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Pet Transport USA to Sweden: The 2026 Stockholm Route

Shipping a dog or cat from United States to Sweden rewards owners who start planning early. Around 2-4 weeks should do it, as this is an easier route to plan. No routine quarantine …

2-4 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
2-4 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Low
Airlines
4 carriers on this route
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What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required, …
Rabies vaccinationValid and current rabies vaccination …
Rabies titre testNot required. The USA is a listed third …
QuarantineNo quarantine for dogs and cats from the …
Import permitNo import permit required for personal …
Health certificateEU Annex IV health certificate, …
In short: Preparing to move a pet from United States to Sweden typically takes around 2-4 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step

The import process, in full

1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO 11784/11785 compliant and was implanted before first rabies vaccination.

Responsible: Your vet

2
Several weeks before health certificate appointment.
Check rabies vaccination is current. Schedule a booster if needed.

Responsible: Your vet

3
Within 10 days of arrival in Sweden.
Book USDA-accredited vet for EU Annex IV health certificate.

Responsible: USDA-accredited vet

4
Immediately after vet appointment.
USDA APHIS endorses the certificate. Allow two to five business days by mail.

Responsible: USDA APHIS

5
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with SAS, Delta, or Lufthansa. Stockholm is well-served from US gateways.

Responsible: You

6
Travel day.
Travel to Stockholm. Your pet clears the Veterinary Border Inspection Post at Stockholm Arlanda (ARN).

Responsible: You 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
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required, implanted before first rabies vaccination. Source: European Commission Regulation (EU) 576/2013.
Rabies vaccination
Valid and current rabies vaccination required, first given at 12 weeks of age or older.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The USA is a listed third country under EU pet travel rules. Source: European Commission, food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets_en.
Quarantine
No quarantine for dogs and cats from the USA arriving in Sweden with correct documentation.
Import permit
No import permit required for personal pets from the USA.
Health certificate
EU Annex IV health certificate, USDA-endorsed, dated within 10 days of arrival.
Export permit
No export permit required. The endorsed certificate covers departure from the USA.
Health certificate
USDA-accredited vet completes the EU Annex IV health certificate, endorsed by USDA APHIS within 10 days of arrival in Sweden. Source: USDA APHIS, aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United States to Sweden move gets missed.

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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.

SAS Scandinavian Airlines
SAS operates from New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), and Los Angeles (LAX) to Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN). Pets travel as manifested cargo. Good pet cargo infrastructure at ARN. No pets in cabin on transatlantic routes. Seasonal heat and cold restrictions apply; brachycephalic breed restrictions in place year-round.
Cargo Only
Delta Air Lines
Delta has seasonal direct services from Atlanta (ATL) to Stockholm. Delta Cargo accepts pets. Confirm breed eligibility and seasonal restrictions before booking.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
Via Frankfurt (FRA) with onward connection to Stockholm. Good US gateway coverage. Brachycephalic restrictions apply.
Cargo Only
Finnair
Via Helsinki (HEL) to Stockholm. A slightly longer routing than direct from Frankfurt, but Finnair Cargo is well-established for pet transport. Useful for connecting from certain US cities.
Cargo Only
Costs

What this route typically costs

USDA-accredited vet health certificate: USD 100 to USD 300
USDA APHIS endorsement: USD 38
International pet cargo (USA to Stockholm): USD 650 to USD 1,900
IATA-compliant crate: USD 80 to USD 350 if needed
Total typical range: USD 870 to USD 2,600

Critical points

Sweden has strict breed-specific rules. The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) does not maintain a federal breed ban but applies welfare rules that affect all dogs. Some municipalities have their own guidance. Check local rules if you have a breed that may be subject to restrictions.

Swedish winters are cold. Cold restrictions on pet cargo apply for short-coated breeds when temperatures drop significantly. If travelling November to March, confirm cold weather cargo eligibility with your airline.

Sweden requires all dogs to be registered in the Swedish national dog registry after arrival. This is a post-arrival task and does not affect the entry process.

Brachycephalic breed restrictions apply on all transatlantic routes to Sweden, including SAS and Lufthansa. Flat-faced breeds may not be accepted as cargo.

Meeting Sweden's entry requirements

Bringing a pet into Sweden is one of the simpler processes. Cover the core requirements and you should have few surprises.

Advice worth following

Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.

Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Sweden is an EU member state, and the USA is a listed third country under EU pet travel regulations. Dogs and cats from the USA do not need a titre test to enter Sweden. You need an ISO-compliant microchip, current rabies vaccination, and a USDA-APHIS endorsed health certificate in EU Annex IV format.
SAS Scandinavian Airlines operates direct services from JFK, ORD, and LAX to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN). Delta has seasonal direct services from Atlanta. Lufthansa routes via Frankfurt are a good option from other US cities. All accept pets as manifested cargo. No cabin pets on transatlantic routes.
Sweden does not have a federal breed ban but applies strict welfare regulations to all dogs under the Animal Welfare Act (Djurskyddslagen). Dogs must be kept under control in public. Some municipalities may have additional rules, but Sweden’s approach focuses on individual dog behaviour rather than specific breeds. The Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) can advise on current requirements.
The certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of the vet examination to the pet’s scheduled arrival in Sweden. USDA APHIS endorsement takes two to five business days after submission. Plan the vet appointment so the certificate is endorsed and valid for the arrival date.
Yes. Dogs in Sweden must be registered in the national dog registry (Nationellt hundregister) run by Jordbruksverket. This is done after arrival, not as a pre-travel requirement. The registration includes the dog’s microchip number, owner details, and breed. There is a small fee.
Yes. Airlines apply cold restrictions when temperatures fall below certain thresholds during transit. Swedish winters are genuinely cold, with temperatures in Stockholm dropping well below freezing from November to February. Short-coated breeds may be refused for cargo shipments during cold periods. Confirm cold weather restrictions with your airline if travelling in winter.
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Airline guides
  • SAS Scandinavian Airlines
  • Delta Air Lines
  • Lufthansa Cargo
  • Finnair
Breed guides

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