Transporting your pet to Denmark? Our team of experts is here to assist you and ensure that this aspect of your relocation is as stress-free as possible, allowing you to concentrate on the human side of your move.
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In This Guide
Denmark follows standard EU pet import rules with no bilingual certificate requirement, no tapeworm treatment, and no quarantine for compliant pets. The one critical difference: Denmark bans 13 dog breeds from import, one of the longest breed-ban lists in Europe. Here is exactly what you need to bring your dog or cat from the USA.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 compliant; must be implanted before or same day as first rabies vaccination |
| Rabies Vaccination | Required; 21-day wait after primary vaccination; no wait required after a valid booster with no lapse in coverage |
| Health Certificate | EU non-commercial health certificate (Annex IV), English-only accepted; USDA APHIS must endorse; pet must arrive within 10 days of endorsement |
| Titer Test | Not required from the USA (USA is an EU-listed country) |
| Quarantine | None for compliant pets |
| Breed Restrictions | 13 breeds banned from import |
Microchip
Your pet must have an ISO 11784/11785 compliant microchip implanted before receiving its rabies vaccination. Your veterinarian must scan the microchip before every rabies vaccination. A rabies vaccination administered before microchip implantation or without scanning the microchip first does not count under EU rules.
Rabies Vaccination
Primary rabies vaccination: The first rabies vaccination your pet receives after microchip implantation, or after any lapse in coverage, is a "primary" vaccination under EU rules. A primary vaccination is valid for only 1 year, even if your vet administers a 3-year vaccine. Your pet must wait at least 21 days after a primary vaccination before traveling.
Booster rabies vaccination: If your pet receives its next rabies vaccination within 1 year of the primary (with no lapse in coverage), that vaccination is a "booster" and can be valid for 1 to 3 years per the manufacturer's instructions. No 21-day wait is required after a valid booster. Keep all previous rabies vaccination certificates to prove continuous coverage since the primary.
Simplest approach: Have your vet administer a 1-year rabies vaccine (after scanning the microchip) at least 21 days before travel but less than 1 year before your travel date. This way, you only need one vaccination certificate regardless of your pet's history.
Other vaccinations (DHLPP and Bordetella for dogs; FVRCP for cats) are not required for entry into Denmark but are recommended by most veterinarians for your pet's general health.
EU Health Certificate and USDA Endorsement
Your USDA-accredited veterinarian issues the EU non-commercial health certificate (Annex IV). This is a single document that covers your pet's microchip, rabies vaccination, and health examination. Denmark accepts English-only health certificates. No bilingual translation is required.
Your vet completes and signs the certificate, then USDA APHIS must endorse it by countersigning and embossing the document. USDA APHIS mails back the original ink-signed, embossed hard copy certificate. This physical document must travel with your pet. A digital copy or scanned version is not accepted at the Danish border. Include a prepaid return envelope when you submit to your APHIS endorsement office and confirm current mail turnaround before booking your travel date.
Certificate Validity
The health certificate is valid for 30 days from the date your vet signs it. USDA endorsement and your pet's arrival in Denmark must both occur within that 30-day window. Your pet must arrive in Denmark within 10 days from the date APHIS endorses the certificate, not from the date your vet issues it. Plan your vet appointment and APHIS submission accordingly to stay within this window.
The non-commercial certificate remains valid for up to 4 months for onward EU travel, as long as your pet's rabies vaccination does not expire during that period.
Owner's Declaration
The owner or a designated person (a family member, friend, or authorized representative) must complete and sign the Declaration on the final page of the health certificate before travel.
For Commercial Moves
If you cannot meet the 5-day rule, the move becomes a commercial move with different requirements: the commercial health certificate must be issued by your vet and endorsed by APHIS, and your pet must depart the US within 48 hours of vet issuance. The 2025 version of the commercial certificate is now required; the 2024 version expired on January 11, 2026.
Titer Test
Not required from the USA. The United States is an EU-listed country, so no rabies antibody titer test is required. Titer tests only apply to pets arriving from unlisted (non-EU, non-approved) countries.
No Quarantine
Denmark does not require quarantine for dogs, cats, or ferrets arriving from the USA with compliant documentation. Pets that do not meet EU requirements may be refused entry or quarantined at the owner's expense.
The Five-Day Rule: Non-Commercial vs. Commercial
For non-commercial moves, the owner or designated person must travel within 5 days before or after the pet. The move must also involve 5 or fewer pets.
If you cannot meet the 5-day window, the move is classified as commercial. Commercial moves have a tighter documentation timeline (48-hour window from vet issuance to departure), may involve additional costs, and use a different health certificate. Your relocation manager will coordinate the correct certificate and timeline.
Breed Restrictions
Denmark bans the import of 13 dog breeds and their mixes under the Danish Act on Dogs (Hundeloven), effective since June 2010. The following breeds may not be imported:
Pit Bull Terrier, Tosa Inu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Fila Brasileiro, Dogo Argentino, American Bulldog, Boerboel, Kangal, Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), Caucasian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), South Russian Shepherd Dog (Ovtcharka), Tornjak, and Sarplaninac.
Export from Denmark and transit through Denmark are not affected by this ban. Dogs in transit may be briefly walked but cannot remain in the country.
Of these 13 breeds, Pit Bull Terriers and Tosa Inu face an absolute ban with no exceptions. For the remaining 11 breeds, dogs owned before March 17, 2010 may be kept under strict conditions (muzzled and leashed at all times in public), but new import is prohibited. If police have any doubt about your dog's breed, they may require documentation proving it is not a banned breed. Enforcement is strict: authorities can order banned breeds euthanized.
If you own a restricted breed and need to relocate to Europe, consider EU countries without breed-specific import bans, such as the Czech Republic.
Entry Points and Customs
Copenhagen Airport (Kastrup) is the primary entry point for pets arriving in Denmark by air. Billund Airport also accepts pet arrivals. You must notify the border inspection post at your arrival airport before import. Confirm your specific arrival airport's current BIP status before booking, as accepted entry points can change.
Airline and Transport Options
Airlines set their own policies for pet transport, including crate requirements, breed restrictions, and seasonal temperature embargoes. Confirm your airline's specific rules before booking, as these are separate from Denmark's import requirements.
Pets traveling as cargo must meet IATA Live Animals Regulations for crate size, construction, and labeling.
Timeline: USA to Denmark
3 to 4 months before travel: Confirm your pet has an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before rabies vaccination. If a primary vaccination is needed, schedule it now and note the 21-day wait. Confirm your dog is not one of Denmark's 13 banned breeds before proceeding with any planning.
30 days before travel: If your pet needs a primary rabies vaccination, have it administered at least 21 days before travel. If your pet already has a valid booster with no lapse in coverage, the process can be completed in as little as 2 to 3 weeks. Book airline cargo or excess baggage space.
10 days before travel: Your USDA-accredited vet completes and signs the EU health certificate. Submit to USDA APHIS for endorsement. Include a prepaid return envelope for the physical endorsed certificate.
Within 10 days of USDA endorsement: Your pet must arrive in Denmark. Confirm your travel is within 5 days of your pet's travel (non-commercial). Bring the USDA-endorsed EU health certificate (ink-signed, embossed paper copy), all rabies vaccination certificates, and signed Owner's Declaration.
Common mistakes that cause problems:
- Microchip implanted after rabies vaccination: vaccination does not count, must revaccinate and wait 21 days.
- Primary vaccine assumed valid for 3 years: under EU rules a primary is only valid for 1 year regardless of vaccine label.
- 10-day window miscalculated: the window runs from USDA endorsement, not vet signature. Build in buffer for USDA processing and mail return.
- Missing physical endorsement: VEHCS electronic submission alone is not sufficient. APHIS must mail back the physical ink-signed, embossed certificate.
- Banned breed not checked: Denmark's 13-breed ban is strictly enforced. Authorities can order banned breeds euthanized.
- Cargo space booked too late: pet cargo fills faster than passenger seats.
How PetRelocation Can Help
Complete Support: We coordinate the full move: health certificate facilitation, USDA endorsement and physical mail-back logistics, airline cargo booking, and customs documentation at destination.
Vet Paperwork Support: We manage the documentation chain while you handle airline logistics.
Consultation: Direct access to our team to work through your timeline and questions.
Ready to start? Get a free quote from PetRelocation and a relocation manager will walk you through every step.
For official requirements, see the USDA APHIS Denmark pet travel page.
