Travelling abroad with your dog or cat - how to plan the trip
Short answer
Within the EU your dog or cat needs a microchip, an EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination, and after the first vaccination you must wait 21 days before you travel. Some countries, such as Norway and Finland, also require tapeworm treatment, and outside the EU a rabies antibody test can mean months of planning. So start with your vet well in advance, or let your pet stay home with a sitter who stays with you.
Start planning early
The most common mistake is starting too late. A microchip and a passport are quick to arrange, but the wait after a first rabies vaccination and the rules for travel outside the EU can take weeks or months. A sensible timeline looks like this:
| When | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| As soon as the trip is decided | Check the rules for your destination and any transit countries | The rules differ between countries and change from time to time |
| At least a month before a trip within the EU | Vet visit for microchip, EU passport and rabies vaccine if missing | A first vaccination needs a 21-day wait |
| Several months before a trip outside the EU | Rabies vaccine and an antibody test entered in the passport | The test must be done before your pet leaves the EU |
| A few days before you leave | Tapeworm treatment if your destination requires it | It must be given within a set number of hours before entry |
Travelling within the EU
Within the EU and to countries such as Norway and Switzerland, broadly the same basic requirements apply. Your pet needs:
Basic requirements for travel within the EU
- A microchip, implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination
- An EU pet passport issued by a vet
- A rabies vaccination given when your pet was at least 12 weeks old
- At least 21 days since the first vaccination, or a booster given before the previous one expired
If you give a booster before the previous vaccination expires, there is no new waiting period. If you miss the date, the next dose counts as a new primary vaccination and the 21 days start again. So check the date in the passport well before the trip.
Norway and Finland require dogs to be treated against tapeworm within a set window before entry. Book the vet appointment so that it lines up with when you cross the border.
Travelling outside the EU
Outside the EU, entry is governed by the rules of the country you visit, and the return by EU rules. Rabies is what usually causes trouble. If you travel to a country where the rabies situation is not under control, your pet needs an approved rabies antibody test before you leave, and the result must be entered in the EU passport.
The blood sample is taken at least 30 days after vaccination and analysed by an approved laboratory. If the test was not entered in the passport before you left, you must wait at least 90 days from the sample before your pet may come back. On a short trip, that can make it impossible to bring your pet home in time.
When you come home to Sweden
When you return to Sweden with a dog or cat, you must always declare your pet to Swedish Customs (Tullverket), even when you come from another EU country. Within the EU you can declare in advance online. Your pet must still meet the requirements, so make sure the vaccination does not expire during the trip.
- Tapeworm treatment is not required to enter Sweden, but the Swedish Board of Agriculture recommends it.
- If the rabies vaccination expires during the trip, you need a health certificate for the new vaccination, because vets outside the EU may not write in an EU passport.
- If you arrive directly from a country outside the EU where the rabies situation is not under control, land at Arlanda or Landvetter.
Always check the current rules with the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) and Swedish Customs before you leave. This guide is an overview and does not replace their information.
When your pet is better off at home
Not every animal enjoys travelling. Long car journeys, flights, heat and new places can be hard, especially for cats, older dogs and pets with health problems. If the trip is short, or your pet cannot join in what you will be doing, it is often kinder to let it stay at home.
- A sitter in your home: the sitter stays with you and your pet keeps its routines.
- Overnight care at a sitter's home: your dog stays with a sitter while you are away.
- Cat sitting: a sitter comes to your cat, ideally morning and evening.
Search for sitters near you and read reviews before you book. If your pet is staying at home, our checklist before the stay helps you cover everything the sitter needs to know.
Packing list for your pet
If your pet is coming along, pack so you can cope even if the journey takes longer than planned:
What to pack
- EU passport and any certificates, ideally with a copy on your phone
- Food for the whole trip and a little extra, in your pet's usual brand
- A water bowl and water for the travel day
- Lead, harness and a crate or carrier your pet is used to
- Medication and your vet's contact details
- Litter tray and litter if your cat is coming
Read about how Pet Lounge works too, if you want a plan B at home in case the trip changes.
Frequently asked questions
How long before the trip must my dog be vaccinated against rabies?
After the first rabies vaccination you must wait 21 days before your pet may travel. If you give a booster before the previous vaccination expires, there is no new waiting period.
Do I need to declare my dog to Swedish Customs when I come home from an EU country?
Yes. You must always declare dogs and cats to Swedish Customs (Tullverket) when you arrive in Sweden. Within the EU you can do it in advance online.
Does my dog need worming to come back to Sweden?
No, tapeworm treatment is not required to enter Sweden, but the Swedish Board of Agriculture recommends it. Norway and Finland, on the other hand, require treatment before entry.
Can my cat come on holiday with me?
It can, with the same requirements for microchip, passport and rabies vaccine. But most cats are happiest at home, so cat sitting is often the calmer choice.
Where can I find the current rules?
With the Swedish Board of Agriculture for your pet's requirements and with Swedish Customs for declaring at the border. Always check both before you leave, because the rules change from time to time.
Find a sitter near you
Read profiles and reviews, compare prices and send a message before you book.
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