Bringing a dog or cat to Germany: the EU pet import rules
Germany applies the European Union’s harmonised rules for the non-commercial movement of pet dogs and cats, set out in Regulation (EU) No 576/2013. A pet from a listed country takes the lighter pathway: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate — and no rabies antibody test. A pet from an unlisted country faces an extra blood test and a 3-month wait. There is no routine quarantine for a compliant pet.
This page tells you where the official rule is and what it says. It is not the rule and it is not legal advice. The official source decides, and the official source is the one that counts if this page and it ever disagree.
For a pet from a listed country the process is microchip, rabies vaccine, the 21-day wait and an EU animal health certificate — no blood test and no quarantine. Germany does not require the tapeworm treatment.
At a glance
The whole journey in order. Every point below is spelled out in full further down.
- Microchip identification
- Rabies vaccination and the 21-day wait
- Carry the EU animal health certificate (unlisted: add a blood test)
- Enter through a Travellers’ Point of Entry
Entering Germany — the EU pet import rules
Germany does not run its own separate scheme; it applies the EU’s harmonised non-commercial pet movement rules. The pathway depends on whether your country is on the EU’s list of approved countries and territories.
Authority: EU / German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) — EU pet import rules
Confirm the EU rule set and your country’s listed statusDon't get this wrong
Germany applies EU Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and its implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013. A country on the EU’s list of approved countries and territories gets the lighter, listed-country pathway — no rabies antibody test. An unlisted country faces the additional blood test and 3-month wait.
- Germany applies EU rules — Regulations 576/2013 and 577/2013
- Listed country = no rabies antibody titration test
- Unlisted country = blood test + 3-month wait
Microchip identificationDon't get this wrong
Your pet must be identifiable by a microchip (transponder), implanted before or at the same time as the rabies vaccination. A tattoo is accepted only if it is clearly readable and was applied before 3 July 2011. The chip number must match across the vaccination record and the certificate.
- Microchip (transponder) required
- Implant before or with the rabies vaccination
- Chip number must match across all records
Valid rabies vaccination — 12 weeks old, then a 21-day wait
Your pet must carry a valid anti-rabies vaccination. Under the EU rules the animal must have been at least 12 weeks old on the date of vaccination, and a primary vaccination is only valid from 21 days after the course is completed. The vaccination must remain valid on the day of travel.
- Pet at least 12 weeks old at vaccination
- Primary vaccination valid only from 21 days after completion
- Vaccination must remain valid on the day of travel
Rabies antibody test — only if your country is unlistedDon't get this wrong
A pet from a listed country skips this step entirely. A pet from an unlisted country must have a rabies antibody titration test at an EU-approved laboratory, followed by a 3-month wait from the date the blood sample was taken before it can enter the EU.
- Listed country: no antibody test, no 3-month wait
- Unlisted country: antibody test + 3-month wait from sample date
Carry the EU animal health certificate and a written declaration
A pet arriving from a non-EU country needs an EU animal health certificate completed by an official or accredited veterinarian and endorsed by the competent authority. It is valid for 10 days from issue to enter the EU, then for onward EU travel for up to 6 months or until the rabies vaccine expires. You also carry a written declaration that the movement is non-commercial.
- EU animal health certificate completed by an official vet
- Valid 10 days to enter, then 6 months for onward travel
- Written declaration that the movement is non-commercial
Enter via a Travellers’ Point of Entry (maximum 5 pets)
On arrival your pet must pass through a Travellers’ Point of Entry designated by the country of entry, where the competent authority checks documents and identity. For non-commercial movement the limit is 5 pets in a single vehicle, and the pet must travel with its owner or an authorised person.
- Enter through a designated Travellers’ Point of Entry
- Maximum 5 pets for non-commercial movement
- Pet travels with its owner or an authorised person
Germany does NOT require tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment
A common source of wasted effort: the EU tapeworm treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis is required only for dogs entering a short list of states — Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway. Germany is not one of them, so there is no 24–120 hour praziquantel window for Germany.
- Tapeworm treatment applies only to Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland, Norway
- Germany does NOT require the tapeworm treatment
- Only relevant if you later travel on to a listed state
The kit this move actually needs
Heads up: some links below are affiliate links. Buy through one and Animalsss may earn a small commission — it costs you nothing extra, and it never changes what we list. We put down the kit this particular move actually needs, and nothing we were paid to.
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An IATA-approved travel crate or carrier
Airlines check the container against the IATA live-animal rules before they will load it: hard-sided, well ventilated, and big enough for the animal to stand up and turn around. The wrong crate is the most common reason a booked pet gets bumped at the counter.
See options on Amazon → -
Clip-on food and water cups
The crate has to travel with bowls fixed inside that ground staff can top up without opening the door. Free-standing bowls do not count.
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Absorbent crate lining
A layer that holds an accident through a long leg keeps the animal dry and keeps the crate from being pulled off the ramp for leaking.
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"Live Animal" labels and orientation arrows
Most carriers want the crate marked LIVE ANIMAL with "This Way Up" arrows. A cheap sticker set beats hunting for a marker at check-in.
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An ID tag that reaches you at both ends
A number someone can actually answer on the day — not just your home line — is what reunites a pet with you if the crate and the paperwork get separated in transit.
See options on Amazon →
Moving a pet abroad? Get free quotes from relocation specialists
No obligation. Tell us your route and a vetted pet-relocation company can reach out with a price and timing.
Official sources
Every step above was read off one of these pages. They are the version that counts — check them before you travel or ship.
Common questions
The questions people ask most about this corridor, answered from the same official sources above.
Does my dog need a rabies blood test to enter Germany?
Only if it comes from an unlisted country. A pet from a listed country skips the blood test; an unlisted country adds a rabies antibody test and a 3-month wait from the sample date.
Does Germany require tapeworm treatment for dogs?
No. The tapeworm treatment applies only to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Northern Ireland and Norway.
Where to go next
Everything Animalsss holds on these animals — care, prices and listings.
This page tells you where the official rule is and what it says. It is not the rule and it is not legal advice. The official source decides, and the official source is the one that counts if this page and it ever disagree.
Reviewed by the Animalsss Movement Desk. Last reviewed 12 Oct 2026. Written from the EU Commission’s non-commercial pet movement pages; the listed/unlisted split checked against Regulation (EU) No 576/2013.
This page is free to read and always will be. It is written from the official pages linked above; those pages can change, and if one has, the link is the fastest way to see what it says now.
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