PetPass Ready

Bringing your dog or cat to Germany from the USA in 2026

Last updated: September 6, 2026: verified against official sources (European Commission, USDA APHIS, UK GOV.UK, US CDC).

Germany follows the EU-wide pet travel regulation, with one practical detail to know: your EU health certificate must be understandable by the border officials (English is accepted) and you should carry it with your travel documents. As long as the paperwork is valid, there is no quarantine.

Carry the originals, not copies

The endorsed EU health certificate is presented at the border and stays with the animal for the whole trip. German checks are routine, and the certificate is only valid 10 days.

Originals only
Carry the originals, not copies
Rules verified September 2026.

The 4 steps

Generate my personalized checklist with deadlines →
Traveling to another country? France · Spain · Germany · Italy · Netherlands · Portugal · Ireland · Belgium · Sweden · Austria · Norway · United Kingdom · United States · Hong Kong (entry) Canada Mexico

37 entry points, and their opening hours decide your flight

Germany designates 37 points of entry for pets: 24 airports, 7 road borders and 7 ports. It is one of the few countries in the EU where the official list includes land crossings as well as air and sea, which matters if you are driving a pet in from outside the EU. Frankfurt and Munich take most of the long-haul pet traffic from the USA.

The detail that changes a booking: Germany publishes the opening hours of each checkpoint, and they are not the same. The veterinary service at a given airport is open for a limited window, and the German list states it point by point. Stuttgart airport, for example, is open to pet checks Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 12:00, with some afternoons, and nothing at the weekend. Berlin-Brandenburg runs 6:00 to 22:00 on weekdays and 08:30 to 17:00 on weekends and public holidays. Munich is open 8:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday.

The consequence is blunt: a pet arriving at an entry point outside its opening hours has no veterinary service to clear it, however complete the paperwork. Before fixing a flight, check the hours of the specific German airport you are using, and prefer an arrival during its published window. This is the single most useful thing on this page.

The German list also names, for each point, the competent local authority with its address, phone number and email, so you know who to contact directly rather than calling the airport in general.

Frequently asked questions

Are there breed restrictions in Germany?

Germany has no federal import ban on specific breeds, but some states (Länder) apply restrictions: check your destination state if your dog is on a restricted list.

How early should I start?

Start 6-8 weeks before travel: the 21-day rabies wait plus vet appointment and USDA endorsement take time.

Is the EU certificate valid for a return to the USA?

No, returning to the USA follows CDC rules, not EU rules. See our USA page for the CDC Dog Import Form.

Does the arrival time matter in Germany?

Yes. Each German entry point has published opening hours for the veterinary check, and some are closed at weekends. Stuttgart, for example, checks pets only on weekday mornings. Check the hours of your specific airport before booking.

Can I bring a pet into Germany by road?

Yes. Germany is one of the EU countries that lists road border crossings among its designated entry points, alongside 24 airports and 7 ports.

New certificate from 1 October 2026: the EU health certificate is issued on a new model (Regulation (EU) 2026/705). A certificate issued before 1 October 2026 stays valid until 31 March 2027, so a trip already under way does not need redoing. The conditions themselves are unchanged.
Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) are approved entry points for pets from the USA. Germany designates 37 in total, and each one checks pets only during its published opening hours.

Official sources