Checklist

Pet Travel to Germany: The Complete Checklist

A week-by-week plan, from six weeks out to the day you cross the border.

6 weeks out: confirm the microchip, then book the rabies vaccine — it must be given at least 21 days before entry.
3 weeks out: finalise the EU pet passport, and sort any Bundesland-specific Listenhunde permit or insurance paperwork.
Day of travel: keep the passport and any state permit paperwork accessible, not in checked luggage.

Your plan, step by step

4 steps · updated October 2026

Step 1 · 6 weeks before
6 Weeks Before
Confirm the microchip, book the rabies vaccination with real margin before the 21-day wait, and — uniquely for Germany — double-check your dog's breed isn't on the federal import-ban list.
Step 2 · 3 weeks before
3 Weeks Before
The EU pet passport should be in hand by now, so finalise any state-specific permit paperwork and confirm fees and lead rules at wherever you're staying.
Step 3 · 1 week before
1 Week Before
Pack the paperwork, stock up on tick prevention, and check the leash rules for every state your trip actually crosses — not just the first one.
Step 4 · Day of travel
Day of Travel
Have every document within reach, confirm your dog's breed paperwork matches the state you're entering, and save a local emergency vet number the moment you land.