Dogs & pets

On the Stockholm - Helsinki ferry, your dog spends the night with you in the cabin. Both ferry companies take dogs and cats but don't allow them to stay on the car deck. Ashore, two countries' rules apply: heading to Helsinki, you enter Finland; heading to Stockholm, you enter Sweden. The two authorities require almost the same, with one important difference on tapeworm.

Entering Finland

For dogs, cats and ferrets that travel with you and are not being sold, the rules of the Finnish Food Authority, Ruokavirasto, apply:

• Microchip: the animal has an ISO microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination: the animal is at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, and the vaccination is given at least 21 days before entry. A booster within the period of validity needs no waiting time.
• EU pet passport: mandatory. Other vaccination records don't replace it.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs

Dogs entering Finland from Sweden need a treatment against the Echinococcus tapeworm. This also applies to puppies under three months. Cats and ferrets don't need it.

The treatment with praziquantel is given by a vet outside Finland 1 to 5 days before entering Finland and recorded in the pet passport. It can't be done at the border just before entry, so build the vet appointment firmly into your travel plans.

The alternative is the 28-day rule for dogs from the EU: at least two treatments 24 hours to 28 days apart, then regular treatments at intervals of no more than 28 days, and a final treatment in Finland.

If you and your dog are outside Finland for less than 24 hours, a single treatment is not possible. Only the 28-day rule then applies, with two treatments in Finland before the trip and one after. According to Ruokavirasto, a dog counts as having entered the country even if it doesn't leave the vehicle during a cruise.

Entering Sweden

For the crossing from Helsinki to Stockholm, the rules of the Swedish Board of Agriculture, Jordbruksverket, apply. Finland is explicitly listed there, including Åland.

• Microchip: implanted before the rabies vaccination.
• Rabies vaccination: from 12 weeks of age. After the primary vaccination you wait 21 days; a booster given in time needs no waiting period.
• EU pet passport: mandatory.
• Tapeworm treatment: not mandatory, because the parasite already occurs in Sweden. Jordbruksverket still recommends it.
• Customs: you declare the animal to customs, either in the red channel or online in advance. If you've declared online, you use the green channel.

Without a declaration, Sweden can refuse entry. Breaches can lead to the animal being turned back, quarantined at the owner's expense or, in the worst case, put down. The same core rules apply to cats.

On board with Viking Line

Viking Line only carries animals on regular crossings, not on mini cruises. Register your pet when you book, as the number of animals on board is limited and every animal needs a pet ticket.

On the overnight crossing your pet stays in your cabin. You can't book an allergy-friendly cabin with an animal. Animals are not allowed in the restaurants, may not stay on the car deck, and must never be left unattended.

On board with Tallink Silja

On the Silja Serenade and the Silja Symphony, your pet can only travel in a pet-friendly cabin of class A, B or C. These cabins have linoleum floors. No more than three animals may travel, each needs its own ticket, and none may stay in the vehicle on the car deck.

Tallink Silja requires the EU pet passport for dogs, cats and ferrets. On board, keep your pet on a lead; in crowded areas it wears a muzzle. Restaurants, bars and the playroom are off limits to animals. For exercise there is an outdoor area with sandboxes on deck 12.

Assistance and guide dogs

Guide dogs travel free on all Viking Line ships. They may go anywhere except the sauna, spa and allergy-friendly cabins, wear a harness or a coat, and have their own exercise areas on board. On Tallink Silja, assistance and guide dogs travel free with proof; the dog wears a harness or vest as identification.

Which ferry company to choose with a dog

Both ferry companies leave in the afternoon and arrive the next morning, so your dog spends the night in the cabin either way. Tallink Silja mentions an exercise area on deck. With Viking Line, registering early matters most, because the number of animals is limited. The departure times of both ferry companies are in the timetable, and the differences between the ships on the Ferry companies & ships page. The Cabins page shows which cabin suits you and your pet.