Bringing a Dog or Cat from the US to Germany (2026)

Quick checklist

• Follow all hub rules (microchip, rabies, new EU certificate, USDA endorsement).
• Check the federal breed ban and the list for the state where you will live.
• Carry original documents if an exception applies.
• After moving: register your dog for local dog tax (Hundesteuer). Some states also require a dog register and liability insurance.
• Use a certificate in German and English if your pet enters the EU in Germany (Reg. 2026/705).

Country extras

• Federal import ban: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Bull Terrier, and crosses of these.
• Customs enforces the ban.
• A dog may also be banned if the state where it will live presumes it dangerous.
• Exceptions: dogs with visitors staying 4 weeks or less; dogs returning to an owner with a German keeping permit; service, guide, assistance and rescue dogs.
• With an exception, bring original documents (for example pedigree, vaccination record, temperament test, permits).
• Extra state lists: Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hamburg and Hesse. Example: Rottweiler in Bavaria, Brandenburg, Hamburg and Hesse.
• State bans are not absolute. The state authority can issue a keeping permit.

Dog tax and registration after moving

• Dog tax (Hundesteuer) is a local tax. Each town or state sets the deadline and the amount.
• Ask your town hall or city tax office where you will live.
• Example, Berlin: register for dog tax within 1 month of moving to Berlin. Registering in the Berlin dog register (Hunderegister) also counts as the tax registration. Register fee: €17.50 online, €26.50 by post or phone. Every dog owner in Berlin must have liability insurance from day one: at least €1 million per claim, deductible no higher than €500 per year. Visitors staying a few weeks do not need to register. Examples only: Berlin and Munich
• Example, Munich: register for dog tax within 2 weeks of moving in. The tax is €100 per dog per year. From 1 January 2027 it is €144 per dog per year. Examples only: Berlin and Munich
• Rules differ in other towns. Do not assume the Berlin or Munich rule applies elsewhere. Examples only: Berlin and Munich

Timeline additions

Common mistakes

Moving with a Staffordshire Bull Terrier or Bull Terrier without checking the ban.

Checking only the federal list and missing the state list.

Airlines

Checked 29 Oct 2026. See the hub table for all carriers.

• Lufthansa: pet and soft carrier up to 8 kg in the cabin, max 55 x 40 x 23 cm. Pets must be at least 15 weeks old to fly to, from or via Germany. Book at least 72 hours before. Long-haul cabin fee about USD 145–165 one way. Snub-nosed dogs and cats are not accepted in the hold. Pit Bull, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Bully and Bull Terrier count as snub-nosed and cannot go in the hold. Other fighting breeds (American Bulldog, Dogo Argentino, Kangal, Caucasian Ovcharka (Caucasian Shepherd), Rottweiler) may fly only in the hold in a special crate (puppies aged 3 to 6 months excepted). Snub-nosed cats (British Shorthair, Exotic Shorthair, Himalayan, Persian, Scottish Fold) cannot go in the hold. Hold fees per direction, small kennel (up to 60 x 45 x 40 cm) / larger kennel: domestic EUR 80 (USD 95) / EUR 160 (USD 190); Europe EUR 100 (USD 120) / EUR 200 (USD 235); Levant and Egypt EUR 130 (USD 155) / EUR 260 (USD 305); intercontinental short haul EUR 150 (USD 175) / EUR 300 (USD 350); medium haul EUR 170 (USD 200) / EUR 340 (USD 395); long haul EUR 190 (USD 225) / EUR 380 (USD 445). Lufthansa's page does not say which intercontinental band each US route falls in; confirm when booking. Hold transfers via BRU, GVA, FRA, VIE or ZRH cost an extra EUR 150 / USD 170. No hold pets on connections via Munich. Book the hold at least 72 hours ahead. IATA kennel rules apply since 4 May 2026.
• Delta: pets allowed in the cabin to Germany. International fee USD 200 each way. Delta Cargo has a temporary global embargo on household pet shipments. The only exception is US active-duty military and Foreign Service officers on permanent change of station (PCS) orders, and even they cannot ship pets to or from Amsterdam (AMS), Paris (CDG), Frankfurt (FRA), London Heathrow (LHR), Seoul (ICN) or Tokyo (HND). Snub-nosed dogs and cats and their mixes are not accepted. International pet shipments must be booked through an IPATA member pet shipper (military and Foreign Service PCS moves excepted). GOV.UK listing Delta cargo as an approved route does not mean Delta currently accepts pets.
• United: cabin pets USD 150 each way. No checked pets.
• American: no carry-on pets on transatlantic trips.

Unverified / not covered Not covered on this page yet: Air France fees and snub-nosed list, ITA hold rules, Virgin Atlantic cargo, ferries. Ask the carrier directly before you book.

Questions people ask

Guide checked: 29 October 2026