GermanyVietnam is not on Germany’s list of pre-approved rabies-free countries, which puts a mandatory blood test and a fixed 90-day wait on every shipment — knowing the sequence before you start is what keeps a move on schedule.
Last updated 18 Oct 2026i
Four things that make Germany’s process different from a typical EU destination.
Vietnam is an unlisted country — a rabies antibody blood test is mandatory
Zoll checks the border, BMLEH sets the requirement list and entry points
Frankfurt and Munich handle the bulk of arrivals from Vietnam
Driven by a fixed 90-day wait after the rabies blood test
Six requirements every pet must clear before a Germany-bound flight is booked.
An ISO 11784/11785 microchip must be implanted before, or on the same day as, the rabies vaccine — a chip placed afterward invalidates that dose and forces a restart. The pet also needs to be at least 12 weeks old on the day it’s vaccinated, since that date anchors every deadline that follows.
The vaccine must be given after the microchip and becomes valid 21 days after the primary dose — not the injection date itself. A booster keeps the same vaccine “chain” alive only within the previous dose’s validity window; miss it, and the sequence restarts from a fresh primary vaccination.
Because Vietnam sits outside Germany’s pre-approved country list, an antibody titer test is mandatory on top of the vaccine. The sample must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, with a result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher from an EU-recognised lab.
Issued or endorsed by an official vet in Vietnam, the certificate is valid for only 10 days between issue and the border check, and it has to be written in both German and English — a single-language certificate isn’t accepted.
The owner signs a declaration confirming the move is non-commercial. If someone else accompanies the pet, they must arrive within 5 days of the owner’s own trip, or German authorities can reclassify the movement as commercial.
Four breeds cannot move to Germany — the only opening is a stay of up to four weeks with a non-resident owner — and a separate set of state-level rules can apply on top depending on where the dog will live — two rules that get confused constantly.
Two mechanics that catch owners who’ve researched a different “strict” destination first.
For a standard non-commercial pet, Germany doesn’t require an import permit or licence before departure — clearing the border check with complete paperwork is the only step.
BMLEH sets the official requirement list and the entry-point map. Zoll, federal customs, is the agency that physically checks the pet, the documents, and the microchip at the border.
The 90-day wait after the blood test is fixed by law — no amount of urgency shortens it.
Microchip implanted, then the rabies vaccine given at the same visit or shortly after — a chip placed after the vaccine invalidates that dose. This date anchors every deadline that follows.
Earliest legal day for the blood sample — 30 full days after the vaccine. Drawing it even a day early means starting the wait over from zero.
Turnaround varies by lab, since there’s no EU-recognised titer lab in Vietnam and the sample ships abroad. A result of 0.5 IU/ml or higher is what starts the 90-day countdown.
Earliest day the vet can issue the health certificate, because the blood draw must be at least 90 days old on the issue date — counted from the draw date itself (Day 31), not from whenever the lab result came back.
Health certificate issued in German and English and the non-commercial declaration signed. The certificate is valid for 10 days until the entry check, so the flight is booked to land inside that window rather than done early.
Pet departs and clears the document and microchip check at one of Germany’s approved entry points — the point where every earlier step either matches or doesn’t.
21 approved points nationwide — landing anywhere else isn’t an option, regardless of paperwork.
Airports, seaports, and land crossings across Germany are approved to receive pets from non-exempt countries like Vietnam, each with a dedicated veterinary border post.
The two entry points most Vietnam-origin routes connect through, each with its own dedicated veterinary border authority (TGSH in Hessen, BIP-MUC in Bavaria).
Germany splits breed restrictions into two layers that work nothing alike.
A visa can move fast. A pet’s biological timeline can’t — plan both together.
A pet’s 30-day and 90-day waits are fixed by biology, not paperwork speed — starting the microchip and vaccine step the day the visa application goes in avoids months of drift.
If the pet doesn’t travel with its owner, whoever does accompany it must arrive within five days of the owner’s own trip, or the movement risks reclassification as commercial.
Germany is a long-haul route, so most pets travel checked baggage or cargo rather than in-cabin.
Travels in the cabin with the owner, in a soft-sided carrier under the seat.
Flies on the same flight as the owner, in the temperature-controlled hold.
Does not fly with the owner, with fewer limits on weight and size.
Applied to every pet flying the Germany route.
Eight weeks and fully weaned is the floor for carriage, and some airlines set it higher. Cabin allowances count pet and crate together. Pregnant animals are not accepted.
IATA and IPATA both advise against sedation, and a pet known to be sedated can be refused at the counter. Crate conditioning on a six-week schedule does that work instead.
One point of contact for every stage — from the first blood draw to clearance at the German border post.
Every shipment is priced by weight, crate size, and requirements — we break down every line, no hidden fees.
Our process is designed to be simple and fully guided — so pet owners always know what to expect at every stage of the journey.
Submit a Quotation Request
Pet owners begin by submitting essential information about their pet, destination, and travel needs through our online form.
Consultation & Quotation
Our team reviews your case and provides a clear travel plan with a detailed quotation.
Documents & Preparation
We handle the vaccination schedule, RNATT blood test, bilingual health certificate, and non-commercial declaration in the correct sequence.
Travel & Arrival
Your pet travels according to the approved plan, with careful handling from departure through the German border check and final handover.
Last updated 18 Oct 2026
Compiled by our specialists from the regulations in force on the date above, for reference only. Rules may change after this date. Please verify with the competent authorities or contact us for the most accurate information.
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