Travelling with a dog
Taking your dog to Finland
How your dog travels comfortably on the ferry to Finland - routes, cabins and all the entry rules
- Every ferry to Finland carries dogs - registering in advance is compulsory
- Where your dog stays depends on the operator, the ship and the sailing
- Finland generally requires a tapeworm treatment for dogs; check the exceptions
Entry requirements
What your dog needs for Finland
For dogs, Finland generally requires a documented tapeworm treatment. Check the time window, the exceptions and the 28-day rule with the Finnish Food Authority.
EU pet passport
ISO microchip
Rabies vaccination
Tapeworm treatment
Taking your dog on the ferry to Finland
Taking your dog to Finland
Taking your dog on the ferry to Finland
The operators on the Finnish routes compared here carry pets on many sailings. Always register your dog when you book: places and the accommodation allowed depend on the operator, the ship and the particular sailing.
Which route is worth taking with a dog?
With a dog, the time on board matters most. On the direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki you spend around 30 hours crossing the open Baltic, with two nights on board and a compulsory cabin, but without a single leg by road. If you want to build Sweden into the trip, cross on Stockholm - Helsinki or Stockholm - Turku, both usually overnight. Far shorter are Umeå - Vaasa at about four hours and the two-hour Tallinn - Helsinki at the end of the drive through the Baltic states.
Where your dog travels on board
| Route / operator | Documented or bookable pet option | What to check before you buy |
|---|---|---|
| Travemünde - Helsinki, Finnlines | pet cabin for travellers with an animal | availability, number of animals and the current areas open on board |
| Umeå - Vaasa, Wasaline | Pet Lounge, designated pet cabins or the vehicle on your own responsibility | book the pet place for both the outward and the return trip; the car deck stays closed during the crossing |
| Stockholm - Helsinki and Stockholm - Turku | the option depends on the operator, the ship and the sailing | pet cabin or kennel and which areas you can use in the specific offer |
| Tallinn - Helsinki | several operators with different rules | ship, pet option, whether animals may stay in the vehicle, and terminal requirements |
The car deck is closed while the ship is under way. If the operator allows an animal to stay in the vehicle, you cannot visit it during the crossing. Take food, water, a lead and any medication into the passenger area you can reach.
Entry requirements for dogs coming to Finland
Finland is in the EU, but for dogs it asks for a few more steps than most countries:
- ISO microchip for identification, implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination, valid and given at least 21 days before entry, and no earlier than 12 weeks of age.
- EU pet passport with the chip and the vaccination entered in it.
- Tapeworm treatment for dogs with praziquantel, generally carried out and recorded by a vet 24 to 120 hours before arrival. The exceptions and the 28-day rule depend on your itinerary.
Plan the vet appointment around your arrival at the border, not just around your departure. The Finnish Food Authority sets out the requirements for your route, and its FAQ on echinococcus treatment also explains the 28-day rule and the special cases.
The rules on board differ from operator to operator: see Finnlines, Wasaline and Tallink Silja. What counts for your trip is always the option the particular ship offers when you book.
Tips for travelling with a dog
Book early, because pet cabins go quickly. Keep your dog on the lead on board, plan a walk before departure and have the pet passport to hand at check-in. If your dog travels in a motorhome, vehicle dimensions and pitches come into it as well, and the guide Taking a motorhome to Finland covers all of that.
Common questions
FAQ - Taking your dog to Finland
The key questions about travelling to Finland with a dog, answered briefly.
What are the entry requirements for dogs coming to Finland? +
For an ordinary private trip from an EU country you need identification, a valid rabies vaccination and the pet passport. For dogs, Finland generally requires an echinococcus treatment carried out and recorded by a vet 24 to 120 hours before entry. There are special rules, for instance for direct trips from Norway and under the 28-day rule. Check your own case with the Finnish Food Authority before you travel.
Where does my dog stay during the crossing? +
That depends on the operator, the ship and the sailing. On Travemünde - Helsinki, Finnlines requires a booked pet cabin. On Aurora Botnia, Wasaline offers a Pet Lounge, pet cabins and, on your own responsibility, leaving your animal in the vehicle; the car deck is closed during the crossing. With Tallink Silja, Viking Line and Eckerö Line you choose the pet option offered for the particular ship when you book.
Which route is worth taking with a dog? +
With a dog, the time on board matters most. The short crossing Tallinn - Helsinki is over quickest at about two hours, but the long drive through the Baltic states comes on top. On the direct ferry Travemünde - Helsinki and on the night ferries your dog sleeps in the pet cabin while you sleep through the crossing. If you are travelling in a motorhome, the guide Taking a motorhome to Finland has everything else.