Planning a pet relocation from Canada to Germany is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. This is one of the more straightforward routes, and roughly 6-10 weeks is …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Canada to Germany
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before any vaccinations. Must be done first.
Get your pet microchipped (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Your veterinarian
2
At least 21 days before travel (after microchip)
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your veterinarian
3
Within 10 days of travel (check destination-specific requirements)
Obtain health certificate / veterinary clearance
Responsible: Official veterinarian
4
2-4 weeks before travel. Confirm pet space availability.
Book IATA-compliant flight and arrange pet cargo/cabin booking
Responsible: You (or your pet transport agent)
5
3-4 hours before departure for cargo pets
Travel day: arrive early, present all documentation
Responsible: You + airline cargo desk
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or at same time as rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel. Standard EU 21-day wait from date of first vaccination before travel. No additional Germany-specific requirements beyond EU framework.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Canada is a listed third country under EU pet travel rules, so no rabies antibody test and no three-month wait apply. Source: European Commission, movement of pet animals, corroborated against the GOV.UK listed-country register read 2026-09-02.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant
Import permit
No formal import permit. EU pet passport (intra-EU) or Animal Health Certificate (from third countries) serves as documentation.
Health certificate
Required
Export permit
No CFIA export permit required for personal pet exports. Some destination countries may require CFIA endorsement of health certificate.
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We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Canada to Germany move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
United Airlines
Small pets allowed in cabin
Cabin Only
American Airlines
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: American Airlines Cargo handles pet transport
Cabin and Cargo
Air Canada
Small pets allowed in cabin. Cargo: Air Canada Cargo handles pet transport in heated/pressurized hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round
Cabin and Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
Airline cargo/cabin fees (varies by carrier, pet weight, and crate size)
IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
Veterinary fees (vaccinations, health certificate, microchip)
Government endorsement/USDA endorsement fee (if applicable)
Pet transport agent fee (if using a relocation service)
Critical points
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds face cargo restrictions on most airlines. Check breed-specific policies before booking.
Microchip MUST be implanted before rabies vaccination. Vaccination given before microchip is invalid and the clock restarts.
The rules for bringing a pet into Germany
Germany has a modest set of rules compared with stricter destinations. Get the essentials in place and confirm the finer points below.
How to keep this move on track
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions
Four to six weeks if the rabies vaccination is already current. There is no titre test and no waiting period on this route: Canada is a listed third country under EU pet travel rules, so the antibody test that dominates the timeline from an unlisted country does not apply. What sets the date is the EU animal health certificate, which an official vet issues within 10 days of travel, and the cargo booking.
No routine quarantine for pets entering Germany with the correct documentation. No routine quarantine. Penalty quarantine up to varies days if non-compliant
No formal import permit. EU pet passport (intra-EU) or Animal Health Certificate (from third countries) serves as documentation.
Required Your Canada vet must be approved to issue official veterinary certificates. The certificate must be issued within the timeframe required by Germany: usually 10 days before travel. Present the original at check-in.
Not from Canada. Germany requires the test from pets leaving unlisted third countries, and Canada is a listed third country under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, so neither the test nor the three-month wait applies. That is the difference between about five weeks of preparation and about five months. What you do need: an ISO microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, that vaccination at least 21 days before travel, and an EU animal health certificate from an official vet within 10 days of travel.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Germany.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm
current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.