Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Germany to the US: CDC requirements, Germany’s export process, airline options, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
Everything you need to navigate international pet relocation: import rules, customs, costs, timelines.
Easy
4–8 weeks
Varies
None required (US mainland)
Because Germany is not on the CDC’s high-risk list for dog rabies, dogs need only the CDC Dog Import Form rather than a full CDC health certificate — Germany’s own export documentation is a separate national requirement, not a CDC one.
Everything you need to know about moving your dog or cat from Germany to the US: CDC requirements, Germany’s export process, airline options, costs, and timeline — all in one place.
A private vet examines your pet, then a government official veterinarian (Amtstierarzt) at your local Veterinäramt certifies the paperwork for export. The CDC does not require a separate health certificate for dogs from low-risk countries like Germany.
Private Veterinarian + Amtstierarzt (Official Government Veterinarian)
A treating veterinarian completes the initial exam and documentation. A government official veterinarian at your local Veterinäramt then certifies it — this government sign-off is required.
Not Required
The US does not require USDA involvement for standard German pet exports. Always confirm your specific destination state’s rules separately.
Not Independently Confirmed — Commonly ~10 Days
No fixed validity window was confirmed from a German-specific government source. General airline convention (confirmed elsewhere for France and Belgium) is roughly 10 days before travel — confirm directly with your Veterinäramt and airline.
Required
Bring the original Amtstierärztliche Bescheinigung and vaccination records — copies are not accepted.
→ Implant the ISO microchip before the rabies vaccination
→ A private vet must examine your pet before the Amtstierarzt can certify the paperwork
→ All dogs need a completed CDC Dog Import Form
→ No fixed certificate validity window was confirmed for Germany — confirm timing with your Veterinäramt and airline
→ Germany’s temporary USDA FMD restriction (Nov 2024–Mar 2026) has been lifted, but check current status before travel
→ Assuming there’s one German national export office
→ Vaccinating before microchipping
→ Expecting a published Lufthansa or Condor pet fee
→ Booking Lufthansa cargo through Munich instead of Frankfurt
→ Assuming Germany’s temporary FMD restriction is still active
Follow this timeline to make sure you complete everything on time for a smooth, stress-free travel day.
Germany's Veterinärämter are organized locally by city or county, not through a single national portal.
Lufthansa's own site confirms Munich doesn't support connecting cargo-hold bookings for animals — only Frankfurt does.
Costs vary based on pet size, airline, season, and any additional Services.
Roughly $135–$440+ (microchip, vaccine, crate) plus the German certification fee (€50–150, confirmed) and an airline fee (not published — confirm at booking)
Typical total cost
Price in USD, Estimate only.
→ CDC Dog Import Form receipt — Dogs
→ Microchip implant record
→ Rabies vaccination record
→ Amtstierärztliche Bescheinigung (official veterinary export certificate)
Start with your origin country guide for route-specific requirements, timelines, and common pitfalls.
→ No, for US mainland destinations.
→ Germany is a CDC low-risk country for dog rabies.
→ Quarantine applies only to moves to Hawaii or Guam, which this guide does not cover.
→ Not currently. Germany had a temporary foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) import restriction from November 2024 to March 2026.
→ USDA APHIS confirmed Germany eradicated the outbreak and lifted the restriction.
→ Since it’s changed once, check USDA’s current country status close to your travel date.
→ For Lufthansa cargo-hold pets, use Frankfurt — Munich doesn’t support connecting cargo bookings.
→ Cabin pets don’t have this restriction.
→ Confirm your specific routing with Lufthansa directly.
→ A free online form required for all dogs entering the US.
→ Introduced in August 2024; valid for 6 months from completion.
→ Applies to dogs from low-risk countries like Germany.
→ No CDC or USDA requirements apply to cats entering the US from any country.
→ Your cat may still need an Amtstierärztliche Bescheinigung if your airline requires one.
→ Check with your airline for its own cat travel requirements.
Our pet relocation experts are here to guide you every step of the way.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
Moving a pet from Germany to the United States is one of the more accommodating routes covered on this site — Germany is CDC low-risk for dog rabies, so there’s no titer test or quarantine to plan around.
USDA APHIS temporarily restricted certain animal commodities from Germany starting November 3, 2024, after detecting foot-and-mouth disease in water buffalo. APHIS lifted the restriction on March 6, 2026, confirming Germany eradicated the outbreak and is FMD-free again. No special requirements currently apply, but since this status has changed once already, it’s worth checking USDA’s current country status close to your travel date.
Germany’s Veterinärämter are organized locally by city or county, not centrally. A private vet examines your pet first, then a government official veterinarian (Amtstierarzt) certifies the paperwork at your local office — there’s no single national portal to use instead.
If your pet is traveling in Lufthansa’s cargo hold, connect through Frankfurt, not Munich — Lufthansa’s own site confirms Munich doesn’t support through-checked cargo-hold connections for animals.
Most owners can manage this route without professional help. The main task is confirming certification timing directly with your vet, your local Veterinäramt, and your airline, since neither major airline publishes a fixed fee online.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
If a regulation changes after this page was published, the official source always takes precedence over this guide — check the links above for the current rules before you travel.
