# Travelling Europe with a dog: papers, heat and ferries

> What the EU requires for dogs on the road, the tapeworm rule for Norway, Finland, Ireland and Malta, why a parked vehicle gets dangerously hot, and what to ch

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/magazine/eu-travelling-with-a-dog/

*By Camping Spirit Editorial Team, 2026-10-22*

A dog changes the way a motorhome trip is planned. Papers, parasite treatments, heat in a parked vehicle, ferry rules and local restrictions all have to be checked before the first border, and the answers differ from country to country. The upside is that the basic framework within the EU is simple and well documented. This is not legal or veterinary advice: your vet and each country’s authorities have the final word.

## The papers: chip, rabies, passport

According to the European Commission, a dog travelling within the EU needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given by an official or authorised vet, and a passport issued by an authorised vet. The dog must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated, the vaccination may not predate the microchip, and it counts only from at least 21 days after the primary course is complete. The passport records the chip code, the rabies vaccination and, where required, the tapeworm treatment. The Commission page lists no separate health certificate for moves inside the EU; a certificate is mentioned for dogs entering the EU from a non-EU country. Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705 has applied since 22 April 2026 and sets new models for the pet passport and the health certificate; under its transitional rules, passports issued before 1 January 2028 under the old model stay valid. Check before you go which details apply to your dog.

The dog must travel with its owner. If someone else drives it, the owner has to travel within five days before or after, and a written declaration goes with the passport. One vehicle may carry up to five pets, with exceptions for competitions and similar events. If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, GOV.UK says a pet passport cannot be used to enter the EU: you need an animal health certificate for each trip, valid for 10 days for entry, and for 6 months for onward travel in the EU and for re-entry to Great Britain. Return rules depend on where you come from, so read the GOV.UK guidance before the journey. For Switzerland, Turkey and any other non-EU country, check before you go with the official authority.

## Tapeworm treatment for the north and the islands

The Commission states that dogs must be treated against the fox tapeworm (Echinococcus multilocularis) before entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland or Norway. The product must contain praziquantel or another proven substance, and a vet must give it not more than 120 hours and not less than 24 hours before the scheduled entry and certify it in the passport. Dogs coming directly from one of these destinations are exempt. The Norwegian Food Safety Authority adds that the medicine must contain praziquantel or epsiprantel, that treatment closer to 24 hours lowers the risk of re-infection, and that owners cannot treat or document it themselves. Book the vet in the last country before the crossing. On arrival in Norway, Nordic cooperation information says the dog must be presented to customs through the red zone.

## Breed restrictions

Some countries restrict breeds, and this can apply to visitors. Denmark’s food authority lists 13 breeds and their crosses, including Pit Bull Terrier and Tosa Inu, and states that private individuals, including tourists, may not bring them in. Transit is possible if the dog stays in the vehicle, apart from brief exercise stops, and no unnecessary stops are made. Norway also bans certain breeds, according to the Nordic information service, and tells owners to check the list. Other countries may have comparable rules that we could not verify here, so check before you go for every country on the route, including transit countries, and do not rely on a general list.

## Heat in the vehicle

Texas A&M’s veterinary school, a US source, reports that cars parked in the sun averaged a rise of 40 degrees in a study cited there; the source gives no unit, presumably °F (about 22 °C). At 100 °F (38 °C) outside, the interior could reach 140 °F (60 °C); at 75 °F (24 °C), about 115 °F (46 °C). Dogs can suffer heatstroke within minutes, even in the shade with windows cracked, and less than 20 minutes of extreme heat can cause internal damage. Open windows slow the rise, but the car reaches the same dangerous level after 60 minutes. Do not leave a dog alone in a parked vehicle in warm weather; a camper body may behave differently from a car, so treat the figures as a warning, not a measurement.

## Ferries and tunnels

A March 2024 article in Connexion France on Channel ferries says most services accept dogs, usually travelling with a vehicle. The dog may stay in the car, which may cost a fee, or use a pet-friendly cabin booked well ahead or an onboard kennel on some ships. On those routes a dog walked on board must be on a lead and muzzled, and some ships require the car alarm to be off. Rules differ by operator and route, so ask yours when booking.

Eurotunnel’s terms say that on passenger shuttles carriage of animals requires its prior approval. Tell the operator when booking or declare the animal at the pets control point at the French terminal. Animals stay in the vehicle, must be securely restrained and under control, and dogs wear a collar and a suitable lead. The version of the terms we checked dates from 2016, so check before you go that they still apply.

## On site and at the vet

Rules on leads, beach access and trails in national parks vary by place and by season. Read the site rules, check the website of the park or municipality, or ask at reception. The same applies to securing a dog while driving: requirements differ by country, so ask your motoring club or insurer. Carry the passport or certificate and the vaccination record at all times, since border checks, ferries and vets abroad will ask for them. A vet abroad can give a required tapeworm treatment, but it must be entered in the passport by the vet. Ask your vet about tick and parasite protection for your route.

## Sources

- [Travelling with a pet dog, cat or ferret within the EU (European Commission)](https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/live-animal-movements/dogs-cats-and-ferrets/travelling-pet-within-eu_en)
- [Taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad: EU country or Northern Ireland (GOV.UK)](https://gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland:)
- [Mandatory treatment for echinococcosis for dogs imported to Norway (Mattilsynet)](https://mattilsynet.no/en/animals/mandatory-treatment-for-echinococcosis-for-dogs-imported-to-norway)
- [Travelling with dogs or cats to Norway (Info Norden)](https://www.norden.org/en/info-norden/travelling-dogs-or-cats-norway)
- [Danish legislation on dogs (Danish Veterinary and Food Administration)](https://en.foedevarestyrelsen.dk/animals/animal-welfare/danish-legislation-on-dogs)
- [The dangers of leaving Fido in a hot car (Texas A&M, US source)](https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/the-dangers-of-leaving-fido-in-a-hot-car)
- [Can I take my dog on a cross-channel UK-France ferry (Connexion France, 2024)](https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Practical/Your-Questions/Can-I-take-my-dog-on-a-cross-channel-UK-France-ferry)
- [The carriage of animals (Eurotunnel)](https://www.eurotunnelfreight.com/uk/carriage-of-animals)
- [Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705 (EUR-Lex)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2026/705/oj/eng)