Einreise mit Tier: Deutschland (2026)

Key points

• The rules changed on 22 April 2026
• Germany applies the EU pet-travel regime, and "As of 22 April 2026, new European rules apply regarding private travel with pets such as dogs, cats and ferrets" (Delegated Commission Regulation (EU) 2026/131)
• One transitional date still matters: "Animal health certificates drawn up under Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 577/2013 remain valid for bringing pet dogs, cats or ferrets into the EU if issued before 1 October 2026" — a certificate issued on or after that date must use the new model in Annex III to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705
• Points of entry
• Pets arriving from outside the EU must clear a designated travellers' point of entry, but there is an exemption list: "The duty to enter via authorised points of entry does not apply when arriving from Andorra, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and Vatican City"
• Banned breeds, and the exceptions
• Germany's Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act (HundVerbrEinfG) bans the import of Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Bull Terrier, and crosses of them
• Two exceptions are published: "Dangerous dogs accompanying individuals who are not staying in the Federal Republic of Germany for longer than four weeks (particularly intended for tourists)", and "A dog that is classified as dangerous may be imported where it is returning from a period abroad and being transferred back into the Land in which the owner has an authorisation to keep the dog." Service, guide, rescue and civil-protection dogs are also excepted
• In every case the owner must carry the original documents (pedigree, vaccination record, character-test certificate) and present them on entry
• Quarantine is a sanction, not a routine step
• A compliant pet is not quarantined; quarantine only appears if the paperwork fails — "If your pet does not meet the requirements, it may be sent back to the country of departure or placed under quarantine until it meets the EU health provisions"
• More than five pets
• The five-animal limit can be exceeded only where "the journey serves to enable participation in training, a competition, a dog / cat exhibition or a sporting event", all animals are older than six months, and the organiser's written confirmation is produced at any control; otherwise the EU commercial trading rules apply instead
• Where you may land
• Germany designates 24 travellers' points of entry — 20 airports (including Frankfurt am Main, München, Berlin Brandenburg, Düsseldorf, Hamburg Fuhlsbüttel, Köln and Stuttgart) and 4 seaports (Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg and Rostock)
• Rostock is the one entry with a narrower scope than its name suggests: "Rostock nur die Kontroll- positionen a) Passagierkai Warne- münde b) Seehafen Rostock mit Warnowkai, den Hafenbecken A,B,C und dem Ölhafen- becken." Opening hours differ by site and several are part-day only, so check the competent authority's hours in the ministry's list before booking an arrival time