Germany - Pets

Two useful European Commission links for traveling with pets in the EU:

1. Travelers' Points of Entry if coming from a third country with a dog, cat or ferret – country specific information

2. Animal health requirements applicable to dogs, cats and ferrets moved into EU countries – country specific information

Germany's Rules if coming from an EU country

Dogs and cats must:

• Have a European pet passport.
• Be identified with a microchip, or tattoo and the identification number must be entered in the passport.
• Be vaccinated against rabies with a valid vaccine at the time of travel and included in the passport.

No exceptions are granted, and puppies less than 15 weeks old, and therefore not vaccinated with a valid rabies vaccine, are not allowed to enter Germany.

Germany's Rules if coming from outside the EU

To introduce a pet from a third country, you must enter with your pet through one of the designated Travelers’ Points of Entry.

If coming from third countries listed in Annex II Part 2 of the Implementing Regulation (EC) No. 577/2013, the following applies:

Cats and Dogs must:

• be identified by tattoo or by a microchip.
• have an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of a third country
• have a written declaration that the animal is not being moved for sale or a change of ownership.

Dogs, cats, and ferrets from Andorra, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland, and Vatican City must:

• Be accompanied by a pet passport that meets the conditions of Annex III, Parts 3 and 4 of the Implementing Regulations.
• Be identified by a tattoo or microchip and the identification number must be entered in the passport.
• Be vaccinated against rabies with a valid vaccine at the time of travel and included in the passport.

Only puppies vaccinated for rabies can be brought to Germany or transit through Germany. A distinction is made between whether the animals come from a listed third country or from a non-listed third country.

More details at the German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture

Last updated:  May 2023