Bringing Your Dog or Cat to Germany on PCS Orders
Germany follows the European Union’s pet entry rules, and from the U.S. they’re among the most manageable in the world: no rabies blood test, no waiting period, and no quarantine when the paperwork is right. What trips families up is timing the health certificate around a PCS flight — and Germany’s ban on certain dog breeds.
This guide covers Germany’s requirements step by step, the Patriot Express from Baltimore to Ramstein, what the military reimburses, and which dogs can’t enter at all. Across The Pond Pets helps military families move dogs and cats to installations across Germany, from our Seattle and Los Angeles teams and through our partner network nationwide.
Check your dog’s breed before anything else. Germany bans the import of Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, and any mix of them. PCS orders are not an exception. If your dog may be one of these breeds or a mix, read the breed section and talk to us before you plan the move.
Germany Pet Import Requirements, Step by Step
The United States is a listed country under EU pet travel rules, so dogs and cats from the U.S. don’t need a rabies antibody test or a waiting period beyond the vaccine. The order of the steps still matters: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip doesn’t count.
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First, before the rabies vaccination
ISO-compliant microchip
Your pet needs an ISO 11784/11785 microchip implanted on or before the day of the rabies vaccination that will be used for travel. Have your vet scan it and make sure the number matches exactly on every document.
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At least 21 days before arrival
Rabies vaccination
Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old when vaccinated. After a first (primary) vaccination, your pet has to wait 21 days before entering Germany. If your pet already has a microchip and its boosters have been kept up without a gap, there’s no 21-day wait.
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2–4 months before the move
Book your pet’s flight
Request Patriot Express pet space through your transportation office as soon as you have orders, or book a commercial flight to Frankfurt or another German airport. Your pet must travel within five days of you (or a person you authorize in writing), or the move is treated as a commercial shipment with stricter rules.
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Within 10 days before arrival
EU health certificate and USDA endorsement
A USDA-accredited vet examines your pet and completes the EU health certificate for non-commercial movement of dogs and cats, which USDA APHIS then endorses. The certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU. Errors on this certificate are the most common reason pets are held at entry, so have the draft checked before endorsement.
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Arrival day
Entry check in Germany
German customs checks the microchip and documents at your airport of entry — or at Ramstein if you fly the Patriot Express. When everything is in order, there’s no quarantine and your pet goes home with you.
No tapeworm treatment needed for Germany. The EU only requires tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment for dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, and Northern Ireland. If you plan to travel to one of those countries with your dog during your tour, you’ll need it for that trip.
What happens if something is missed. A pet that doesn’t meet EU requirements can be sent back to the U.S. or isolated under official supervision until it complies, at the owner’s expense. A dog of a banned breed can be refused entry outright.
Banned and Restricted Dog Breeds in Germany
Germany’s federal Dog Transfer and Import Restrictions Act bans the import of these four breeds and any dog crossed with them:
- Pit Bull Terrier
- American Staffordshire Terrier
- Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- Bull Terrier
Customs enforces the ban at the point of entry, and it applies to mixes as well as purebred dogs. The exceptions are narrow: short visits of four weeks or less, dogs from Germany’s existing population being brought back, and working dogs such as service, guide, and rescue dogs. A family pet on PCS orders doesn’t qualify on the strength of the orders alone.
Each German state also keeps its own list of breeds presumed dangerous — Hesse, for example, includes the Rottweiler, American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, and Kangal. Those dogs usually aren’t banned, but they may need a permit, a temperament test, and special conditions where you’ll live. Military housing also commonly excludes breeds on the dangerous dog list. See the official list from German Customs.
Your PCS Countdown
Work backward from your report date. Germany’s timeline is short, but flight space isn’t — book early.
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| As soon as you have orders | Confirm your dog’s breed isn’t banned, check microchip and rabies records, and call us to map your dates |
| 2–4 months before | Request Patriot Express pet space through your transportation office, or book commercial |
| At least 21 days before | Microchip and rabies vaccination done if your pet needs them |
| About 2 weeks before | Book the health certificate vet appointment and USDA endorsement |
| Within 10 days before arrival | Vet exam, EU health certificate, and USDA endorsement |
| Travel day | Approved crate, original endorsed certificate, rabies certificate, and orders in hand |
Summer is peak PCS season. Patriot Express pet spaces fill quickly, and commercial airlines may apply heat embargoes to pets in cargo from May through September, so plan the flight first.
Patriot Express, Reimbursement, and Getting Your Pet There
Patriot Express
The military’s contracted flight from Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) to Ramstein Air Base carries a limited number of dogs and cats for PCS travelers. For transoceanic moves, the JTR requires using government transportation when it’s available.
You’ll need to get your pet to BWI first. Request pet space through your transportation office as soon as you have orders.
Up to $2,000
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the Joint Travel Regulations reimburse qualifying costs for one household pet (a dog or cat) on an OCONUS move — such as microchipping, vaccinations, health certificates, boarding, and transport.
Commercial shipping is only reimbursable with a non-availability letter from your transportation office. Confirm details with your finance office.
Our team
We prepare and check your pet’s EU paperwork, arrange the USDA endorsement, and ship your pet commercially to Frankfurt when Patriot Express space isn’t available or doesn’t fit your dates.
Our Seattle and Los Angeles teams and partner network serve military families nationwide.
Moving more than one pet, or costs above the cap? The JTR allowance covers one pet per PCS order. Your branch’s relief society — Army Emergency Relief, Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, or Air Force Aid Society — may offer help with pet travel costs on overseas moves. EU rules allow up to five pets per person on a non-commercial move.
Other Things to Plan For
Flat-faced breeds and summer heatBulldogs, Pugs, Frenchies, Persians, and similar breeds face airline restrictions, and summer heat embargoes can block cargo travel. Plan these moves for cooler months when possible.
Puppies and kittensBecause the rabies vaccination can’t be given before 12 weeks old and is followed by a 21-day wait, a young pet will be at least 15 weeks old before it can enter Germany.
Base housing and off-base rentalsOn-base housing in Germany commonly limits families to two pets and excludes dangerous-list breeds. Off-base landlords set their own rules, so ask before you sign a lease.
Dog tax and registrationMost German towns charge an annual dog tax (Hundesteuer) and require you to register your dog, and some states require liability insurance. Your installation’s housing or relocation office can explain local rules.
The right crateAirlines and the Patriot Express require an approved hard-sided crate sized to your pet. Crate and pet weight also affect your cost. See our crate guidelines.
Pet flying separatelyIf your pet travels more than five days before or after you, EU rules treat it as a commercial shipment with different paperwork and a veterinary border check. Tell us your dates and we’ll set it up correctly.
U.S. Military Installations in Germany We Support
Germany’s pet entry rules are the same nationwide, but breed lists and local registration rules depend on the state where you’ll live. We plan the arrival airport and ground transport around your installation.
| Installation | Branch | State |
|---|---|---|
| Ramstein Air Base | Air Force | Rhineland-Palatinate (Kaiserslautern area) |
| USAG Rheinland-Pfalz (Kaiserslautern, Landstuhl, Baumholder) | Army | Rhineland-Palatinate |
| Spangdahlem Air Base | Air Force | Rhineland-Palatinate (Eifel) |
| USAG Wiesbaden (Clay Kaserne) | Army | Hesse |
| USAG Stuttgart (Patch, Kelley, Panzer Kaserne) | Joint (EUCOM / AFRICOM) | Baden-Württemberg |
| USAG Bavaria (Grafenwöhr, Vilseck, Hohenfels) | Army | Bavaria |
| USAG Ansbach | Army | Bavaria |
Leaving Germany: Bringing Your Pet Back to the U.S.
Germany is not on the CDC’s high-risk rabies list, so dogs returning to the U.S. need to be at least 6 months old, have a readable microchip, and have a CDC Dog Import Form receipt. Cats follow state and airline rules. If you’re heading to another overseas assignment instead, the next country’s rules apply. For the full checklist — CDC forms, export steps, and pickup at SEA-TAC or LAX with delivery to your new base — see our PCS Back to the U.S. with Pets guide.
PCS to Germany with Pets: FAQs
How long does it take to prepare a pet for Germany?
About four weeks for a pet starting from scratch: a microchip and rabies vaccination at least 21 days before arrival, then an EU health certificate within 10 days of arrival. If your pet already has a microchip and current rabies vaccination, it can be faster. Flight space is usually the bigger constraint.
Does my pet need a rabies titer test for Germany?
No. Pets coming directly from the U.S. don’t need a rabies antibody test to enter Germany or any other EU country.
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment to enter Germany?
No. Tapeworm treatment is only required for dogs entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland. Germany doesn’t require it.
Can I bring my Pit Bull to Germany on PCS orders?
Generally no. Germany bans the import of Pit Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Bull Terriers, and their mixes, and PCS orders don’t create an exception for family pets. Contact us before making plans if your dog may be one of these breeds or a mix.
Can my pet fly on the Patriot Express to Germany?
Yes, the Patriot Express from Baltimore/Washington International to Ramstein carries a limited number of dogs and cats for travelers on PCS orders. Spaces fill quickly in summer, so request space through your transportation office as soon as you have orders.
Will the military reimburse my pet’s move to Germany?
For PCS orders effective on or after January 1, 2024, the JTR reimburses qualifying expenses for one dog or cat up to $2,000 on an OCONUS move. Commercial shipping requires a non-availability letter from your transportation office. Confirm your eligibility with your finance office.
Do cats have to meet the same requirements as dogs?
Yes. Dogs and cats both need the microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, and an endorsed EU health certificate. The breed ban applies only to dogs.
Got Orders to Germany? Let’s Map Your Pet’s Dates
Send us your report date and your pet’s records. We’ll confirm your pet is eligible, set the health certificate timing around your flight, and handle every step from there.
