Importing pet birds

On this page you can read about the rules for importing pet birds.

Pets are animals that are

• five or fewer in number (if you want to bring more than five birds they do not count as pets and other rules apply)
• travelling with the owner or his representative
• not to be sold or change owner once they have been brought to Sweden.

The animals must have been born and raised in captivity. It is not allowed to keep wild-caught animals as pets in Sweden.

Import regulations maybe changed (without prior notice) for example to prevent the spread of an infectious disease.

Other rules for trade animals

If you want to bring animals that are not covered by the above definition of pets, then they are counted as trade animals and then other rules apply. Information about trade animals is found under the main heading Trade.

Other rules apply to poultry

Other rules apply to birds that are regarded as poultry, i.e. hens, turkeys, guinea fowls, ducks, geese, quails, pigeons, pheasants, partridges and ratites.

Please note that private individuals are not allowed to keep birds of prey.

You are responsible for compliance

It is the person bringing the animal that is responsible to see that the rules are followed. If you do not follow the rules the import can be stopped at the border. Remember that you must first find out if the animals are kept in Sweden without special permission.

Some species are protected

Some species are comprised by special regulations according to CITES, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. When you bring such species from non-EU countries you need an import permit from the Board of Agriculture, and an export licence from the animals' country of origin.

Species may also be comprised by the Ordinance on the protection of species, which is a complement to the CITES convention. The Ordinance is intended to protect European species of wild fauna and flora by regulating trade and possession of such species.

Importing from EU countries and from Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican

You may bring no more than five birds from EU countries and from Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican, provided that they travel with you or your representative. The birds must be healthy.

Note that, however, you may need CITES permits for certain endangered bird species that you take in from Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City.

Importing from other non-EU countries (except for Andorra, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City)

You need an import permit

If you want to bring pet birds to Sweden from non-EU countries except Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican, you need an import permit for each individual case.

How to apply for import permit

• You need to apply for an import permit at least 30 days before the estimated date of importation. You will find the application form in the right-hand column.
• The application fee is SEK 400. Please pay this amount to our bank giro account No 5693-2486 before submitting your application. A payment from abroad is made via SWIFT: DABASESX. International Bank account code (IBAN-code) is: SE9212000000012810104360.
• State your name and address and, identify the payment by the number 10508. Please enclose a copy of the payment receipt with your permit application and send it to the Swedish Board of Agriculture, Division for CITES and Pet Animals, 551 82 Jönköping, Sweden or scan the signed application and e-mail to registrator@jordbruksverket.se

The country from which you bring the birds must be a member of the OIE, the World Organization for Animal Health.

Health requirements and health certificate

Within 48 hours of dispatch, or on the last working day before dispatch, the birds must undergo clinical examination. This examination has to show that they are free from obvious signs of disease.

The birds must comply with one of the following three options:

• They have been kept in isolation for at least ten days before departure. During this time, they have been tested for H5N1-antigen or H5N1-genome in accordance with the OIE Manual of Diagnostic Test and Vaccines for Terrestrial Animals. The test must be taken no sooner than on the third day of isolation, and has to show that the birds do not carry bird flu. More information is available at the OIE website. The birds' owner or his representative has to sign a document ensuring that the tests have been carried out.
• They must be quarantined for 30 days after their arrival in the EU, at an approved quarantine facility. Since there are no such quarantines in Sweden, you need to bring the birds via the country where they will spend the 30 days of quarantine. Approved quarantine facilities can be found in Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom. List of countries with approved quarantine are available in  Commission Regulation (EC) No 1294/2008 of 18 December 2008 amending Regulation (EC) No 318/2007 laying down animal health conditions for imports of certain birds into the Community and the quarantine conditions thereof.
• The have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export at the place of departure in a third country listed in Part 1 of Annex I or in Part 1 of Annex II to Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 (Commission Regulation (EU) No 206/2010 of 12 March 2010 laying down lists of third countries, territories or parts thereof which it is allowed to enter certain animals and fresh meat to the European Union and the veterinary certification requirements).

Notify the import

Pet birds from non-EU countries except Andorra, Faeroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Croatia, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican, may only be brought to Sweden through border inspection posts at Stockholm-Arlanda or Gothenburg-Landvetter.

You need to notify Customs of the animals' arrival at least 48 hours in advance, and contact the local border inspection veterinarian at least one working day ahead of the animals' arrival.

When the animals cross the border, you need to report to Customs and to the border inspection veterinarian. The person who imports the animals is the one who pays for the border veterinarian´s inspection. It may be a good idea to find out in advance how much it will cost.

If the birds' species is uncertain

If there is doubt about the species of the birds, Customs may call on an expert appointed by the Board of Agriculture. This is paid for by the person bringing the birds into Sweden.

You are responsible for complying with the rules

The person who brings animals to Sweden is responsible for complying with the import rules. If you do not follow the rules, the import may be prevented, or the animals may be killed at the border. You also need to find out in advance whether or not you are allowed to keep the animals in Sweden without special permission.