Getting a pet from Rwanda to Sweden is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Set aside roughly 20-26 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the …
Rabies titre testRequired. Rwanda is EU-unlisted. FAVN …
QuarantineNo quarantine for compliant arrivals. …
Import permitNot required for personal companion …
Health certificateEU-format health certificate endorsed by …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Rwanda to Sweden
typically takes around 20-26 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before the rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation
Responsible: Veterinarian in Rwanda
2
After microchipping, at least 30 days before the titre test blood draw
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
3
At least 30 days after vaccination
Blood draw for FAVN titre test
Responsible: Veterinarian in Rwanda, sample sent to an EU-approved lab
4
From the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
5
Valid 10 days, presented to Jordbruksverket on arrival
EU-format health certificate, RAB-endorsed
Responsible: RAB-authorised vet
6
4 to 6 weeks lead time
Cargo booking and departure from Kigali (KGL)
Responsible: Owner and airline
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit). Before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Administered after microchipping. At least 21 days before titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Rwanda is EU-unlisted. FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination. 90-day wait from blood draw before entry into Sweden. Source: EU Regulation 576/2013 and Commission Delegated Regulation 2020/692.
Quarantine
No quarantine for compliant arrivals. Jordbruksverket inspection at Stockholm Arlanda cargo terminal.
Import permit
Not required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate endorsed by origin authority. Valid 10 days. Presented to Jordbruksverket officials at ARN.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate from an RAB-authorised veterinarian, endorsed by Rwanda Agriculture Board (RAB) before departure.
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Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
RwandAir
KGL-BRU, with an onward connection to Stockholm. A solid first option given RwandAir's regular Brussels service from Kigali.
Cargo
Brussels Airlines
Direct KGL-BRU, connecting on to Stockholm Arlanda. High-frequency Brussels-Scandinavia traffic makes this a reliable alternative.
Cargo
KLM Cargo
KLM/Kenya Airways joint venture via Nairobi (NBO) and Amsterdam (AMS), onward to Stockholm. Established cargo path for East Africa.
Cargo
Ethiopian Airlines Cargo
KGL-ADD via Addis Ababa, connecting through Ethiopian's European network to Stockholm. Worth checking if the Brussels legs are full.
Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: USD 150-250 plus sample shipping
RAB veterinary endorsement and EU-format export health certificate: USD 100-200
Cargo fee KGL to Stockholm (ARN): USD 800-2,200 depending on crate size and routing
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 80-240
Agent coordination fee for the transit leg: USD 150-300
Boarding costs if the 90-day wait outlasts a planned move date
Critical points
The 90-day wait is counted from the date blood was drawn for the titre test, not from the date the result is issued. Plan around the draw date.
Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. If the order is reversed, the vaccination doesn't count for the titre test sequence.
A titre result below 0.5 IU/ml means re-vaccination and a fresh blood draw, and the 90-day wait restarts from that new draw date.
Jordbruksverket inspects documentation at Stockholm Arlanda's cargo terminal. The health certificate must still be within its 10-day validity window on arrival.
Sweden import rules, explained
Sweden asks for several pieces of paperwork, and they all need to line up. A checklist and a clear timeline are your best tools here.
Practical tips for this move
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
FAQ
Common questions
The vet steps, microchip, vaccination, and titre test, can be done in six or seven weeks. The remaining time is the mandatory 90-day wait from the titre test blood draw date before the pet can legally enter Sweden.
No. Sweden does not require a separate import permit for personal companion pets. The requirement is the standard EU unlisted-country sequence with the 90-day wait.
Jordbruksverket, the Swedish Board of Agriculture, inspects incoming pets and their documentation at Stockholm Arlanda’s cargo terminal.
The dog needs re-vaccination and a new blood draw at least 30 days later. The 90-day wait then restarts from that new draw date, not the original one.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Sweden.
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