I was hoping I could get some guidance about transporting my little monster (6ft Colombian Red Tail) over seas. I recently got engaged (YAY!) to a wonderful Swede, and I’m going to be moving to Sweden to be with him. However leaving Nietzsche behind IS NOT AN OPTION!!!
I’m having difficulty finding out where to start though… as far as paperwork, and well… how to actually get him there goes. If anyone could please direct me to a website, or advise me on the steps I need to take in order to bring him along I would really really really appreciate it.
He’s my family, and my best friend. And I simply can’t imagine starting this new adventure without him.
Thanks so much for any advice you can give me!

So far from what I found it looks like you might be out of luck. The only thing I could find says it prohibits reptiles, monkeys and a few other animals from import. I will include the link. You might want to contact the Swedish Embassy and ask them.

http://www.aphis.usda.gov/vs/ncie/iregs/animals/sw.html

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Ken
"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem." -- Ronald Reagan

Actually is not that bad. I've been recently checking the opposite (export) in nothern europe countries and related paperwork.

But first of all you should read this, a story about a girl that moved with her herps from the US to the UK. It will help you understand the whole thing about getting out of the US.
And as for entering Sweden, have a look at their customs website but you will most likely need to visit the Swedish Board of Agriculture and dig a little deeper, specially if Nietzsche needs CITES paperwork.
A giant headache!

Good luck!

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

thanks for the great links! that girls story realy was soooo helpfull!

I know that it is definitely possible. according to the Swedish Irrigation Office (Jordbruksverket) snakes can be freely imported with proof that they were bred in captivity and have a clean bill of health. i also ordered an "Application for registration/license for import or export of animals and animal products"; the stupid link on the sight didn’t work so I have to wait for snail male.
as for CITES, i checked their official sight and didn’t see anything about Columbian red tails... though I’m going to have my fiancé scan the sight as well, as I’m not the most document savvy girl. but I HOPE HOPE HOPE I don’t have to deal with CITES paperwork! =^o.O^=

and no rbl, i don’t speak Swedish yet! but I am working on it! so far the only words I can 100% remember though is "hall kaften" (spelled wrong cuz I only have an american keyboard) but my fiancé got me the "Metal Bibeln" to practice! lol

Congrats on the engagement and good luck with the move...Keep us posted with that and the progress of getting Nietzsche over there.

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MARSHA

:D I'm smiling because I have no idea whats going on!

As far as I've read, it is different if you are moving there to live and you are transporting your pets so be sure to let them know that all the times you contact them or better, your boyfriend contacts them.

Be careful with the CITES status. If it is not covered, (this might sound stupid but) get some document that says that.

I think Gemma's story shows that it's better to leave that into the hands of professionals, speaking of which I would recommend jets4pets.com. They were the only ones that answered me in the most constructive way without asking me for money beforehand.

Swedish is real tongue twister =) If you don't have any audio material yet (besides the Metal Bibeln ), the BBC site has a quickfix page with some starter expressions like hej (hello), tack (thank you), etc.

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

Hrm... good idea about getting the CITES documentation... i'm totally going to look into that... i'm having Nils (the fiancé) call Sweden tomorrow to further investigate documents and procedures we need to take care of. his sister is going to school to be a vet, and she's doing some digging for us as well, which is very helpful!
I've emailed Jets4Pets, animal couriers, and Jet-a-Pet, hopefully I’ll be able to get some good information from one of them. i'm definitely thinking using a transport service is going to be the way to go, as I STINK at paperwork and want to make this transition as smooth as possible for my boy.
thanks for the great advice so far, i really appreciate it!

the Metal Bibeln is ridiculously hard, lol. i much prefer Bamse - Varldens Starkaste Bjorn. it's this childs comic that is simply fantastic! until I have to say "kusinerna". it looks simple enough, but trying to say kusinaginaginagagaga::choughcough:: god, Swedish is so weird!

I can't help you much more since I haven't been through that experience myself. The only advice left is for you to keep triplicates of all the necessary documents, each copy in a different location, so if your suitcase ends up in Japan, you can still pick up Nietzsche on your way out and not 2 weeks later.

If you don't mind, keep us posted on all the developments. I don't think anyone here has been through that and your experience will be invaluable.

As for Swedish, you can also try to ask Nils for a swedish dubbed version of one of your favorite movies (the ones you have seen a gazilion times, know all the lines and don't get tired) and start seeing it in Swedish =)

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Wish list: Blue Tongue Skinks and Uruplatus =)

thanks so much for the help! it's defonitioly set me on the right path, i was totaly stuck as to figuring out, just were to start!!!

I will absolutioly keep everyone posted on the exciting developments of shipping my monster. anything to make it easier for the next guy you know? cuz oy what a mess!

thats a good idea with the movies... i can currently 100% function a swedish cell phone and a swedish laptop, i can also run Adobe Photoshop in Swedish, so i'm getting there! slowly but sherly! just gotta figure out how to pronounce those 'R's!