Travelling to Sweden with Your Dog

To enter Sweden you will need three things – a valid EU pet passport (issued by an authorised vet), a microchip to ISO standard 11784/11785, and a rabies vaccination that is at least 21 days old. Important – the chip must be implanted before or at the same time as the vaccination, otherwise the vaccination is invalid. Your dog must also be registered with Swedish customs (Tullverket), ideally in advance online.

No, not since 2012. Sweden abolished the mandatory tapeworm treatment because the fox tapeworm is now also present there. The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) still recommends deworming, but it's voluntary. Note: if you're continuing on from Sweden to Norway or Finland, deworming must be carried out 24-120 hours before entry – those countries still require it.

It depends on the route. On Stena Line Kiel–Gothenburg and Finnlines a pet cabin is mandatory – dogs aren't allowed on board without one. On Stena Line Rostock–Trelleborg and TT-Line it's recommended but not required. Scandlines doesn't offer cabins at all – the crossings are short enough that dogs can stay in the car or on the passenger decks.

On most operators, no. The car deck is closed to passengers for safety reasons during the crossing – this applies to Stena Line, TT-Line and Finnlines. The only exception is the short Scandlines crossings (Puttgarden–Rødby, Rostock–Gedser), where dogs may stay in the vehicle, although access to the car deck during the crossing is still not permitted.

Take a direct ferry to Sweden and avoid the overland route through Denmark. Denmark bans 13 dog breeds (for dogs acquired after 17 March 2010), which makes transit awkward. Sweden itself has no breed bans – only wolf hybrids are excluded. Suitable direct routes include Stena Line (Kiel–Gothenburg or Rostock–Trelleborg), TT-Line or Finnlines. Note that TT-Line requires a muzzle on board for listed breeds.

The Scandlines route via Puttgarden–Rødby is the cheapest option – taking your dog is completely free, and there is no cabin requirement. Simply add the Öresund Bridge toll on top. For comparison, the direct Rostock–Trelleborg ferry is the cheapest direct route (plus the dog fee), while Kiel–Gothenburg, with its mandatory cabin, is the most expensive option. Current prices are shown in the comparison table above and in the booking window.

TT-Line stands out clearly here – it is the only operator that gives dogs access to all public areas, including designated dog areas in the restaurants. No other ferry company offers this. Its modern Green Ships (built 2022/2023) also have dog toilets with a distinctive "birch trunk" feature on the outside decks. For the most freedom of movement on board, TT-Line is the top choice.

The best option is the route via Denmark: the Scandlines ferry Puttgarden–Rødby takes just 45 minutes, followed by a 10-15 minute drive across the Öresund Bridge into Sweden. Total travel time from Hamburg is only around 5 hours. Alternatively, the overnight Kiel–Gothenburg ferry is surprisingly low-stress – your dog sleeps in the pet cabin, and the 14.5 hours pass almost unnoticed.

With TT-Line you can switch to a regular cabin in this case, for an additional cleaning and service fee. With Stena Line (Kiel–Gothenburg) and Finnlines, where a pet cabin is mandatory, being fully booked unfortunately means that departure is not an option for you. Tip – during peak season (June-August), book pet cabins as early as possible.

This can have serious consequences. At best, you will be refused entry and have to turn back. In more serious cases, your dog could face quarantine at your expense. In extreme cases, euthanasia of the animal can even be ordered. Failing to complete the customs declaration can also be treated as a breach of smuggling law. It is well worth checking all your paperwork thoroughly before you travel.