Moving Pets from Sweden to the United States

A practical 2026 guide to moving pets from Sweden — CDC low-risk pathway, Jordbruksverket export process, airline options, costs, and timeline.

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Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.

Overall Difficulty

Easy

Sweden’s CDC low-risk status, its absence from USDA’s temporary FMD-restriction and screwworm-affected lists, and the availability of general-public in-cabin airline options make this one of the more straightforward international pet moves.

Planning Time

4–8 weeks

This window allows time to confirm airline pet space, and, if you’re establishing a primary rabies vaccination, the 21 days it takes to become valid under EU pet-passport rules (not a CDC requirement for this pathway, but relevant for return travel or an airline that requires current vaccination), plus time to order a Jordbruksverket certificate if your itinerary needs one.

Typically Cost

No authoritative total verified

Costs depend on the airline, whether a Jordbruksverket certificate is needed, and crate choice — see the individual cost items below.

Quarantine / Entry

No routine federal quarantine (mainland US) — check destination state

No routine federal quarantine applies to a compliant low-risk dog or healthy cat arriving at a mainland US destination, but the destination state or territory may impose its own additional requirements — check before travel. Hawaii and Guam have separate programs.

Confirm Airline Pet Space Early

The federal paperwork for this route is simple, but general-public in-cabin pet space is limited by aircraft, route, and operating carrier. Book it as early as possible rather than assuming it will be available close to departure.

Health Certificate

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MICROCHIP

Required for dogs (U.S. entry); implant before rabies vaccination when establishing valid EU documentation

RABIES VACCINE

Not federally required for the low-risk pathway; CDC recommends vaccination. Check the operating carrier's requirements.

CRATE / CARRIER

Required — confirm your airline's dimensions and construction rules

IMPORT PERMIT

Not Required

A practical 2026 guide to moving pets from Sweden — CDC low-risk pathway, Jordbruksverket export process, airline options, costs, and timeline.

Airline-Requested Certificate

US federal agencies don't publish a general certificate requirement for this pathway, but your airline may still require one.

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WHO SIGNS IT

Jordbruksverket (Swedish Board of Agriculture)

If your airline or itinerary requires a certificate, Jordbruksverket issues it directly — order it in good time rather than through a local or regional intermediary.

USDA ENDORSEMENT

Not Required

Sweden is not currently under USDA’s temporary FMD restriction (only Cyprus, Hungary, Greece, and Slovakia are) and is not on the screwworm-affected list, so no extra APHIS disease certificate applies.

VALIDITY WINDOW

Set by Your Airline, If a Certificate Is Required

There’s no federal validity window for this pathway. If your airline requires a certificate, confirm its validity window with them directly.

ORIGINAL DOCUMENT

CDC Receipt: Printed or Digital

The CDC receipt can be printed or shown on your phone — CDC doesn’t require a unique paper original. Carry the microchip record and any airline-requested documentation too, plus an offline backup either way.

→ Sweden is not on the CDC high-risk dog-rabies list
→ Sweden is not currently on USDA’s temporary FMD restriction list or screwworm-affected list
→ Every dog needs a readable microchip and CDC Dog Import Form receipt
→ The dog’s full 6-month travel history controls the pathway
→ SAS does not allow cabin pets in Business class on North America routes
→ A Jordbruksverket certificate is only needed if your airline or itinerary requires one

→ Assuming the EU pet passport replaces the CDC form
→ Booking SAS Business class and expecting cabin pet space
→ Assuming no federal certificate means no certificate at all
→ Ignoring the dog’s 6-month travel history
→ Booking a codeshare without confirming the operating carrier’s policy

Airline
Transport
Pet Fee
Pet Weight Limit
Best For

SAS

Cabin

Varies

8 kg incl. carrier

Regional flag carrier, Economy only to North America

Cabin

$200

International routes

Cabin

$150

Small pets

*Links may change or be blocked to automated testing.

Your pet's journey, step by step

Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.

4–8 WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE

Confirm Eligibility and Book Airline Space

Start with the dog's travel history and secure pet space early, since it's limited.
  • Review the dog's complete 6-month travel history
  • Confirm the microchip is implanted and scannable
  • If needed for EU documentation, return travel, or your airline, administer or confirm the rabies vaccination
  • Book airline pet space (Economy if flying SAS)
2–4 WEEKS BEFORE DEPARTURE

Handle Certificate and Kennel Details

Resolve any airline-requested paperwork and confirm kennel requirements.
  • Order a Jordbruksverket certificate in good time if one is needed
  • Confirm kennel dimensions with your airline
  • Gather vaccination and ownership records
A FEW DAYS BEFORE DEPARTURE

Complete the CDC Form

Finish the federal paperwork and confirm final logistics.
  • Complete one CDC Dog Import Form per dog
  • Print the receipt or save it for display on your phone, with an offline backup
  • Reconfirm check-in requirements with your airline
Timelines are estimates. Always confirm specific requirements with the airline, CDC, and USDA.

Requirements

Common Mistakes

Booking SAS Business class and expecting cabin pet space

SAS explicitly excludes pets from the cabin in Business class on flights to or from North America.

Learn more

Travelers sometimes assume a premium cabin includes every amenity, including pet travel. SAS’s own policy specifically carves out North America and Asia Business-class flights as pet-free.

How to avoid it

Book Economy if you need cabin pet space on a North America route.

Confirm SAS's current cabin class rules before booking if your plans change.

ℹ️
Why it matters

Finding out about this exclusion at the airport could mean the pet can't travel on that flight at all.

Assuming the EU pet passport replaces the CDC form

The pet passport is useful supporting paperwork, but dogs still need the CDC Dog Import Form separately.

Learn more

Some owners assume the EU’s own pet-travel document is sufficient for US entry because it’s the document they’re most familiar with. It isn’t a substitute for the federal CDC form.

How to avoid it

Complete the free CDC Dog Import Form regardless of what EU documentation you already carry.

Bring the EU pet passport as supporting paperwork, not a replacement.

ℹ️
Why it matters

Arriving without the CDC form can create problems at entry even if every other document is in order.

Ignoring the dog's 6-month travel history

Sweden's low-risk status only applies if the dog hasn't visited a CDC high-risk country in the prior 6 months.

Learn more

A dog that transited or stayed briefly in a high-risk country during the relevant window falls under the stricter high-risk pathway regardless of where the final flight departs.

How to avoid it

Review the dog's complete travel history for the past 6 months before assuming the low-risk pathway applies.

Check the CDC's current high-risk country list, since it can change.

ℹ️
Why it matters

Applying the wrong pathway can mean missing documentation required for a compliant entry.

Ready to Move Your Pet?

Cost Estimate

What this actually costs

Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.

No single authoritative Sweden-to-US total was verified. Costs depend on the airline, whether a Jordbruksverket certificate is needed, and crate choice.

Typical total cost

Price in USD, Estimate only.

Documents You Will Need

→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — dogs, the only document actually required
→ Microchip record — dogs
→ Recommended (not required): EU pet passport with current rabies vaccination — useful for Swedish records and return travel
→ Jordbruksverket-issued health certificate, only if required
→ Airline confirmation

HOW IT WORKS

Simple steps. Safe journey.

01

Find Your Route

Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.

02

Check Requirements

Review CDC, USDA, microchipping, vaccination, and species-specific import rules.
03

Plan & Budget

Use cost guides and timeline tools to set realistic expectations and avoid last-minute scrambles.
04

Choose Your Path

Decide whether to handle the move yourself or hire a professional service.
Common Questions

+ Is Sweden a high-risk country for dog rabies?

→ No. Sweden is not on the CDC’s high-risk list.
→ The dog’s complete 6-month travel history still controls which pathway applies.

+ What does a dog need for U.S. federal entry?

→ Healthy appearance, minimum age of 6 months, readable microchip, and CDC Dog Import Form receipt.
→ This assumes exclusively low-risk travel history.

+ Can I bring my pet in the cabin on SAS to the US?

→ Yes, in Economy.
→ SAS does not allow cabin pets in Business class on flights to or from North America.

+ Does my pet need a health certificate?

→ Not as a general U.S. federal rule for this pathway.
→ Your airline may still require one — order it directly from Jordbruksverket if needed.

+ Does my pet need quarantine?

→ No routine federal quarantine for a compliant mainland-US arrival, but check the destination state’s requirements.
→ Hawaii and Guam have separate programs.

Need Help

Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.

Similar Routes

If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.

Sweden to US Pet Travel Guide

Compared to routes with airline restrictions or complicated origin-country certificate processes, Sweden to the US is close to the simplest case this site covers.

A Genuinely Straightforward Route

Sweden has a clean CDC low-risk pathway, is not currently under the USDA’s temporary FMD restrictions relevant to pet dogs, is not listed as screwworm-affected, and has three carriers (SAS, Delta, United) with verified pet policies for this route.

Why Sweden’s Export Process Stands Out

Unlike Italy (ASL), Spain (Área de Agricultura), or Switzerland (cantonal veterinary service), Sweden’s export certificate — when one is actually needed — is issued directly by Jordbruksverket itself, the national agriculture authority, rather than a delegated local or regional office.

When Professional Help May Be Worth It

For a straightforward cabin move with a healthy pet, most owners can manage this route themselves. Professional help becomes more valuable for a large dog needing cargo transport, a multi-leg itinerary, or a restricted breed.

Additional Resources

If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.

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Route: Sweden → US