Traveling Abroad with a Dog

We had talked about it this year. Denmark, perhaps. Or Norway. "How hard can it be?" I said to my wife one evening. "We'll sort out the paperwork and go."

It turned out to be more than just "sorting out the paperwork." Not impossible – but definitely more planning than a typical holiday in Sweden.

Hugo has now been with us to Denmark twice and Norway once. Here’s everything we learned about rules, paperwork, and practical preparations – and why it’s worth the hassle after all.

The most important things first: EU passport and ID chip

Before you even start dreaming about traveling abroad, your dog needs two things: an ID chip and an EU passport.

ID chip

Hugo got his chip as a puppy, from the breeder. It’s a small capsule (the size of a grain of rice) that sits under the skin between the shoulder blades. The chip contains a unique number that can be read by a scanner.

Important: the chip must be ISO standard (11784/11785). Most chips in Sweden are, but double-check if your dog was chipped abroad or a long time ago.

EU passport

This is your dog’s passport – a small blue book issued by a veterinarian. It contains:

• The dog's identity (name, breed, color, date of birth)
• Chip number
• Your details as the owner
• All vaccinations with dates and validity
• Any treatments (e.g., tapeworm)

Hugo got his EU passport at the same time as his rabies vaccination, at about four months old. It cost around 300-400 SEK for the passport itself (in addition to the vaccination cost).

The order is important: The chip must be in place before the rabies vaccination. Otherwise, the vaccine is not valid for travel abroad. If your dog is already chipped and vaccinated – great. If not, make sure to do it in the right order.

Rabies vaccination – the time-consuming part

Rabies vaccination is mandatory for all travel abroad with a dog. No exceptions.

The rules:

• The dog must be at least 12 weeks old at the time of vaccination
• You must wait at least 21 days after the first vaccine before traveling
• The vaccine is valid for 1-3 years depending on the vaccine (as stated in the EU passport)

Our experience:

Hugo was vaccinated against rabies at four months old. We didn’t have any travel plans at that time – we did it just to have it ready. Lucky for us, because when we spontaneously decided on Denmark six months later, everything was already in order.

If you are not vaccinated yet: Expect at least a month before you can travel. Book a vet appointment, vaccinate, wait 21 days. Don’t rush – you can’t cheat on the dates.

If the vaccine is about to expire: Renew it before it expires. If it expires, you must wait 21 days again after re-vaccination. Check the date in the EU passport at least a month before your planned trip.

Denmark – the easiest for us

Denmark was our first foreign adventure with Hugo. And it was surprisingly smooth.

What is required:

• EU passport
• ID chip
• Valid rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old)
• That’s it.

No tapeworm treatment, no extra certificates, no checks at the border (we drove over the Øresund Bridge and no one stopped us).

Our trip:

We rented a cottage in Nordsjælland, a two-hour drive from Malmö. Hugo slept the whole way. The cottage had a fenced yard. The beaches were dog-friendly out of season. Danes were generally more relaxed about dogs than Swedes – more restaurants welcomed him, more shops didn’t mind he was with us.

The only difference we noticed: leash laws are stricter in Denmark. In the woods, on the beach, in parks – keep your dog leashed unless it explicitly states that loose dogs are allowed.

Tips for Denmark:

• Buy Danish dog insurance or check if your Swedish one covers abroad
• Bring Swedish food – the same brands are available but can be more expensive
• Dog beaches are everywhere along the coast

Norway – a bit more hassle

Norway was our second destination. And here it became a bit more complicated.

What is required:

• EU passport
• ID chip
• Valid rabies vaccination
• Tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry

The last one is the important part. Norway requires that the dog is treated for tapeworm (Echinococcus) by a veterinarian 1-5 days before you cross the border. Not 6 days before. Not the same day. Exactly 1-5 days.

Our experience:

We were going to Norway on a Saturday. This meant that the tapeworm treatment had to be done Monday-Friday of the same week. We booked a vet appointment on Wednesday – three days before departure. Perfect.

The veterinarian gave Hugo a tablet (Droncit or similar), noted the treatment in the EU passport with the date and their stamp. It took five minutes, cost about 500 SEK including the consultation fee.

At the border:

We drove via Svinesund. The customs did not stop us – but they can do so. If they check and the tapeworm treatment is not correctly documented or within the time frame, they can deny entry or require treatment on-site.

Keep the EU passport easily accessible, not buried in a bag in the trunk.

Tips for Norway:

• Book a vet appointment well in advance – it can be difficult to get an appointment on the exact day
• Double-check that the treatment is documented in the EU passport
• Save the receipt from the veterinarian
• Norway is outside the EU, so bring Norwegian kroner or cards that work internationally

Bonus: Norway is fantastic for dog owners. The right to roam applies, the nature is spectacular, and Norwegians often have their own dogs and are used to them.

United Kingdom – after Brexit

We have not traveled to the United Kingdom with Hugo, but I have looked up the rules for friends who have asked.

What is required:

• ID chip
• Rabies vaccination (at least 21 days old)
• Animal Health Certificate (AHC) – not EU passport
• Tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry
• Travel with an approved carrier (ferry or train – not private boat)

Animal Health Certificate:

After Brexit, the UK does not accept EU passports. Instead, you need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an "Official Veterinarian" – in Sweden, a veterinarian with special permission from the Swedish Board of Agriculture.

AHC must be issued no more than 10 days before entry and is valid for a trip to the UK and return within 4 months.

It’s more complicated. You have to find an OV veterinarian (not all are), book an appointment within the correct time frame, and pay a higher fee (often 1000-1500 SEK).

Our decision: We have postponed the UK. The paperwork feels too extensive for a short trip. But if we were to take a longer trip – maybe. The rules are clear, it’s just more work.

Southern Europe – other challenges

We have talked about taking Hugo to the continent. Maybe France, maybe Italy. But there are other things to consider.

Paperwork:

For EU countries, an EU passport with a chip and rabies vaccination is sufficient. No extra treatments, no special certificates. Convenient on paper.

Heat:

This is the real challenge. Hugo is a Cavapoo with thick fur. 35 degrees in Provence in July? Not a good idea.

If you travel to Southern Europe in the summer: think about the heat. Early morning walks, shade in the middle of the day, AC in the car and accommodation, constant access to water. Some dogs can handle it – but it requires planning.

Leishmaniasis:

A parasitic disease spread by sandflies in the Mediterranean region. Found in Spain, Italy, France, Greece, and more countries. Can be deadly for dogs.

Protection:

• Scalibor collar (over-the-counter, protects against sandfly bites)
• Advantix or similar spot-on
• Keep the dog indoors at dusk and dawn (when the mosquitoes are active)
• Vaccines exist but are not available in Sweden

Talk to your veterinarian before traveling to the Mediterranean region.

Ticks:

Southern Europe has other tick-borne diseases than Sweden. Babesia, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma. Extra tick prophylaxis is recommended. We would double the protection – both collar and spot-on – if we were heading south with Hugo.

Practical checklist for traveling abroad

Months in advance:

• Check that the ID chip and EU passport are in order
• Check that the rabies vaccine is valid throughout the trip
• Read up on the specific rules of the destination country
• Book any vet appointments for treatments

The week before:

• Tapeworm treatment if required (correct time frame!)
• Copy all documents (digitally and physically)
• Pack the EU passport easily accessible
• Check the insurance – does it cover abroad?

What to bring:

• EU passport (original, not a copy)
• Copies of all documents
• Veterinarian's contact details
• Your dog’s regular food (for the entire trip)
• Medications if the dog has any (with prescription/certificate)
• Tick medication and possibly extra prophylaxis

See also our packing list for dog travel for more details.

The return journey – what applies?

Sweden has no quarantine regulations for dogs returning from EU countries. You need the same things as when you left: EU passport, chip, valid rabies vaccination.

But: Customs may check. We have never been stopped, but it can happen. Have the papers ready.

From Norway: No special requirements for the return journey. The tapeworm requirement only applies to entry into Norway, not exit.

From the UK: If you have been there for more than 48 hours, the dog needs tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before returning to Sweden as well. This is a British exit requirement.

Is it worth it?

Yes.

It sounds like a lot – and it is more work than vacationing in Sweden. But the feeling of walking on a beach in Denmark with Hugo, hiking in the Norwegian mountains together, showing the kids another country with the whole family including the dog – it’s worth every piece of paperwork.

The first time we prepared everything, it felt overwhelming. Now we have a routine. The EU passport is always in the same place. We know which veterinarian to call for tapeworm treatment. It has become part of the travel planning, not an obstacle.

My advice: Start with something simple. Denmark is perfect – almost no extra requirements, short trip, easy to return if something goes wrong. Once you’ve done it once, the next trip abroad feels much less daunting.

Countries we dream of

Germany. Dog-friendly, good infrastructure, reasonable distance by car. Same rules as Denmark (EU passport, chip, rabies). High on the list.

Scotland. If we ever manage the AHC paperwork. Dog-friendly culture, spectacular nature, and Hugo would love to run on the moors.

The Alps. Hiking with a dog in Switzerland or Austria. But it’s a long drive – we would need to split the trip over several days, which is more logistics.

Traveling abroad with a dog requires planning. You can’t be spontaneous in the same way as without a dog. But it also opens doors – new countries, new experiences, new adventures together.

Hugo doesn’t care which country he is in. He cares that we are there. The beach in Denmark, the forest in Norway, or the pasture at home on the farm – for him, it’s the same: he is with his family.

And that’s really all that matters.

/Love & Hugo