Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities.
How we source our data →
Overview
Lithuania and Germany are both EU member states, so the regulatory requirements for moving a pet are shared and simple. Microchip, current rabies vaccination, and an EU pet passport or AHC is the full documentation requirement. No quarantine, no titre test, no permit. The practical planning task centres on flight selection: Vilnius Airport (VNO) has good connectivity to Germany via Warsaw with LOT, via Riga with airBaltic, or via Frankfurt with Lufthansa.
Step by step
The Lithuania to Germany process
1
Before any documentation step. Chip number must match passport or AHC.
Confirm microchip (ISO 11784/11785) is in place
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
2
First vaccination: 21-day wait before German entry. Booster within valid period: immediately valid.
Ensure rabies vaccination is current
Responsible: Lithuanian vet
3
One appointment with a VMVT-registered officially authorised vet.
Obtain or update EU pet passport
Responsible: Authorised Lithuanian vet
4
3-4 weeks before travel. Book pet space at same time as flight.
Book flight from Vilnius to Germany and reserve pet space
Responsible: Owner
5
Travel day. Vilnius (VNO) to Frankfurt via Warsaw or direct connection: approximately 3-5 hours total.
Travel from Vilnius to Germany
Responsible: Owner + airline
Checklist
Germany: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit). Must precede rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current. First vaccination: 21-day wait before German entry. Booster within valid period: immediately valid.
Rabies titre test
Not required for EU-to-EU movements.
Quarantine
Not required.
Import permit
Not required for companion animals moving between EU member states.
Health certificate
EU pet passport or VMVT-endorsed AHC, issued within 10 days of German entry.
Leaving Lithuania
Export requirements
Requirement
Detail
Export permit
No export permit is required for companion dogs or cats leaving Lithuania for another EU member state.
Health certificate
EU pet passport issued or updated by an officially authorised Lithuanian vet. If no EU passport is held, a single-use AHC endorsed by the State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania (VMVT) is required, issued within 10 days of entry into Germany.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
EU pet passport issuance or update: EUR 30-80
2
Rabies vaccination booster (if due): EUR 20-60
3
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 50-200
4
Cabin pet fee: EUR 30-80 per leg
5
Cargo pet fee (larger pets): EUR 200-700 depending on route and weight
6
Total typical range: EUR 150-850
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Ryanair is one of the most prominent budget carriers at Vilnius Airport but does not accept pets on most routes. Do not book Ryanair assuming pet travel is possible. Confirm the full policy on your specific route before purchasing.
⚠ Germany requires chip number consistency across all documents. A chip number mismatch between the EU passport and the scanned chip is the most common documentation problem for Baltic-to-Germany moves. Your Lithuanian vet should scan the chip and confirm the number at every health certificate issuance.
⚠ Several German states require dogs to be registered locally if you establish residency. Registration usually happens at the local Einwohnermeldeamt. Check the rules for your destination Bundesland.
⚠ If your pet is travelling as cargo and connecting through Warsaw (WAW) with LOT, confirm that Poland does not impose any additional transit requirements for EU pets in cargo. For EU-to-EU cargo transit, no additional documentation is normally required.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Lufthansa
Lufthansa connects Vilnius (VNO) to Frankfurt (FRA) via connections at Munich or other German cities. Small pets allowed in cabin on intra-EU flights. Frankfurt Animal Lounge at FRA is one of Europe's best live animal facilities. Recommended for cargo moves.
Cabin and Cargo
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT operates Vilnius to Warsaw (WAW) with onward connections to Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and other German cities. Small pets in cabin permitted. LOT is a practical option given its strong Baltic-to-Europe connectivity via Warsaw.
Cabin and Cargo
Ryanair
Ryanair operates from Vilnius Airport to various German airports including Frankfurt Hahn and Berlin. Ryanair's pet policy is very restricted: they do NOT accept pets in cabin or as cargo on most routes. Do NOT assume Ryanair will accept your pet.
Cargo Only
airBaltic
airBaltic connects Vilnius to Riga (RIX) with onward services to German cities. Small pets in cabin. A useful option if LOT or Lufthansa connections do not suit your schedule.
Cabin and Cargo
The VMVT and your Lithuanian pet health certificate
The VMVT (Valstybes maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba, State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania) is the government authority that oversees veterinary health certification in Lithuania. When a Lithuanian vet issues an AHC for your pet’s move to Germany, the VMVT endorsement stamp on the certificate confirms the vet is officially authorised.
For EU residents using an EU pet passport rather than an AHC, the VMVT involvement is already embedded in the passport issuance process: only officially authorised vets registered with the VMVT can issue or update EU passports in Lithuania. If your passport was issued by a Vilnius or Kaunas vet, it will already carry this status.
The practical difference between the passport and the AHC: the passport is valid for life (with current vaccinations) and covers any number of EU border crossings. The AHC is single-use and valid for one entry only, issued within 10 days of travel.
Getting from Vilnius to Germany: airline options and routing
Vilnius Airport (VNO) does not have the same range of direct Western European services as Riga (RIX) with airBaltic. The most practical options for Lithuania-to-Germany pet moves are LOT Polish Airlines via Warsaw (WAW), which connects to Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, and Berlin; Lufthansa via Frankfurt connections; or airBaltic via Riga.
LOT is a good choice for cabin travel: small pets (carrier plus pet under 8 kg) are allowed in cabin, and Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) handles live animal cargo with reasonable facilities. The total journey time via Warsaw to Frankfurt is around 4-5 hours.
For cargo, Frankfurt (FRA) is the preferred German arrival airport because of Lufthansa’s dedicated Animal Lounge, which is widely regarded as one of Europe’s best live animal facilities. Arrange cargo bookings at least 3-4 weeks in advance and confirm live animal acceptance on every leg.
FAQ
Common questions
The VMVT (Valstybes maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba) is Lithuania’s State Food and Veterinary Service, the government authority responsible for official veterinary certification. Its endorsement on an AHC or pet passport confirms the issuing vet is officially authorised. German border vets look for this authority mark when checking Lithuanian pet documentation.
There is no consistent direct Vilnius (VNO) to Frankfurt (FRA) non-stop service on airlines that accept pets. The usual route is via Warsaw (WAW) with LOT or via Riga (RIX) with airBaltic, both of which allow small pets in cabin. Confirm the pet policy and book the cabin space at time of ticket purchase.
No. Germany does not quarantine pets arriving from other EU member states with valid documentation. A current EU pet passport or AHC, a microchip, and a current rabies vaccination is all that is required.
No. Ryanair does not accept pets in cabin or as cargo on the vast majority of its routes, including those out of Vilnius. Even if a Ryanair route connects Vilnius to a German airport, you cannot bring your cat. Use LOT, Lufthansa, or airBaltic instead.