. Allow plenty of time: a vaccination administered too late could, in practice, prevent the entire journey from going ahead.

EU pet passport, identification and rabies vaccination

The EU pet passport is a small booklet issued by a vet in the pet’s home country. It contains the dog’s identity, the owner’s details and the vaccinations it has received. The passport is linked to the microchip number, which is why the order matters: the microchip first, then the vaccination. A vaccination administered before the microchip is fitted is not normally accepted, and must therefore be repeated.

Check three things well in advance of your departure, ideally several weeks beforehand:

• The microchip can be read. Take the dog to the vet and have them scan it.
• That the chip number in the passport matches the one that is read.
• That the rabies vaccination remains valid for the entire duration of the stay, not just on arrival.

Carry your passport in your hand luggage or with you in the passenger compartment, not in the boot. Also, take photos of the pages showing the chip number and vaccination details, so that you still have this information even if the booklet goes missing.

Notification to the Swedish Customs Service and exemptions

In addition to animal health requirements, there is a customs aspect. When you bring an animal into Sweden, you must declare it in accordance with the applicable regulations, and the procedure for doing so depends on where you cross the border and how you are travelling. At some border crossings, this is done on the spot; at others, it must be done in advance.

There are exceptions and simplifications, depending, amongst other things, on which country you are coming from. As this falls within the remit of two different authorities, the procedure is as follows: check the animal health requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture, and check the declaration and customs rules with Swedish Customs. Carry out both checks, and do so in the same week that you book your trip. We have summarised what else you should take with you when crossing the border in the article on the border and what you should bring with you.

Dogs from countries outside the EU

If the dog comes from a country outside the EU, there are more requirements and the preparation time is longer. Depending on the country, there may be additional requirements for blood tests to show that the rabies vaccination has taken effect, for specific veterinary certificates, and for entry to take place via a specific type of border crossing. Waiting times can be long, and are measured in months rather than weeks.

The conclusion is a practical one: start by checking the regulatory requirements before you book your accommodation, not afterwards. The Swedish Board of Agriculture divides the world’s countries into different categories with varying requirements, and the category to which your country belongs determines the entire timetable. If you are travelling from Norway or another country outside the EU but within the Nordic or European cooperation framework, special rules may apply, and these may differ from both EU rules and third-country rules.

Taking your dog in the car on a long journey

Once the practicalities have been sorted out, all that remains is the journey itself, and for a dog, a long car journey in the winter darkness can be tiring. There are a few things that will make it much more relaxing:

• Plan to take breaks more often than you would for yourself, and choose places where the dog can walk safely on a lead.
• Make sure your dog travels safely in the car, either in a crate or wearing a safety harness, so that it cannot move about freely.
• Make sure you have water and a bowl to hand, as well as a blanket that smells of home.
• Have a light meal before setting off, rather than a full meal.
• Make sure you have a couple of extra towels. The dog gets wet every time you stop in the snow.

When travelling by ferry, the shipping company’s own rules regarding pets apply. Some routes have cabins that allow dogs, others have kennel facilities, and some do not permit pets to be left in the car. Please check the terms and conditions when you book your ticket, not at the port. If you’re travelling by road from the west, we describe the route in our guide to the route from Norway.

The dog in the cottage and outside in Sälenfjällen

Once you arrive at Sälenfjällen, a different set of rules applies, and they are simpler. Not all properties accept dogs, so this is something to sort out when booking. We have summarised the practicalities in the article on dog-friendly holiday cottages to rent.

When out in the countryside, there are two things a foreign dog owner should be aware of. During certain times of the year, there are specific requirements regarding how dogs must be kept in the countryside out of consideration for wildlife, and in reindeer herding areas, extra care must be taken as reindeer graze freely. A dog chasing reindeer is a serious problem, not a mere accident. Keep your dog on a lead near reindeer and domestic animals, and find out what the local regulations are. Our page on dog in Sälen and the rules that apply on site will go through this for anyone who is there.

Summary – checklist for travelling with your dog

Follow these steps when bringing your dog to Sweden: first, check the current requirements with the Swedish Board of Agriculture and the registration rules with Swedish Customs; then book a vet’s appointment well in advance for microchipping, vaccinations and the EU pet passport; and only then book your accommodation and ferry tickets. Check that the microchip number is legible and matches the passport, and that the vaccination is valid for the entire duration of your stay. Check the ferry operator’s pet policies when booking your crossing, plan for more breaks than usual during the car journey, and sort out dog-friendly accommodation at the time of booking. If your dog is coming from a country outside the EU: expect months of preparation, not weeks. Always check the current regulations with the Swedish Board of Agriculture before departure – they may have changed since your last trip. If you have any questions about which of our properties accept dogs, we’ll be happy to answer them before you book.