Country entry guide · Europe (EU)
Traveling to Germany with your dog
Germany welcomes dogs, but what you need to prepare depends mainly on the country your dog is travelling from — not only on Germany itself. As an EU member, Germany applies the EU pet-movement rules: an ISO microchip and a valid rabies vaccination are always required. A dog coming from another EU country simply needs an EU pet passport. A dog from a listed non-EU country (such as the United States, Canada or the United Kingdom) needs an EU animal health certificate but no blood test. A dog from a non-listed country faces the longest path, including a rabies antibody test and a three-month wait. Germany also has one important extra: a federal law bans bringing certain "dangerous" breeds into the country. This guide explains each case so you know exactly what to prepare before you book your flight.
📋 At a glance
| Dogs allowed | Yes (except banned breeds) |
| Microchip | Required |
| Rabies vaccination | Required |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional — non-listed origins only |
| Veterinary certificate | Conditional — non-EU origins |
| Tapeworm treatment | Not required for Germany |
| Restricted breeds | Federal import ban on 4 breeds |
| Quarantine | Normally not required |
⚠️ Important
- MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
- Only a veterinarian can confirm the exact procedure for your individual dog.
- Requirements depend on: the country of origin, previous travel history, identification, vaccinations, the itinerary and the travel date.
Always consult your veterinarian before booking your trip.
Find a flight to Germany
🧭 How your dog's entry requirements are decided
- 1 Country of destination — Germany★★★★★
- 2 Country of departure★★★★★
- 3 Countries your dog recently stayed in★★★★☆
✅ Entry requirements
| Requirement | Required? | Exceptions | Official reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| ISO microchip | Required | A legible tattoo is accepted only if done before 3 July 2011. | EU Reg. 576/2013; bmleh.de |
| Rabies vaccination | Required | The microchip must already be in place; otherwise re-vaccination is needed. | EU Reg. 576/2013, Annex III |
| Rabies antibody test | Conditional | Not required from the EU or from listed countries (US, Canada, UK, Switzerland, Japan, Australia…). | EU Reg. 2020/692; bmleh.de |
| EU pet passport | EU origins | Replaced by an animal health certificate for non-EU origins. | EU Reg. 577/2013 |
| EU animal health certificate | Non-EU origins | Not needed for EU origins (passport instead). | EU Reg. 577/2013, Annex IV |
| Tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment | Not required | Only Finland, Ireland, Malta, N. Ireland and Norway require it — not Germany. | BMLEH — travelling with pets |
| Advance notification / import permit | Not required | Germany issues no import permit for a private pet and requires no prior customs appointment. | bmleh.de; zoll.de |
| Border check (documents & identity) | Non-EU arrivals | No systematic check for intra-EU (Schengen) arrivals. | EU Reg. 576/2013; zoll.de |
| Restricted / dangerous breeds | Import banned | Narrow exceptions (see below): tourists staying under 4 weeks, reimport of a dog already authorised in Germany, and certain service/assistance/rescue dogs. | HundVerbrEinfG (2001) |
| Puppies / minimum age | Effectively ≥15 weeks | Puppies under 12 weeks cannot be vaccinated, so cannot enter from outside the EU. | EU Reg. 576/2013 |
| Quarantine | Not required | Only if rules are breached — authorities may then order re-export or other measures at the owner's expense. | EU Reg. 576/2013; zoll.de |
🗓 In what order, and when
Some steps only count once the previous one is done — check each deadline against the official reference above.
- ISO microchipMust be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccinationDog at least 12 weeks old at the shot; valid from 21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies antibody testNon-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
- EU pet passportIssued by an EU vet; records the microchip and rabies vaccination.
- EU animal health certificateIssued/endorsed by an official vet before departure; valid 10 days to entry, then up to 4 months for onward EU travel.
- Border check (documents & identity)At an authorised travellers' point of entry; customs or the official veterinary service read the microchip and check the documents.
- Restricted / dangerous breedsPit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and their crosses cannot be brought into Germany.
- Puppies / minimum age12-week rabies shot + 21-day wait (listed); about 7 months from a non-listed country.
🌍 Rules according to your dog's origin
Simplified — EU pet passport
A dog coming from another EU country needs an EU pet passport showing a valid ISO microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination. No antibody test, no health certificate and normally no border check. Confirm your dog's breed is not import-banned.
⏱ A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed.
Health certificate, no blood test
From a listed non-EU country (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Switzerland, Japan, Australia and others), your dog needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU animal health certificate endorsed by an official vet before departure. No antibody test is required; arrive via an authorised travellers' point of entry.
⏱ ~3–4 weeks: 21-day wait after the rabies shot, plus a health certificate valid 10 days.
Antibody test + 3-month wait
From a non-listed (at-risk) country, add a rabies antibody test: blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, result ≥0.5 IU/ml at an EU-designated laboratory, then a compulsory 3-month wait before entry. An endorsed EU animal health certificate is also required.
⏱ ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
🛬 Arrival
What happens when your dog reaches Germany depends on where you flew from.
- From another EU country: no systematic border check — keep the EU pet passport with you.
- From outside the EU: arrive via an authorised travellers' point of entry, where customs or the official veterinary service read the microchip and check the documents against it.
- No import permit is issued for a private pet and no prior appointment with customs is needed.
- Carry the original documents (not copies); German or bilingual/officially translated documents are expected.
- If identification or documents are incorrect, this may lead to additional controls or measures (e.g. re-export) at the owner's expense.
- Import-banned breeds are refused entry; customs monitors imports of these dogs.
🚫 Restricted dogs
Germany restricts dangerous dogs on two levels. A federal law — the Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act (Hundeverbringungs- und -einfuhrbeschränkungsgesetz, HundVerbrEinfG, 2001) — bans bringing certain breeds into the country, while each Bundesland (federal state) keeps its own breed list and keeping rules. Always check the rules of the specific state where the dog will live.
Federal import ban: the Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier and any crosses of these breeds may not be imported or brought into Germany from abroad. Customs enforces this ban at entry.
State-level rules: dogs of other breeds or their crosses may also be refused if the law of the destination Bundesland presumes them dangerous (state lists commonly add breeds such as the Rottweiler, Doberman and various mastiff/bull types). Beyond import, each state sets its own keeping conditions — permit, liability insurance, muzzle/lead and a temperament test can apply.
Narrow exceptions to the federal import ban exist: dangerous dogs accompanying tourists who stay under four weeks, dogs from the existing German stock being reimported, and certain service, assistance, guide and rescue dogs. The owner must carry proof (pedigree, vaccination record, temperament certificate, official documents). Confirm both the federal ban and the destination state's rules before travelling.
✈️ Airlines flying to Germany with a dog
Carriers we document that serve this country and accept dogs. The verdict is the airline's general policy — it does not prejudge your breed, your crate or your exact route.
+61 more documented airlines accept dogs to this country. 4 carriers serving this country are not listed here: refusal or undocumented pet policy. See all airlines →
🛂 Airports in Germany
Check where your dog can relieve itself at each airport — and whether it's before or after security.
Germany with a dog: common questions
Germany: What does my dog need to enter?
Germany requires: ISO microchip, Rabies vaccination.
Germany: Is a rabies antibody test required?
Germany — Rabies antibody test: Conditional. Non-listed origins only: blood ≥30 days after vaccination, ≥3 months before entry, result ≥0.5 IU/ml, EU-designated lab.
Germany: Are any dog breeds banned?
Germany restricts dangerous dogs on two levels. A federal law — the Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act (Hundeverbringungs- und -einfuhrbeschränkungsgesetz, HundVerbrEinfG, 2001) — bans bringing certain breeds into the country, while each Bundesland (federal state) keeps its own breed list and keeping rules.…
Germany: How long does it take to prepare a dog?
A few days if the passport is up to date, up to ~3 weeks if the first rabies shot is still needed. ~4–7 months: antibody test at least 30 days after vaccination, then a compulsory 3-month wait.
Germany: Is it difficult to travel there with a dog?
Germany — Easy to difficult (depends on origin and breed). MyDogCanFly provides general information — not veterinary or legal advice.
Answers drawn from the official sources listed below; entry information last verified 10 August 2026. Rules change — confirm with the authorities of Germany and your vet before booking.
📚 Official sources
- European Commission — Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country
- European Commission — Travelling with a pet within the EU
- European Commission — Listing of non-EU countries (antibody-test exemption)
- BMLEH (Federal Ministry) — Travelling with pets: dogs, cats and ferrets
- German Customs (Zoll) — Provisions on the import of pet animals
- German Customs (Zoll) — Dangerous dogs (import ban)
- Federal law — Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act (HundVerbrEinfG)