How to bring your pet to Germany from the UK
or another non-EU country
Of Pet Passports und Health Certificates
There is a lot of insecurity and misinformation about how to go ahead with this after Brexit.
Here are my findings that worked for me bringing my dog from the UK to the EU in October 2021.
Vaccination requirements:
Upon entering Germany / any EU country, your pet is required to have an up to date (i.e. no older than one year) rabies vaccination. This injection needs to be registered to your pet’s microchip ID and documented in the Pet Passport. The vaccine must have been administered no earlier than 22 days (i.e. 22 - 364 days) before entering the EU.
EU Pet Passports:
EU Pet Passports formerly issued in the U.K. are no longer valid.
If you live in the U.K. and your cat /dog has a EU Pet Passport issued by a EU country, these continue to be valid.
Rabies vaccinations administered and documented in the passport by a U.K. vet before 31.12.2020 continue to be accepted.
After 01.01.2021, British vets are no longer allowed to make entries to a EU Pet Passport, irrespective of what country it has been originally issued in.
U.K. Animal Health Certificate (AHC):
This document now replaces the EU Pet Passport when travelling with your pet from the U.K. to the EU. Upon entering the EU, the AHC must be no older than 10 days.
The AHC is required to be issued in two languages: English + the language of your first entry point in the EU.
This means if you are flying from the U.K. to Germany on a direct flight, the languages would be English and German. However, if you are driving and first arriving in France, the AHC must be in English and French.
DO I or DO I NOT need an AHC for my pet?
The only scenario where you do not need an AHC is if your pet has an EU Pet Passport issued by a EU country and a rabies vaccination that has been administered before 31.12.2020 and within one year of your travel to the EU.
Example:
Your pet has a EU Pet Passport issued in Germany and the last rabies shot (irrespective if this was in the U.K. or any other EU country) was on the 15.11.2020. You can now travel to the EU without needing an AHC until 14.11.2021.
If your pet owns a EU Pet Passport issued by the U.K. and has an up to date rabies vaccine, you will still need an AHC, as the passport is void.
If your pet owns a EU Pet Passport issued by a EU country but the rabies vaccine was administered in the U.K. after 31.12.2020, you will still need an AHC, as U.K. vet’s entry in a EU Pet Passports are no longer accepted.
by adventuRena / @DExpat2021