All you need to know about international pet transport to Denmark

Denmark is an extremely pet-friendly country, and the Danes love their pets. Historically, dogs have been a part of the community in Denmark for many centuries for hunting, tracking, rescuing, guarding, and as companion pets. Dogs and cats are common household pets in the country, and they are welcome in most restaurants, cafés, on public transport and in tourist places.

International pet travel to Denmark can be confusing because there are many rules and regulations to be followed. Every step in the pet import process must be completed satisfactorily for your pet to be allowed to enter the country. If you are travelling to Denmark with your pet cat or dog, here’s all you need to know.

Microchip

A microchip is one of the fundamental necessities of international pet transport. A microchip is a small electronic transponder about the size of a rice grain. It contains information about your pet and is mandatory for international pet travel. Your vet will implant the microchip under the skin between the shoulder blades. A microchip reader is used to retrieve the information on the chip.

Pet dogs and cats travelling to Denmark must have a microchip that is compliant with ISO standard 11784. The chip must apply HDX or FDX-B technology and can be read by a reading device compatible with ISO standard 11785. When your pet enters the country, they will be scanned with the microchip reader at the point of entry. The information on the chip and the import paperwork must match for the pet to be allowed to enter.

Check your country category

Denmark, like other EU countries, has different regulations depending on the country your pet is travelling from. Check your country category before making your travel plans. Denmark has three categories. They are:

• Category 1 – EU member countries fall into this category. These countries have low or zero incidence of rabies. You will need a pet passport certified by an EU-authorised vet to be able to enter Denmark from other EU countries.
• Category 2 – Third countries are countries with low or zero incidence of rabies. They are Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City State, Ascension Island, United Arab Emirates, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Aruba, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Barbados, Bahrain, Bermuda, the BES Islands, Belarus, Canada, Chile, Curaçao, Fiji, Falkland Islands, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Japan, St Kitts and Nevis, Cayman Islands, St Lucia, Montserrat, North Macedonia, Mauritius, Mexico, Malaysia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, French Polynesia, St Pierre and Miquelon, Russia, Singapore, St Helena, Sint Maarten, Trinidad and Tobago, Taiwan, United States, St Vincent and the Grenadines, British Virgin Islands, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna.
• Category 3 – Non-listed countries that are not mentioned in the categories above belong to this category. These countries have a high incidence of rabies.

Vaccinations for pets travelling to Denmark

Pet vaccinations are an essential step in the international pet transport process. They help keep your pets safe from life-threatening diseases. Most countries insist on mandatory pet vaccinations before travelling to safeguard local animals from introduced diseases.

If your pet is travelling to Denmark, they must be vaccinated against rabies to be able to enter the country. Pets travelling from EU countries and countries in Category 2 must wait for 21 days after the date of vaccination to enter Denmark. If your pet has received a booster dose before the expiry of the primary immunisation, they can travel to Denmark without waiting for the mandatory 21 days. Your dog or cat must be at least 12 weeks old to receive the vaccine. Make sure the microchip is implanted before the vaccination.

Pets travelling to Denmark from non-listed countries have an extra step in the pet import process. These pets need a rabies titre test (RNATT) to be able to enter Denmark. The rabies titre test checks the efficacy of the rabies vaccine by measuring the antibodies produced by your pet. A satisfactory result is at least 0.5 IU/ml of antibodies in the blood. The sample for the test must be drawn at least 30 days after the date of the vaccination and must be analysed only at an EU-authorised laboratory.

After your pet receives a satisfactory result, they must wait for three months before travelling to Denmark. If your pet is going to Denmark from an unlisted country, it is best to begin travel plans much ahead of the date of travel to factor in the waiting period.

If you are returning to Denmark with your pet from a third country, your pet need not wait for three months after the rabies titre test if your pet has had a rabies titre test before moving out of Denmark, as long as the vaccinations are current.

Veterinary health certificate

Pets travelling to Denmark from non-EU countries need a veterinary health certificate issued by the government agency in charge of pet exports in the country of origin. The document must contain the following details:

• Pet’s name and identification
• Microchip details
• Proof of rabies vaccination
• Details of the rabies titre test, if necessary
• Name and contact information of the pet owner

Dogs and cats travelling to Denmark from EU member countries do not need a veterinary health certificate as long as the pet passport is current and the vaccinations are up-to-date.

Cats travelling from Australia must not reside in a place where there are cases of Hendra disease for 60 days before the date of travel. You will need a letter from an Australian official vet attesting the same.   

Non-commercial transport to Denmark

Pet transport to Denmark is considered non-commercial if the pet is travelling to the country because of the owner’s movement. The pet must be under the direct responsibility of the pet owner during the transport.

The pet dog or cat must not be up for sale or adoption in Denmark, and there should be no transfer of ownership. The pet parent must follow the EU five day rule and travel into Denmark with five days of the pet’s travel. If you cannot travel within five days of your pet, you can authorise a family member or a pet travel agency to move the pet on your behalf. If you are flying to Denmark with more than five pets, it will be considered commercial transport.

Banned breeds in Denmark

Denmark prohibits the import of several aggressive breeds into the country. Banned dog breeds in Denmark are:

• Pit Bull Terrier
• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Dogo Argentino
• Boerboel
• Central Asian Shepherd Dog
• South Russian Shepherd Dog
• Sarplaninac
• Tosa Inu
• Fila Brasileiro
• American Bulldog
• Kangal
• Caucasian Shepherd Dog
• Tornjak

Crossbreeds of the banned dog breeds are also not allowed inside the country. Wild dog species and crossbreeds of wild dog species are banned in Denmark.

Transport of puppies and kittens to Denmark

Puppies younger than eight weeks of age are not allowed to travel to Denmark unless they are travelling with the mother. Puppies younger than 16 weeks can travel to Denmark only from category 1 and 2 countries.

If your pup is younger than 12 weeks old and hasn’t received their rabies vaccination yet, you will need to fill out a Puppy Declaration Form which states that the pup has not been in contact with wild animals susceptible to rabies since their birth till the date of journey.

Puppies between 12 and 16 weeks of age that have been vaccinated against rabies, but the vaccination is not yet valid, also need the Puppy Declaration Form.

Kittens younger than 12 weeks of age cannot travel to Denmark unless they are travelling with their mother. If your kitten is not vaccinated for rabies or if your kitten’s rabies vaccination is not yet valid, you will need to fill in a Kitten Declaration Form. The form should state that the kitten has not been in contact with animals susceptible to rabies from the time of birth till the date of journey.

If you are moving puppies or kittens with their mother, the EU pet passport must state that the mother has been vaccinated against rabies before the birth of the kittens/puppies.

Entering Denmark with pets

Pets travelling from non-EU countries can enter Denmark through one of the three Traveller’s Point of Entries. The three points of entry are:

• Copenhagen airport
• Billund airport
• Aalborg airport

Pets travelling from EU member countries and Andorra, Faroe Islands, Iceland, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Gibraltar, Liechtenstein, Vatican City and Switzerland can enter Denmark through any border crossing.

Pets will be checked for any signs of illness and whether the documentation satisfies all pet import requirements. If the conditions are not met, your pet will be returned to the country of origin or placed in quarantine. In extremely rare cases when return or isolation is not possible, the pet will be euthanised.

Moving to Denmark? Call the pet travel experts

Pet travel to any international country is not as simple as buying a ticket. The documentation and the health checks required can sometimes take weeks or even months to finish. It is recommended to use a pet travel agency to help you navigate the rules and regulations of international pet transport.

If you are travelling to Denmark with your pet, get in touch with the team at Petraveller for more information on zero-harm pet transport and detailed pet travel itinerary.