Pet Transport from Japan to Sweden
Japan is on the EU approved third-country list under EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636, which Sweden follows as an EU member. Pets moving from Japan to Sweden do not need a titre test or a fixed waiting period, and Sweden adds no tapeworm treatment …
The Japan to Sweden import process
Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.
Responsible: Vet in Japan
Responsible: Vet in Japan
Responsible: Owner or agent
Responsible: AQS-registered vet and AQS
Responsible: Owner or freight forwarder
What your pet needs to enter Sweden
Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.
What this route typically costs
Critical points
The AQS examination must occur at a designated Animal Quarantine Station, not a standard vet clinic. Book slots at least three to four weeks in advance.
Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on both the long-haul leg (Japan to hub) and the onward leg to Stockholm separately.
The health certificate is valid for 10 days. Plan the AQS appointment date relative to your Sweden arrival, not your Japan departure.
Approved carriers for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.
What paperwork does a pet from Japan need to enter Sweden?
Sweden follows EU Implementing Regulation 2026/636. Japan is on the EU approved third-country list, so the titre test and 90-day wait that apply to unlisted countries are waived. Your pet needs a valid ISO 11784/11785 microchip (implanted before the first rabies vaccination), a current rabies vaccination with a 21-day post-primary wait, and an EU-format Animal Health Certificate (AHC) endorsed by Japan’s Animal Quarantine Service (AQS).
The AQS examination must take place at a designated Animal Quarantine Station at a major Japanese airport. NRT (Tokyo Narita), HND (Haneda), and KIX (Osaka Kansai) all have AQS stations. Your vet must be AQS-registered. The certificate is valid for 10 days from the endorsement date.
Unlike Norway and Finland, Sweden does not require Echinococcus tapeworm treatment for dogs entering from any country, including Japan. The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) enforces arrival requirements at Stockholm Arlanda. For compliant pets from Japan, there is no quarantine.
Which airlines carry pets from Japan to Sweden?
No direct services operate Japan to Stockholm. All cargo routes require a hub connection. Lufthansa Cargo covers the NRT to Frankfurt (FRA) leg, with onward SAS or Lufthansa connections to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN). KLM Cargo handles the NRT to Amsterdam (AMS) leg, with AMS to ARN connections. Finnair provides the NRT to Helsinki (HEL) direct service via Finnair Cargo, with a short HEL to ARN hop.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines serves ARN from multiple European hubs and accepts cargo pets, but SAS does not operate long-haul routes from Japan. The long-haul leg must be booked with one of the above carriers.
Confirm live animal cargo acceptance on each segment independently. Long-haul and short-haul legs often carry separate live animal policies.
What does the Japan to Sweden move cost?
The typical total cost falls between EUR 1,200 and EUR 3,500. AQS examination and endorsement runs JPY 30,000 to JPY 80,000 (roughly EUR 200 to EUR 530). Cargo from NRT or HND to Stockholm Arlanda via hub costs EUR 800 to EUR 2,500 depending on crate size. Swedish border inspection adds EUR 100 to EUR 250. A new IATA-compliant crate costs EUR 70 to EUR 280.
An IPATA-registered agent handling the AQS appointment and cargo coordination typically charges EUR 300 to EUR 700 and is worth considering for first-time international moves.