Pet relocation · Germany
Relocating with pets to Germany — what you need to research
Pet import to Germany follows EU rules with German-specific implementation. Microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport or endorsed third-country certificate, breed restrictions.
Pet import rules change frequently and vary by species, origin country, breed, and date of travel. This guide is a structural overview, not a definitive checklist. Verify every detail with the official authority listed below and your veterinarian before acting.
Pet relocation rules change frequently and vary by pet species, your origin country, and the time of year you travel. The structural overview below is meant as a planning framework — not a substitute for the official requirements published by the destination country's authority, which is the only authoritative source.
Most pet relocations fail at one of three points: incorrect documentation timing (the rabies vaccination must be sufficiently old, but not too old, on the day of travel), incomplete paperwork chain (origin country vet certificate + endorsement by the origin country's competent authority + acceptance by destination), or an unexpected breed or carrier restriction (some airlines refuse certain breeds and weights). Start the process much earlier than feels necessary.
Authority to verify with
These are the official bodies that publish the current rules and supervise entry. Always cross-check the information below against their guidance.
- BMEL — Bundesministerium für Ernährung und LandwirtschaftGerman federal ministry of food and agriculture — publishes the import-rule framework.Reference: https://www.bmel.de
- Local Veterinäramt (Veterinary Office)The municipal veterinary office handles registration and any local breed restrictions after entry.Reference: https://www.bmel.de
What you'll need to research
EU pet passport (intra-EU)
Standard EU passport. Confirm microchip ISO 11784 / 11785 compliance — German scanners may not read older non-compliant chips.
Third-country entry
Microchip + rabies + endorsed certificate. From non-listed countries, add rabies serology with EU lab and observe the post-test waiting period.
Breed restrictions (Listenhunde)
Germany's federal states (Bundesländer) maintain their own "Listenhunde" lists — breeds requiring permits, sometimes muzzles in public, sometimes outright bans. The list varies materially by state.
Dog tax (Hundesteuer)
Most German municipalities charge an annual dog tax (often €100-200+, higher for listed breeds). Registration with the local Bürgeramt is required after settling.
Common pitfalls and underestimated steps
- Bringing a listed-breed dog to a Bundesland where it's banned — Germany's regulations vary by state, not federally.
- Missing the local registration window (often within 14-30 days of arrival, depending on municipality).
- Using a non-ISO microchip — chips that were standard in the origin country may not be readable in Germany.
- Underestimating Hundesteuer for listed breeds — some municipalities charge €600+ annually for listed dogs.
Generic checklist
The structural sequence — adapt to the specific timing and document names required by the destination country's authority.
- Confirm your pet's species is admitted at all (some destinations exclude certain reptiles, exotic animals, or specific dog breeds).
- Verify the rabies vaccination + microchip ordering requirement: most destinations require the microchip to be implanted before the rabies vaccination, not after.
- Time the rabies vaccination correctly — typically a minimum of 21-30 days before travel and within a maximum vaccination-validity window.
- Schedule the origin-country veterinary health certificate within the destination's required window before travel (often 10 days or less).
- Get the certificate endorsed by the origin country's competent authority (in the US, USDA APHIS; in the EU, the national veterinary service).
- Confirm the airline accepts your pet (cabin, hold, or cargo manifest), and check breed and weight restrictions.
- Book the destination country's required quarantine, if any, well in advance.
- Bring multiple copies of every document, including translations where required.
Breed-restriction rules vary by Bundesland — what's permitted in Berlin may be banned in Bavaria. Research your specific destination state, not just "Germany".
Other destinations
See the full pet relocation directory for all 11 country guides.