Moving a dog to Sweden

To bring your dog to Sweden, you need this info:

The US is considered a "listed third country"- follow those regulations.

Note that you need an international ISO approved microchip... the one Lodi already had isn't one. Must be a 15 digit microchip, scanning at 134.2 kHz... see more info here.


The new international standard Home Again microchip cost $34.

The microchip must be done first, as the number needs to be listed on all vaccination records.
You should put the manufacturer of the chip on the dog's collar so if he is lost, they can look in the correct database for identifying information.

If the dog currently has a non-ISO standard microchip, you have two options:
1. Buy/borrow your own scanner that can read it, and bring it with you to Sweden (& for all future EC border crossings)
2. Get an ISO standard chip.

Info from Karin, the lovely and very helpful woman at the Swedish Board of Agriculture Customer Service (+46- 771 - 223 223, press 7 for English)
If the dog was never microchipped, he must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies, wait 120 days, send sample to lab.

However, if the dog has an old non-ISO chip and current rabies vaccination, you may give him a new microchip and then draw the sample for rabies the same day. Make sure you implant the chip before drawing the sample. The vet must note both the old and new chip number and date of implantation.

Because Lodi is almost due for his booster, we will be implanting the new chip, then drawing the sample, then giving him his booster. This way, if his levels are not sufficient from his antibody test, we will be that much closer to the 120 days.

Labs to send for rabies test (The website lists only labs in the EU).

List of EC labs to send rabies:


However, Karin said that you may use a lab in the US that meets USDA and veterinary organization standards. As Karin said, "that means they are following the world standards." Further, she said that the customs office will not be checking to see if the lab is an approved lab, only if it were to go to further investigation.

Apparently this lab in Kansas meets the standards.

They will need 2mL of serum, sent overnight via FedEx, packed on ice for shipping (should arrive between Monday & Friday).

Cost for rabies FAVN titer test: $50 for vet to do exam & draw blood; they gave me the shipping box for free; $60 to overnight the package to Kansas (maybe look for a smaller box that can contain an ice pack, the vial is tiny but the box was about 8" x 8" so it was expensive); $54 for Kansas to run the test & send results to the vet. Total: $164.

You can call the Kansas lab (785-532-4483) and give them your pet's microchip number, & they will look up the status. (However, they can only tell you whether the test was complete, not whether he passed; they send that info to your vet). They completed the test in one month and mailed the results to our vet. Allow 6 weeks for this process.


Regarding the point of entry, although the checklist says "the animal must enter via one of the border inspection posts in Gothenburg or Stockholm," Karin said it was OK to fly into Copenhagen and then take the train or whatever. This means the dog will be declared to Danish customs, and then to Swedish customs (if driving, have to stop; if on the train, only present papers if asked by customs officials). Karin said, "We in Sweden have the most difficult rules of import of dogs; they have the tapeworm in Denmark, and let you enter 21 days after the rabies vaccination. So if it's OK in Sweden, it's definitely OK in Denmark."

See the Jordbruks Verket publication "Import into Sweden of Cats and Dogs" for a checklist.



This EC page has the vet form available for download directly (the Swedish page makes you order it by mail):
http://ec.europa.eu/food/animal/liveanimals/pets/nocomm_third_en.print.htm