FAQs about Traveling with Pets

Have you fallen in love with a puppy abroad and would love to bring it with you right away? Or do you already have a beloved pet and never want to be without them, even when traveling abroad?
We frequently receive questions from people who want to travel with their pets and from those who want to buy a pet abroad and import it to Germany.

You can find many frequently asked questions (FAQs) about traveling with pets and their answers here:

My pet has a 9- or 10-digit microchip. Is it valid?

No, the standard chip readers in the EU cannot read these microchips. You need to have your pet re-chipped with the required 15-digit ISO microchip and preferably have both microchips recorded in the EU health certificate/pet passport. Alternatively, you can carry a microchip reader with you, in which case re-chipping is not necessary.

My pet is tattooed. Do I still need to microchip it?

No, but only if the tattoo was done before July 3, 2011, and is still readable. If your pet was tattooed after July 3, 2011, and/or the tattoo is no longer readable, you must have your pet identified with the 15-digit ISO microchip.

How long is the successful rabies antibody blood test valid?

Generally, the blood test is valid for the entire life of the animal and does not need to be repeated, provided that the rabies booster vaccination is always administered within the validity of the last rabies vaccination, and the identification remains intact.

I want to buy a dog from outside the EU (third country). What should I consider?

Generally, the same import conditions apply as for accompanied animals (microchip, rabies vaccination, possibly blood test, waiting periods), with one exception: The health certificate is different, namely one for trade. The owner's declaration is not required in this case.

This certificate must also be filled out, signed, and sealed by the official veterinarian in the country of origin, but it is only valid for 48 hours for entry into the EU.

You can download the trade certificate for dogs, cats, and ferrets in PDF format in German and English.

I want to get a 10-week-old puppy from another EU country. Can I do that?

No, both the trade of puppies and the movement of own puppies without the mother from an EU Member State or third country to Germany are prohibited.

I need to move from China to Germany for work at short notice. My cat has only completed 1 month of the 3-month waiting period. Can I still bring it with me?

No, only animals that meet the EU conditions for import from non-listed third countries can be imported. Otherwise, you will commit an administrative offense.

I was on vacation in the USA with my dog. My dog has a European pet passport. Do I still need the EU health certificate?

If microchipping, subsequent rabies vaccination(s), and waiting periods were done in the EU, the rabies vaccination is still valid, and the pet passport was properly filled out by your veterinarian, then the pet passport alone is sufficient for entry, similar to your passport.

I want to fly to Turkey for a 3-week vacation with my cat and have no problems upon return. What do I need to consider before departure?

The same entry requirements apply as for non-listed third countries. If microchipping, rabies vaccination, and blood test for rabies antibodies are done before departure in the EU, and all information is recorded in the pet passport, the 3-month waiting period is waived. For re-entry, the pet passport alone is sufficient as an official document.

I was working in the USA for 5 years. My dog still has a pet passport, but the last two rabies vaccinations were done in the States and are recorded in the pet passport. Is the pet passport enough for entry?

No, unfortunately, the pet passport alone is not sufficient. For entry into the EU, the relevant rabies vaccination must be officially confirmed. This is only possible with the EU health certificate, officially confirmed by the USDA.

I found a cat during my vacation in Turkey and want to bring it with me. Can I do that?

No, not immediately. The import conditions for non-listed third countries must be followed. If the cat is already 12 weeks old or older, the preparation time until all conditions are met is at least 4 months. The cat must stay in the country of origin for that long.

I found a puppy, about 8 weeks old, on Crete and fell in love with it. Can I bring it with me immediately upon my return?

No, the intra-community movement of puppies to Germany is prohibited. The dog can only enter if it is microchipped, vaccinated against rabies at 12 weeks of age, the 21-day waiting period is observed, and an EU pet passport is issued in your name in Greece. Therefore, you can bring the dog at the earliest when it is 15 weeks old. Before that, the puppy cannot meet the entry requirements by calculation alone.

II heard that an EU pet passport is required for my dog's entry from Australia to the EU. A friend from Germany has obtained one for me and sent it to Australia. Is that sufficient?

No, this procedure is illegal. Pet passports are official documents and may only be issued by authorized veterinarians in the EU for the animals they treat. Issuing blank passports is prohibited. Pet passports issued in third countries are void and will be confiscated upon entry. The import conditions for listed third countries must be followed.