Taking your pet on a trip from Germany
Check the destination, return journey and carrier rules before booking. Your pet’s documents need to work for the entire route, not just the first border.
Last recorded review: 2026-08-12. Requirements can change; confirm with the linked source or responsible office. Boris is independent of the DoD.
Begin with the documents you have
Ask your vet to check the microchip record, vaccination validity and travel document against your exact route. A pet passport or certificate is not permission for every journey. The European Commission’s rules distinguish the animal, origin, accompanying person and type of movement; sale or transfer can require a different process.
Check destinations outside the EU separately
Great Britain publishes its accepted pet-passport rules and entry requirements on GOV.UK. Check the route and any required treatment before booking. For a return to the United States with a dog, use CDC’s dog-import page to check the requirements for your dog’s travel history.
Make a trip-specific plan
Work backward from departure with your vet rather than reusing an old checklist. Keep the original travel documents accessible and retain copies for your own records. If the owner and pet travel separately, ask which movement rules apply.
In the Boris app
Use the free KMC checklist in Boris to organize your next steps. No account required.
