Guide 2026
Travelling to Lithuania with a dog
All ferry connections to Lithuania with a dog: pet cabins, rules on board and entry requirements at a glance
- Pet cabins with DFDS on Kiel - Klaipėda, and with TT-Line depending on the ship
- EU pet passport is enough: microchip, rabies vaccination, no tapeworm treatment required
- Exercise areas on the outer decks during the crossing
Entry requirements
What your dog needs for Lithuania
Lithuania follows the standard EU rules. No tapeworm treatment is required.
EU pet passport
ISO microchip
Rabies vaccination
Tick protection recommended
Guide
Your dog on board
You can only travel to Lithuania with a dog by ferry, and how relaxed the crossing is depends mainly on the route. Almost all connections are overnight sailings on which the vehicle deck stays closed: your dog then travels in the cabin or a kennel, not in the car. This page brings together the entry rules, how the ferry companies handle it, and the practicalities on board.
Entering Lithuania
Lithuania is an EU member, so the standard EU rules apply for entry from Germany. Your dog needs an EU pet passport with a microchip to ISO standard 11784/11785 and a valid rabies vaccination. The chip must have been implanted before or at the same time as the vaccination, and a waiting period of 21 days applies after the first vaccination. Lithuania does not require treatment against the fox tapeworm, which is only mandatory for Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway.
Your dog on board
On the direct Kiel - Klaipėda ferry, DFDS offers dedicated pet-friendly cabins, for a carriage fee for the animal. This way your dog spends the roughly 21-hour overnight crossing with you in the cabin. There are areas on the outer decks where it can relieve itself and move around during the journey. If you're travelling without a vehicle, you book the ticket for the dog and the pet cabin directly via DFDS customer service.
With TT-Line from Travemünde and Rostock, what's on offer depends on the ship in use: many ferries have dedicated pet cabins, designated exercise areas on the outer decks and zones in the restaurant where dogs are welcome. Up to two animals are allowed per booking.
On all overnight crossings, the vehicle deck stays closed for the whole sailing. Take everything your dog needs on the journey with you into the cabin before boarding: lead, food, water, bowls and the pet documents.
Travel checklist for Lithuania
Before setting off, it's best to go through these points:
- EU pet passport: fully completed with chip number, valid rabies vaccination and vet's confirmation.
- Microchip: identification to ISO standard 11784/11785, implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination: valid vaccination entered, with the first vaccination at least 21 days ago.
- Ferry booking: dog correctly added to the ticket and pet cabin reserved.
- Onward travel: if you're continuing to Finland or Norway, have the tapeworm treatment carried out by a vet 24 to 120 hours before entry.
If your dog is travelling in the motorhome, the vehicle dimensions and the cabin requirement also come into play. What sailings are available on your travel date is shown in the timetable.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ - Travelling to Lithuania with a dog
The key questions about travelling to Lithuania with a dog, answered concisely.
What documents does my dog need to enter Lithuania?+
To enter from Germany, an EU pet passport is enough. It must show a microchip to ISO standard 11784/11785 and a valid rabies vaccination. Important: the chip must have been implanted before or at the same time as the vaccination, otherwise the vaccination doesn't count. After the first vaccination, a waiting period of 21 days applies. Lithuania does not require tapeworm treatment.
Does my dog need to be dewormed before entry?+
No. Treatment against the fox tapeworm is only mandatory for Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway. Lithuania isn't among them, so it isn't required for entry. If you're travelling on to one of those countries afterwards, the deworming must be carried out by a vet 24 to 120 hours before entry.
Do I need a pet cabin?+
It depends on the route. On the overnight ferry Kiel - Klaipėda, DFDS offers dedicated pet-friendly cabins, so your dog spends the crossing with you. With TT-Line there are also pet cabins depending on the ship. Since the crossings to Lithuania are almost all overnight sailings and the vehicle deck stays closed, a cabin for your dog is the practical choice.
Can my dog stay in the car during the crossing?+
No. On the overnight ferries to Lithuania, the vehicle deck is closed during the crossing for safety reasons. Your dog travels in the pet cabin or a kennel, not in the car. It gets fresh air at the designated exercise areas on the outer decks. If you're travelling without a vehicle, you can add a pet cabin with DFDS directly via customer service.
When should I book the pet cabin?+
With DFDS on Kiel - Klaipėda, pet-friendly cabins are limited. Especially in the peak season from June to August you should reserve one as early as possible, or the sailing you want may already be sold out for travellers with dogs. The departure days for your date are shown in the timetable.