Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to Denmark with your dog
Denmark welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on Denmark itself. As an EU member, Denmark applies the EU pet-movement rules: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required. A dog coming from another EU country simply needs an EU pet passport. A dog from a listed non-EU country (such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom) needs an EU animal health certificate but no blood test. A dog from a non-listed country faces the longest path, including a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait. One point is unique to Denmark: 13 dog breeds and their crosses are banned and cannot be brought in at all. This guide explains each case before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes — except 13 banned breeds |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for Denmark |
| Banned dog breeds | 13 breeds prohibited — no exemption |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Denmark
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — Denmark★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The microchip must already be in place; no exemption from a valid rabies vaccination is possible. | EU Reg. 2020/688, Annex VII |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Not needed for EU origins (EU pet passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not Denmark. | European Commission — pet travel |
| Banned dog breeds | 13 breeds prohibited | Dogs acquired before 17 March 2010 may enter under transitional rules (lead ≤2 m and muzzle in public); this never covers Pit Bull Terrier or Tosa Inu. | Danish Act on Dogs (Hundeloven), §§1 a-b |
| Danish Dog Register | Stays over 4 weeks | Short holiday stays under 4 weeks are not concerned. | foedevarestyrelsen.dk; hunderegister.dk |
| Border check (travellers' point of entry) | Non-EU arrivals | No systematic check for intra-EU arrivals or from Andorra, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland and other EU-terms countries. | foedevarestyrelsen.dk (points of entry) |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | Puppies under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated, so cannot enter from outside the EU. | EU Reg. 2020/688; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
| Quarantine | Not required | Only if rules are breached — the authorities may then order re-export, quarantine or, for a banned breed, euthanasia. | Danish Act on Dogs; foedevarestyrelsen.dk |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- ISO microchipMust be implanted before the rabies vaccination; ISO 11784/11785 (HDX or FDX-B).
- Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies antibody testNon-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-approved lab.
- EU pet passportIssued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination.
- EU animal health certificateIssued/endorsed by the official vet of the country of dispatch before departure.
- Banned dog breedsKeeping, breeding and import of the 13 listed breeds and their crosses is prohibited; no exemption is possible.
- Danish Dog RegisterThe dog must be registered in the Danish Dog Register within 4 weeks of arrival if the stay exceeds 4 weeks.
- Border check (travellers' point of entry)Enter via Copenhagen (Kastrup), Billund or Aalborg airport; identity and documents are checked (free of charge).
- Puppies / minimum age12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country.
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplified — EU pet passport
A dog coming from another EU country needs an EU pet passport showing a valid ISO microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination. No antibody test, no health certificate and normally no border check. Countries on EU terms (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Andorra, San Marino, Monaco, Liechtenstein, Vatican, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland) follow the same simplified route.
⏱ A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed.
Health certificate, no blood test
From a listed non-EU country (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Japan, Australia and others), your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate endorsed by the official vet of the country of dispatch. No antibody test is required; enter through a Danish travellers' point of entry (Copenhagen, Billund or Aalborg airport).
⏱ ~3–4 weeks: 21-day wait after the rabies shot, plus an EU animal health certificate.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-approved laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required, and entry must be through a Danish travellers' point of entry.
⏱ ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Denmark depends on where you flew from.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: enter only through Copenhagen (Kastrup), Billund or Aalborg airport, where customs check identity and documents on behalf of the Veterinary and Food Administration.
- Entering from a non-EU country through any other airport or port is illegal; checks in Denmark are free of charge.
- Notifying the point of entry at least 24 hours before arrival makes the check easier.
- If documents are missing or invalid, the authorities may order re-export, quarantine or, in the worst case, euthanasia — at the owner's expense.
- Any of the 13 banned breeds (or a cross) is refused entry, unless covered by the pre-2010 transitional rules; only transit without unnecessary stops is tolerated.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Denmark uses a banned-breed model under the Danish Act on Dogs (Hundeloven). Rather than permitting listed breeds under conditions, it prohibits 13 breeds outright. The ban applies to tourists and residents alike, and only a pedigree or descent evidence — not appearance — can prove a dog is not one of them.
Prohibited breeds (import, keeping and breeding banned, crosses included, no exemption): 1) Pit Bull Terrier, 2) Tosa Inu, 3) American Staffordshire Terrier, 4) Fila Brasileiro, 5) Dogo Argentino, 6) American Bulldog, 7) Boerboel, 8) Kangal, 9) Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), 10) Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), 11) South Russian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), 12) Tornjak, 13) Sarplaninac. Bringing one of these dogs into Denmark is prohibited under the Act on Dogs, §§1 a-b.
Denmark has no permissive second category: there is no ownership permit or muzzle scheme that allows a banned breed to be imported normally. The only exceptions are transitional — a dog acquired before 17 March 2010 may be kept and brought in (on a lead ≤2 m and muzzled in public), but this never applies to Pit Bull Terrier or Tosa Inu, banned since 1991. A banned breed may transit Denmark only if it does not leave the vehicle except for brief necessary stops and there are no unnecessary stops.
If your dog resembles one of the 13 breeds, carry documentation of its breed and, for a pre-2010 dog, proof of the acquisition date. For any doubt, contact the Danish Veterinary, Food, Agriculture and Fisheries Agency (Fødevarestyrelsen).
✈️ Airlines flying to Denmark with a dog
Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.
+39 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 4 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in Denmark
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
Denmark with a dog: common questions
Denmark: What does my dog need to enter?
Denmark requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination.
Denmark: Is a rabies antibody test required?
Denmark — Rabies antibody test: Conditional. Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-approved lab.
Denmark: Are any dog breeds banned?
Denmark uses a banned-breed model under the Danish Act on Dogs (Hundeloven). Rather than permitting listed breeds under conditions, it prohibits 13 breeds outright. The ban applies to tourists and residents alike, and only a pedigree or descent evidence — not appearance — can prove a dog is not one of them.
Denmark: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed. ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
Denmark: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
Denmark — Easy to difficult (depends on origin; banned breeds refused). MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 8 August 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of Denmark and your vet before booking.
📚 Official sources
- Danish Veterinary and Food Agency (Fødevarestyrelsen) — How to travel with your dog to Denmark
- Fødevarestyrelsen — Danish Legislation on Dogs (banned breeds)
- Fødevarestyrelsen — Traveller's Point of Entry in Denmark
- Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries of Denmark — The Danish dog law
- Danish Customs (Toldstyrelsen / skat.dk) — Travel rules and goods you may bring into Denmark
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Listing of non-EU countries (antibody-test exemption)