BRINGING A CAT FROMIreland to Germany
Cat · Moving
Bringing a dog instead?No quarantine. Needs microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport and non-commercial limits.
Always confirm with the destination's official authority and your airline before travelling.
Entry requirements
Microchip, rabies vaccine and an EU pet passport; for dogs, tapeworm treatment only when going to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Northern Ireland.
Injectable transponder (microchip) implanted by a vet and meeting the technical standard in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035; if it is not ISO-readable, the owner must carry a reader.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Injectable transponder (microchip) implanted by a vet and meeting the technical standard in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035; if it is not ISO-readable, the owner must carry a reader.
before or on the day of the first rabies vaccination
Inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine given by an official or authorised vet when the animal is at least 12 weeks old, on or after the day the microchip was implanted or read. Valid from 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires, otherwise the next dose counts as a new primary vaccination (new 21-day wait).
DETAILS +DETAILS −
Inactivated or recombinant rabies vaccine given by an official or authorised vet when the animal is at least 12 weeks old, on or after the day the microchip was implanted or read. Valid from 21 days after the primary course is completed; boosters must be given before the previous vaccination expires, otherwise the next dose counts as a new primary vaccination (new 21-day wait).
primary vaccination completed at least 21 days before travel; booster within the validity of the previous one
EU pet passport signed by the owner, issued by an authorised vet in the Member State where the owner habitually resides, recording the microchip, the rabies vaccination and (for dogs going to FI/IE/MT/Northern Ireland) the tapeworm treatment.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
EU pet passport signed by the owner, issued by an authorised vet in the Member State where the owner habitually resides, recording the microchip, the rabies vaccination and (for dogs going to FI/IE/MT/Northern Ireland) the tapeworm treatment.
At most 5 dogs, cats or ferrets per non-commercial movement, unless all are over 6 months old and registered for a competition, exhibition or sporting event. If the pet travels with an authorised person, the owner must travel within 5 days.
DETAILS +DETAILS −
At most 5 dogs, cats or ferrets per non-commercial movement, unless all are over 6 months old and registered for a competition, exhibition or sporting event. If the pet travels with an authorised person, the owner must travel within 5 days.
- Echinococcus-free Member States/zones (where the tapeworm step applies) are Malta, Finland, Ireland and Northern Ireland. — European Commission (EUR-Lex)
- The Commission's guidance also lists Norway (EEA) as requiring the tapeworm treatment for dogs. — European Commission, DG SANTE
- If the pet travels with an authorised person instead of the owner, the owner must travel within 5 days of the pet. — European Parliament and Council (EUR-Lex)
- Young animals: some Member States accept unvaccinated puppies/kittens under 12 weeks (or 12–16 weeks and vaccinated less than 21 days ago) from other Member States. Per the Commission's table of Member State decisions (modified 2026-05-05), "Yes" under Article 9: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia (and Switzerland); all other Member States "No". — European Commission (EUR-Lex)
- Each Member State decides whether it accepts such young animals; the Commission keeps the list of decisions. — European Commission, DG SANTE
- Passports issued on the old model (Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013) remain valid, and the old model may still be issued until the end of 2027. — European Commission (EUR-Lex)
- From 1 January 2028, newly implanted microchips must start with the ISO code of the country of first identification (older chips remain valid). — European Commission (EUR-Lex)
- Preparation time 4 weeks: microchip + rabies vaccine at ≥12 weeks of age, then 21 days until the vaccination is valid, plus time to get the passport and (dogs to FI/IE/MT/NI) the 24–120 h tapeworm treatment. Longer for puppies/kittens under 12 weeks.
No quarantine
Timeline
Working out your dates…
Documents
One paper per requirement above; carry originals. 0 of 3 ready.
Official fees
The official pages we researched for this route name no fee. Vet, lab and airline charges are not covered here.
Entry points
Where a pet may enter Germany, per the rules.
- List as of 2026-09-24The Commission's index of travellers' points of entry (one PDF or link per Member State). Note the page also exempts Norway, which is not in Annex I.Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Travellers' points of entry (index of per-country lists))· checked 24 Sep 2026
- Airports: STR, MUC, NUE, BER, BRE, HAM, FRA, RLG, HAJ, DTM, DUS, CGN, FMO, PAD, NRN, HHN, SCN, DRS, LEJ, ERFSeaports: Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, RostockList as of 2026-02-26Airports (PDF, part 2): Stuttgart, München, Nürnberg, Berlin Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Rostock-Laage, Hannover-Langenhagen, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Köln/Bonn, Münster/Osnabrück, Paderborn/Lippstadt, Weeze, Frankfurt-Hahn, Saarbrücken, Dresden, Leipzig/Halle, Erfurt-Weimar. Seaports: Bremen, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Rostock. No road or rail points. Each entry has opening hours of the veterinary office.
Airlines
Airline rules are separate from entry rules and change without notice — confirm in writing when you book. Only what the carriers' own pages say, read 25 Sep 2026. All airlines
- Lufthansa LHCabinYesHoldYesSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- Emirates EKCabinNoHoldYesSnub-nosedCargo: only Nov – Apr
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 45 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: not 1 May – 31 Oct
- Qantas QFCabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedNot stated
- CabinYesHoldNoSnub-nosedHold, cargo: no
- KLM KLCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no
- Air France AFCabinYes, up to 8 kg incl. carrier46 × 28 × 24 cmHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: no · Cargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldCargo onlySnub-nosedCargo: restricted
- CabinNoHoldYes, up to 75 kg incl. crateSnub-nosedHold: restricted
Announced changes
- FROM 01 JAN 2028From 1 January 2028, the laboratory report of the rabies titer test must carry a code that lets its authenticity be checked on the laboratory's website.
Return trip to Ireland
Easy for a returning pet (no separate returning-resident rule; standard import rules apply), about 4 weeks of preparation. No quarantine.
Questions about Germany
Answered in plain words from the authorities' own pages, each linked to its source.
01What is a "non-commercial movement"?
It is the movement of a pet accompanying its owner that is not for sale or transfer of ownership. The owner is directly responsible for the pet.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202603How many pets can I bring under the non-commercial rules?
Generally, you can move a maximum of 5 pet animals for non-commercial purposes.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202604Does my pet need to meet EU entry requirements if we are just transiting through an EU airport?
No, if the pet stays in the international transit area and does not enter EU territory. If the pet enters the territory, it must meet EU entry conditions and have an animal health certificate.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202605Who is eligible to get an EU pet passport?
These passports are meant for pets whose owners mainly live in an EU member state. You can obtain one from a veterinarian authorised by the national authority in your EU country.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202606I live outside the EU but own a house there; can I use an EU pet passport?
No. Residence is the deciding factor, not property ownership. You must follow rules for pets entering from a non-EU country, including getting an animal health certificate.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202607Can I use an EU pet passport if I am a resident of Great Britain?
No, EU pet passports for Great Britain residents have been invalid since 31 December 2020. You need an Animal Health Certificate issued by an official vet in Great Britain for every entry.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202608When must microchips include a country code?
For non-commercial moves between EU countries, microchips must have the country code starting 1 January 2028. Pets chipped before 22 April 2026 according to specific rules are exempt.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202609Do I need to bring a microchip reader if my pet is from a non-EU country?
If a pet's microchip from a non-EU country does not meet EU technical requirements, the owner must provide a reading device to verify identification upon request.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202610What are the rabies vaccination rules for young pets coming from outside the EU?
Pets from non-EU countries must be vaccinated. They must be at least 12 weeks old at primary vaccination and the movement must occur at least 21 days after the full primary course.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 202611When is a rabies antibody test required when transiting through a non-EU country?
A rabies antibody test is not needed if the non-EU country is listed in specific regulations. Otherwise, it is not required if the owner signs a declaration that the pet was confined and had no contact with susceptible animals.
Source:European Commission, DG SANTE (opens official site: Dogs, cats and ferrets — FAQs)· checked 04 Oct 2026
What they actually checked at the border
Reports from people who made this trip, read by a person before publishing.
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Share your tripSources
Every requirement above comes from one of these pages. Last researched 25 Sep 2026. Seen a change? Tell us.
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 — animal health requirements for non-commercial movement of pet animals (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: microchip, rabies vaccination, EU pet passport, notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-03-27
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688, Annex VII — rabies vaccination validity; Echinococcus treatment (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: rabies vaccination, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-22
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 (Animal Health Law), Part VI — non-commercial movements of pet animals (opens official site)European Parliament and Council (EUR-Lex) · used for: non-commercial limits, quarantine, notes, this route, return trip · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2021-04-21
- Travellers' points of entry (index of per-country lists) (opens official site)European Commission, DG SANTE · used for: which origins the rule covers, this route · checked 24 Sep 2026 · document dated 2026-09-03
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/620, Annex XIX — Member States free from Echinococcus multilocularis (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-10
- Travelling with a pet within the EU (opens official site)European Commission, DG SANTE · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-07
- Young animals — Member State decisions on unvaccinated young dogs, cats and ferrets (opens official site)European Commission, DG SANTE · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-05-05
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705 — model passports, animal health certificates and declarations (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-03-27
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035, Articles 70–71b — microchip and passport of dogs, cats and ferrets (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: notes, this route · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-04-22
- Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/692, Annex XXI — rabies antibody titration test; Echinococcus treatment for entry (opens official site)European Commission (EUR-Lex) · used for: announced changes · checked 04 Oct 2026 · document dated 2026-08-12
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