In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Germany to China
typically takes around 36-44 weeks.
Expect 30 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test may be required depending on your pet's origin, so check the requirements below.
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Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
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Overview
Shipping a dog or cat from Germany to China rewards owners who start planning early. Expect a long lead time of roughly 36-44 weeks; the waiting periods here cannot be rushed. Factor in 30 days of quarantine at the destination.
Whether a rabies titre test is needed depends on your pet's origin, so confirm against the rules below. The sections below cover each requirement in detail.
Step by step
The Germany to China process
1
Week 0. Non-negotiable.
STEP 1: ISO 15-digit microchip before any vaccination
Responsible: German vet
2
After microchip.
STEP 2: Rabies vaccination (within 12 months of travel, at least 30 days before titre test)
Responsible: German vet
3
Blood drawn 30+ days post-vaccination. 180-day clock starts here.
STEP 3: FAVN titre test at GACC-approved laboratory
Responsible: German vet + GACC-approved lab
4
Cannot be shortened.
STEP 4: 180-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: N/A
5
Confirm with GACC before booking cargo.
STEP 5: Confirm entry airport is GACC-approved for live animals
Responsible: You or agent
6
Before travel. Required for dogs (30 days).
STEP 6: Pre-book GACC quarantine facility at destination city
Responsible: You or agent
7
Week 30+
STEP 7: Book Lufthansa or Air China Cargo FRA to Chinese city
Responsible: You or agent
8
Within 10 days of travel.
STEP 8: German authority-endorsed GACC health certificate
Responsible: DENV-authorised vet + German authority
9
Pre-paid and pre-booked.
STEP 9: Arrive at GACC-designated airport. 30-day dog quarantine.
Responsible: GACC quarantine facility
Checklist
China: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required (ISO 15-digit). Before any vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. At least 30 days before travel. Within 12 months of travel.
Rabies titre test
Required for most countries including Germany. FAVN at GACC-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. 180-day wait from blood draw date before entry into China.
Quarantine
Mandatory. Dogs: 30 days at GACC-approved quarantine facility in China. Cats: 7 days if from approved countries. Germany may qualify for reduced cat quarantine, confirm with GACC.
Import permit
Required. Import declaration at customs. One dog or cat per person per year.
Health certificate
German competent authority-endorsed certificate in GACC format. Within 10 days of travel.
No formal export permit for personal pets from Germany.
Health certificate
Official health certificate from DENV-authorised vet, endorsed by German competent authority, in GACC format. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
Lufthansa or Air China Cargo fees FRA to Chinese city
2
IATA-compliant crate
3
FAVN titre test at GACC-approved lab
4
German competent authority endorsement fees
5
30-day GACC quarantine fees (dogs, owner pays)
6
Import customs duties
7
Agent fee (strongly recommended)
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ One dog or one cat per person per year: China enforces this strictly. Multi-pet households face major complications.
⚠ 30-day dog quarantine is mandatory and paid by the owner. Budget this into your move costs.
⚠ GACC entry airport list is specific. Not all airports accept live animal imports. Confirm before booking.
⚠ GACC requirements change. Always verify current rules directly with GACC or an experienced agent before starting.
⚠ 180-day wait cannot be shortened under any circumstances.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Lufthansa
Direct FRA to PEK, PVG, CAN. Lufthansa Cargo. Strong Frankfurt cargo operation. Brachycephalic breeds restricted year-round.
Cargo Only
Air China
Air China Cargo FRA/MUC to PEK. Chinese national carrier with strong GACC arrival familiarity at Beijing Capital and Daxing.
Cargo Only
China Eastern Airlines
China Eastern Cargo FRA to PVG. Shanghai hub. GACC-experienced at Shanghai Pudong.
Cargo Only
China Southern Airlines
China Southern Cargo FRA to CAN. Guangzhou hub.
Cargo Only
Singapore Airlines
Via Singapore SIN to Chinese cities. Temperature-controlled. Longer routing.
Cargo Only
China entry requirements at a glance
Getting a pet into China means meeting a demanding set of rules with no shortcuts. Start from the earliest deadline and work forward from there.
Getting the details right
Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.
Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. China’s GACC requires a FAVN titre test for pets from most countries including Germany. Blood drawn at a GACC-approved laboratory, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, followed by a mandatory 180-day wait from the blood draw date.
30 days at a GACC-approved quarantine facility in China, paid by the owner. This is mandatory for dogs from all countries and runs after arrival, separate from the 180-day pre-travel waiting period.
One dog or one cat per person per year under China’s customs regulations. Multi-pet households need careful documentation with each pet assigned to a specific named individual. More than one pet per person is not permitted.
Lufthansa Cargo operating direct FRA to Beijing, Shanghai, or Guangzhou is the primary choice. Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern are Chinese carriers with strong GACC arrival familiarity at their respective hub cities.
Allow 36-44 weeks. The 180-day wait from the titre test blood draw is the main constraint. Add 30 days quarantine on arrival for dogs. Use the 180-day waiting period to manage the health certificate and cargo booking logistics.
Airline guides
Lufthansa
Air China
China Eastern Airlines
China Southern Airlines
Singapore Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.