Bringing a cat from the UK to Germany: rules 2026
Taking a cat from the UK to Germany is manageable since the UK joined the EU's approved country list in November 2022. No titer test is required, and cats don't need the tapeworm treatment โ making this one of the simpler post-Brexit pet moves into the EU.
Destination requirements
- ISO 11784/11785 microchip โ before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination โ pet โฅ12 weeks old; the vaccination date must not be earlier than the microchip date; then wait โฅ21 days after the primary vaccination.
- Rabies titer test โ required ONLY from an โunlistedโ country (not needed from the EU or listed countries such as the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Japan). Blood โฅ30 days after vaccination and โฅ90 days (3 months) before the certificate; โฅ0.5 IU/ml; EU-approved laboratory.
- Certificate โ from a non-EU country: an EU Animal Health Certificate (Annex III, Reg. (EU) 2026/705) endorsed by the exporting countryโs authority (in the USA, USDA APHIS), valid 10 days to entry. From the EU / on return: the EU pet passport.
- Tapeworm treatment โ not required for mainland Germany.
- Breed import ban โ federal law (HundVerbrEinfG ยง2) bans the import and transit of: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Staffordshire Bullterrier, Bull Terrier and their crosses. Individual federal states may add keeping rules (verify by state).
- Quarantine โ none if everything is met. Puppies under 15 weeks are not admitted; from an unlisted country the process effectively takes ~7 months due to the timelines.
Official sources
- BMLEH โ Pets entry regulation โ
- European Commission โ Bringing a pet from a non-EU country โ
- HundVerbrEinfG ยง2 (breed import ban) โ
- USDA APHIS โ US to Germany โ
- โ ISO 11784/11785 microchipping before rabies vaccine timeline
- โ Rabies titer blood test (RNATT) & mandatory 90-day waiting period
- โ Airport transit zone regulations, international vet certificates & EU pet passport
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FAQ
Do I need a titer test to bring a cat from the UK to Germany?
No. The UK is EU-listed, so no titer test is required for cats (or dogs) entering the EU.
Do cats need a tapeworm treatment to enter Germany from the UK?
No. Tapeworm treatment is only required for dogs entering certain EU countries (Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway) โ not Germany, and not for cats.
What is the EU AHC and who issues it?
The EU Animal Health Certificate (Annex II format) is issued by a UK Official Veterinarian (OV) registered with APHA. It is valid for 10 days to entry into the EU.
Is there quarantine for cats in Germany?
No quarantine for cats with complete, compliant documentation.