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Taking a pet out of Germany
There is no single rulebook for leaving Germany — the destination country sets the requirements, so the papers, tests and waiting periods depend on where you are going. Below are the 9 routes from Germany we have verified so far, covering Australia, the United Kingdom and the United States. Every route page is checked against two official sources — the destination government's import rules and the export guidance for leaving Germany — and carries its own "last verified" date. How early you need to start depends on the route; see how far in advance to prepare, and how we check every rule.
Dogs leaving Germany
Dog: Germany → the United States
Yes — a dog from Germany takes the CDC's simple low-risk route into the United States: the only federal document is the free CDC Dog Import Form receipt, and your dog can enter at any airport, seaport or land border. The catches are age and history, not paperwork: your dog must be at least 6 months old, microchipped and healthy on arrival, and must not have been in a CDC high-risk rabies country in the past 6 months.
Simple rulesDog: Germany → the United Kingdom
Yes — and this is one of the simpler routes into Great Britain. Germany counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so a dog travelling on an EU pet passport issued in Germany, with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, needs no blood test and faces no quarantine if the paperwork is right. The two deadlines that decide this route are the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination and the tapeworm treatment 24–120 hours before you arrive.
Strict rulesDog: Germany → Australia
Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Germany is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a dog needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.
Cats leaving Germany
Cat: Germany → the United States
Yes — and for cats this is the simplest US route on this site: there is no CDC cat import form, no federal rabies certificate and no USDA APHIS animal-health requirement at all for a pet cat from Germany. Federally, your cat only has to appear healthy on arrival. The real paperwork is European: an EU pet passport with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, which your airline will expect and which your cat needs to be able to return to the EU.
Simple rulesCat: Germany → the United Kingdom
Yes — cats have the easiest version of this route. Germany counts as an EU departure (Part 1 listed in Great Britain's system), so a cat travelling on an EU pet passport issued in Germany, with a microchip and an in-date rabies vaccination, needs no blood test, no tapeworm treatment and no quarantine if the paperwork is right. The one deadline that matters is the 21-day wait after a first rabies vaccination.
Strict rulesCat: Germany → Australia
Yes — but Australia is the most demanding route on this site. Germany is a DAFF Group 3 country, so a cat needs a rabies vaccination, a titer test (RNATT), a 180-day wait, a BICON import permit, and mandatory quarantine on arrival at Mickleham: a minimum of 10 days if an official government veterinarian verifies its identity before the blood test, otherwise a minimum of 30 days. Start 7–8 months ahead.
Ferrets leaving Germany
Ferret: Germany → the United Kingdom
Yes — a ferret travelling from Germany to Great Britain uses the EU pet passport route, one of the simpler entries on this site. Coming from an EU country, your ferret can enter on a valid EU pet passport issued in an EU country: microchip recorded, rabies vaccination in date. There is no rabies blood test for EU departures, and ferrets never need the tapeworm treatment that applies to dogs. You still need to enter on an approved route and sign the non-commercial declaration, but there is no separate health certificate to arrange when the passport is complete and current.
Moderate rulesFerret: Germany → the United States
Yes at the federal level — and the real rules are waiting at your destination state. USDA APHIS Veterinary Services states plainly that it does not regulate the import of ferrets, so there is no US federal health certificate, import permit or quarantine for a pet ferret arriving from Germany. What decides whether the move works is state and city law: ferrets are illegal to import or keep in California and Hawaii, and they are banned as pets in New York City, while a few other states and cities ask for permits. Check the law where you will actually live before you book anything.