EU pet passport for dogs and cats
Travelling abroad with your dog or cat? We issue EU pet passports right in your home, as well as at our vet practices and clinic. We'll help you get your pet fully ready for the trip.
New EU rules: on 22 April 2026, new rules on issuing EU pet passports came into force. Read more below.
EU pet passport at your home
Reliable help before you travel
Pet passports for dogs and cats
Related terms
EU pet passport price for dogs, getting a passport for a cat, cost of rabies vaccination for dogs, deworming dogs for the Norwegian border.
What is a pet passport and an EU pet passport?
An EU pet passport is an official, statutory identity document that your pet needs to cross borders within Europe. The passport proves who your pet is and that it has the vaccinations required for safe entry.
Passport for dogs
A dog passport (EU pet passport for dogs) is a small blue booklet issued by a vet. To issue it, the dog must be identified with a microchip. Creating the passport is often combined with the dog getting its mandatory rabies vaccination.
Passport for cats
A cat passport (EU pet passport for cats) works in exactly the same way as for dogs. It is an absolute requirement for travelling abroad with a cat within the EU, and it also serves as your cat's official vaccination record.
Care guide: choosing the right place to get the passport issued
Because we offer our services in your home, at our vet practices (Arken Zoo) and at our animal clinic in Östermalm, we can issue your passport wherever suits you best.
Home visits – less stress before travel
Travelling abroad with animals takes a lot of planning, and the vet visit is one of the most important parts. Especially for cats, it's invaluable that we can issue the passport and give the rabies vaccine at home, so that your cat doesn't build up negative stress about the travel crate weeks before you even leave. (A travel fee applies for preventive home visits).
Vet practices – easy access for deworming certificates
Our vet practices at Arken Zoo (in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Uppsala) are perfect if you quickly need to top up vaccinations or get your existing passport stamped for fox tapeworm treatment before a car trip to Norway or Finland.
The clinic – reassuring for combined visits
Djurkliniken Östermalm is the best choice if, in addition to the passport and vaccination, you also want to combine the visit with a thorough health check or, for example, claw clipping.
New EU rules for passports and ID marking
On 22 April 2026, new rules came into force on issuing EU pet passports and on the identification of dogs, cats and ferrets. These rules are continuously updated on the Swedish Board of Agriculture's website. Read more here.
The passport must be issued in the country where you are registered as a resident
We can only issue a passport if you are resident in Sweden. You need to prove your residence. We can help with this via our records system if your registered address is listed on Ratsit. Otherwise, please bring e.g. a personal certificate (personbevis), a coordination number or proof of your registered address (available from the Swedish Tax Agency's website)
ID marking (microchip)
New animals must have an approved microchip.
Does your pet have an older or non-approved microchip? - Bring an extract from the Swedish Board of Agriculture's dog or cat register showing that it was marked before 22 April.
Marked outside the EU? Bring a travel certificate or animal health certificate.
Check well before you travel
Check that the rabies vaccination is valid and that all the details in the passport are correct. Does your pet already have an EU pet passport? It is valid for your pet's whole life - you don't need to replace a passport that has already been issued.
How a passport is issued, step by step
1. Booking
Book an appointment with us well before your planned trip. (Remember that the rabies vaccine always requires a 21-day waiting period before the passport becomes valid).
2. ID check
We always start by scanning your pet's microchip. If your pet doesn't have a chip, we insert one. (No chip = no passport).
3. Vaccination
If needed, we give your pet the vaccines it needs, which are carefully recorded and stamped with the correct date in the new passport.
4. Issuing the passport
The vet fills in all your details, verifies your registered address and your pet's description, and signs the official document.
5. Ready to travel
You get your new EU pet passport for your dog or cat there and then, ready to use (after any waiting period for the vaccine)!
Contact our customer service and we will help you
When is contact with the authorities required?
For the vast majority of trips within the EU, a regular vet visit is more than enough. But if you are planning a trip to countries outside the EU (third countries), measures beyond a regular passport may be required. In that case, an Official Veterinarian needs to issue the certificate.
When the authorities are needed:
- Titre test: If the country you are travelling to requires a specific rabies titre test (a blood test to measure antibodies), the sample may sometimes need to be processed in a special lab machine at our clinic before it is sent to an internationally approved laboratory.
- Official export certificates: If you are exporting an animal permanently to a country outside the EU, a government official (an Official Veterinarian from the Swedish Board of Agriculture / the District Veterinarians) often needs to stamp the travel documents. One of our fantastic vets is an Official Veterinarian, and we're happy to help you book these visits.
Rules and requirements for travelling abroad with a dog
Basic requirement: Before you can even start planning to travel abroad with your dog, three basic requirements must be met: the dog must be microchipped, it must have a valid EU pet passport, and it must have valid vaccinations for the country in question.
Norway: Many pet owners search for a “dog passport for Norway”. In fact, for travel from Sweden to Norway specifically, a rabies vaccination is not normally required, but a passport is, together with documented treatment against the fox tapeworm recorded in the passport, carried out by a vet no earlier than 120 hours and no later than 24 hours before crossing the border (pet passport for Norway).
Travelling south: If you are instead looking into a “dog passport for Denmark” or travel further south in Europe, the rabies vaccine is an absolute requirement. This vaccine can be given at 12 weeks of age at the earliest, after which you must wait a full 21 days before the passport is valid for travel.
When the requirements change: The rules of the Swedish Board of Agriculture (Jordbruksverket) and foreign customs authorities can change quickly. If you're careless with the passport rules, your dog may be put in expensive quarantine or turned away at the border.
Travelling abroad with a cat – key differences
When getting a passport for your cat (EU pet passport for cats), exactly the same basic rules apply as for dogs: the cat must be microchipped, have a passport and be vaccinated against rabies (if the trip goes beyond Sweden and Norway). In practice, however, one big difference is how cats cope with the journey itself. Flying or long car journeys can be extremely stressful for cats. Before travelling abroad with a cat, it is therefore invaluable that we can make a proper plan for the trip together with you. Sometimes stress-reducing medication can be very helpful for the journey.
When should I book – how long does it take to get a passport for a dog?
One of the most common questions we get is: “how long does it take to get a passport for a dog?” The answer is that issuing a dog's EU pet passport takes about 15 minutes during our visit. BUT, if your dog or cat is not already vaccinated against rabies, the vaccine must be given, and by law you must then wait 21 days before the passport is valid for travel. That's why you should always contact us to sort out your dog's passport at least a month before you leave, and preferably even earlier! If your pet is already vaccinated against rabies and just needs a new physical passport (e.g. if the old one is full), we can sort it out on the spot.
How does it work?
When issuing a passport, we confirm your pet's identity and that all travel requirements are met.
- ID check by scanning the microchip – We scan the microchip to make sure the ID number is valid.
- Clinical health check before vaccination - We do a physical check to make sure your pet is healthy enough to be vaccinated before the trip.
- Review of vaccination status - We go through previous vaccinations to check that the intervals, for example for rabies, meet the legal requirements.
- Documentation and stamping - Once identity and health have been confirmed, the passport is completed with stamps and a signature.
How long a dog passport is valid
A common question is how long a dog passport is valid. An EU pet passport itself is basically lifelong and never expires. However, the passport is only valid for travel as long as the rabies vaccination stamped inside it is still valid (usually 1 to 3 years, depending on the vaccine brand used and your pet's age at the primary vaccination). Sometimes the passport may also need to be renewed if it has become full.
Issuing a passport for cats
If you're getting a passport for your cat, it's best done at home. Your cat can sit in your lap while we scan the chip and fill in the booklet. Many of our Nordic neighbours ask “hvor lang tid tar det å få pass til hund eller katt?” (how long does it take to get a passport for a dog or cat?), and we're happy to say that you get the blue EU pet passport there and then during the visit.
We often take the opportunity to update your cat's regular core vaccinations (against feline panleukopenia and cat flu) in the passport at the same time, so that everything is in order for any requirements from a cat sitter or cattery during your holiday.
Peace of mind and what to expect with a pet passport
An up-to-date and correctly completed EU pet passport is your best reassurance at the border, and an absolute legal requirement for the trip to go ahead. With the right preparation, your adventure with your pet will be both safe and stress-free.
- Valid indefinitely – if you renew the rabies vaccination on time, the passport stays valid for future trips.
- Safe entry – a correctly issued passport eliminates the risk of your pet being put in expensive quarantine or refused entry at the border.
- Smooth process – once the groundwork with the microchip and passport is done, future trips are much easier.
Validity for dogs
If you keep careful track of the date of the rabies vaccination and get a booster before the expiry date in the passport, your dog's EU pet passport stays valid at all times. You are then free to travel safely within the EU at any time without having to restart the 21-day waiting period.
Validity for cats
If you keep careful track of the date of the rabies vaccination and get a booster before the expiry date in the passport, your cat's EU pet passport stays valid at all times. You are then free to travel safely within the EU at any time without having to restart the 21-day waiting period.
Adventure and peace of mind
Travelling with your pet is often a big adventure. By making sure that all the Swedish Board of Agriculture's requirements are met (from microchip to rabies), you don't have to worry about your pet ending up in quarantine or being refused entry at border control. Our goal is to make your trip as safe, secure and smooth as possible.
Check for yourself – read the rules carefully before you travel
Before we meet to issue a pet passport (EU passport for dogs), there are a few things you should double-check at home:
- Does the microchip match?: Do you already have a passport from a previous owner? Your details must be entered as the most recent owner for you to be able to travel with your pet.
- Rabies vaccination date: If you already have a passport, turn to the rabies page. Has the vaccine expired? If it has expired by even a single day, you have to start again with a whole new 21-day waiting period!
- Fox tapeworm: Entry to Norway, Finland and Ireland requires treatment against the fox tapeworm, recorded in the passport.
Prevention – diseases abroad
Having the passport in order is the administrative step, but as a pet owner you also need to think about medical protection when you travel abroad:
- Ticks and mosquitoes: Protect your pet against diseases such as leishmaniasis in southern Europe with veterinary tick and parasite products.
- Heat: Prevent heatstroke on the car journey by using cooling mats and window sunshades, and by taking regular water breaks.
- Stress: Get your pet used to the travel crate or safety harness well before you leave, to minimise unnecessary travel anxiety.
How much does a passport for a dog or cat cost?
One of the most common questions we get is “how much does a dog passport cost?” or “what does an EU pet passport cost?”. The cost of the passport booklet itself is fixed, but there may be additional costs for any vaccine or microchip your pet needs before the passport can be issued. As issuing a passport is administrative, preventive care, it is never covered by pet insurance. For home visits, a travel fee is added.
The physical passport booklet and the administration needed to get your pet ready to travel within the EU.
No, preventive care such as issuing a passport is not covered by veterinary insurance.
If the passport is issued during a medical examination for an illness (where travel is included), the administrative cost may be lower.
Medical requirements for the passport to be valid for trips south.
EU pet passport
750 kr
Rabies vaccination
750 kr
Microchipping
650 kr
Travel fee (for preventive visits)
450 kr
How much does a dog passport cost?
The cost of getting a passport for a dog depends on whether the dog is already microchipped and vaccinated. The passport itself costs a few hundred kronor, plus our price for the home visit and any vaccines (e.g. rabies).
How long does it take to get a passport for a dog?
Issuing and filling in the EU pet passport only takes 15 minutes during our visit, and you get it there and then. But remember that the rabies vaccination (which the passport requires for most countries) has a 21-day waiting period before the passport becomes valid for travel.
What applies to dog passports for Norway, and what does it cost?
When travelling from Sweden to Norway, an approved EU pet passport is required, but usually not a rabies vaccination. However, the dog MUST be treated against the fox tapeworm by a vet 24–120 hours before crossing the border (pet passport for Norway).
How do you get a passport for a dog or cat?
Simply book a home visit or a visit to our clinic or vet practice. We scan your pet's microchip, give any necessary vaccinations, fill in the official blue EU pet passport and register it for you straight away.
Is a dog's passport valid forever?
Yes, the EU pet passport itself (the physical booklet) is lifelong and never expires. However, it is only valid at the border if the rabies vaccination stamped in the passport is still active and has not passed its expiry date.
Do I need an EU pet passport for my cat to travel?
Yes. The legal requirements are the same for dogs and cats. If you are travelling with a cat within the EU, it must be microchipped and have an official EU pet passport and a valid rabies vaccination.
What if I'm Norwegian and searching for "hvordan få pass til hund" in Sweden?
If you live in Sweden and need a passport, you book a Swedish vet. We issue a Swedish EU pet passport. The rules on microchips and rabies are standardised across Europe, whatever you search for – pass til hund, pass hund Danmark or EU pet passport.
Can I get a passport for my dog without microchipping it?
No, absolutely not. It is a strict legal requirement that your pet is identified with a working microchip before a passport can be issued at all. The ID number is what links the passport to your pet's identity.
Frequently asked questions
Here are some of the most common questions we get from our customers, with answers.
Personal animal care in safe surroundings – home visits, clinic & vet practices
We bill all insurance companies directly
VetAtHome offers clinic visits, home visits and visits to our vet practices – what's best depends on your pet's needs and what's most convenient for you. We bill all insurance companies directly, which makes it easy to get help whatever insurance cover you have.
