Bringing Pets to Germany (Import Rules, Pet-Friendly Housing)

Roughly half the families we house arrive with a dog or cat. The import rules are strict but simple if you start early — the hard part is housing, so we'll cover both.

Import requirements (EU/Germany)

1. ISO 11784/11785 microchip — must be implanted before the rabies shot.
2. Rabies vaccination given after the chip, at least 21 days before entry.
3. EU animal health certificate endorsed by an official veterinarian (your base vet handles this routinely for PCS moves), valid 10 days from issue for entry.
4. Maximum five animals per person, and they must travel within five days of your own travel to count as non-commercial.

No quarantine if all of the above checks out.

Breed restrictions

Germany restricts certain breeds at the federal border (e.g., Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bull Terrier and crosses), and the state of Hesse — where Wiesbaden is — has its own dangerous-dog rules with permit requirements. If your dog is on or near any such list, talk to the base vet clinic and the German Ordnungsamt before booking flights.

Flights

• Summer PCS season: pet cargo slots on the Patriot Express and commercial carriers sell out months ahead. Book the pet the day you book your own flight.
• Heat embargoes can ground pets in cargo during July/August — have a backup plan or fly via a pet-friendly route.

The real challenge: pet-friendly housing

German landlords can't unreasonably refuse small pets, but dogs require explicit permission in practice — and many furnished rentals say no. What works:

• Filter for pet-friendly listings from the start instead of asking for exceptions later.
• Offer a short "pet résumé": breed, weight, age, house-trained, previous landlord reference. It genuinely helps.
• Expect a modest additional deposit; that's normal and fair.

Our pet-friendly apartments say so right on the listing — no awkward asking, no surprises at lease signing. And yes, the dog parks around Wiesbaden are excellent.