How We Handle Pet Relocation to Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main is Germany’s financial and transport hub — home to the European Central Bank, a vast international business community, and one of the world’s busiest airports. It is also one of the most strategically important cities in Europe for international pet relocation from New Zealand, because Frankfurt Airport (FRA) serves as a major live animal cargo gateway into the EU. Many international pet transport routes from New Zealand to Germany — whether the final destination is Frankfurt, Hamburg, Cologne, or elsewhere — transit through or arrive at Frankfurt Airport, making it one of the most significant entry points for pet shipping into Europe.
PetAeron’s pet relocation process for Frankfurt begins with a full compliance review weeks before your departure. We audit your pet’s microchip against the ISO 11784/11785 standard required by the EU, review rabies vaccination records and check vaccination sequencing against EU rules, confirm parasite and tapeworm treatment history, and identify any gaps that could block or delay your pet’s entry into Germany. We then coordinate with an MPI-accredited veterinarian to prepare both the Export Health Certificate (EHC) required by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries and the EU Annex IV animal health certificate required for entry into Frankfurt. We book your pet’s cargo space on the best available international pet transport route to Frankfurt Airport, supply or source the correct IATA-compliant pet travel crate for your animal’s breed and size, and manage all airline check-in documentation. You receive direct status updates from your dedicated PetAeron pet relocation specialist throughout the entire pet shipping journey.
Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is one of Europe’s premier live animal cargo facilities and handles a high volume of international pet shipments. Its infrastructure — dedicated animal handling areas, climate-controlled holding facilities, and experienced live cargo staff — makes it one of the better arrival airports in Europe for pets travelling long-haul from New Zealand. PetAeron selects routes and carriers that take full advantage of Frankfurt’s handling capabilities, prioritising your animal’s welfare at every stage of the international pet move.
Understanding Frankfurt & Germany's Pet Import Requirements
Germany is an EU member state, and all pets arriving in Frankfurt from New Zealand must comply with the full set of EU-wide live animal import regulations. New Zealand is designated a third country under EU biosecurity law — meaning no preferential entry applies, and every pet must meet the complete EU documentation and treatment requirements regardless of breed, age, vaccination history, or previous travel. The following is a full breakdown of what your pet needs to enter Frankfurt legally:
ISO-Compliant Microchip Your pet must carry an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip — this is the non-negotiable baseline for EU pet entry. The microchip must have been implanted before or at the time of the rabies vaccination. If the microchip was implanted after the rabies vaccine was administered, EU regulations require the vaccination to be repeated in full. PetAeron verifies microchip compliance and vaccination sequencing at the start of every Frankfurt pet relocation to catch this issue before it creates a problem at the border.
Rabies Vaccination A valid, current rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs and cats relocating to Frankfurt from New Zealand. New Zealand does not hold approved third-country status under EU rabies import regulations, so no exemptions apply. The vaccine must be administered after microchipping, must be from an EU-approved brand, and must be valid — not expired — on the date your pet arrives in Frankfurt. PetAeron confirms vaccination timing and validity during the initial pet relocation consultation.
EU Annex IV Animal Health Certificate The EU Annex IV animal health certificate is the official entry document for pets travelling to any EU country — including Germany — from a third country such as New Zealand. It must be issued by a government-authorised veterinarian within 10 days of your pet’s scheduled arrival in Frankfurt. In New Zealand, this means an MPI-accredited vet. The certificate must include your pet’s microchip number and implant date, full rabies vaccination history, tapeworm treatment details (for dogs), a fitness-to-travel declaration, and the vet’s official credentials, stamp, and signature. PetAeron coordinates the vet appointment, reviews the draft certificate before it is signed, and confirms it meets both MPI standards and the EU Annex IV format before your pet’s departure.
Echinococcus Tapeworm Treatment — Dogs Only All dogs entering Germany — including those arriving at Frankfurt Airport — must be treated against Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm within a strict window of 24 hours to 5 days before their scheduled arrival in Frankfurt. The treatment must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and recorded in the EU health certificate with the exact product name, administered dose, date, and time. If your dog arrives outside this treatment window, German customs authorities may refuse entry or require re-treatment before the animal is released. PetAeron schedules the tapeworm treatment appointment to fall precisely within the valid window for your confirmed travel date, factoring in flight duration and any transit stops.
IATA-Compliant Pet Travel Crate All pets travelling internationally to Frankfurt as air cargo or excess baggage must be housed in an IATA Live Animals Regulations-compliant pet travel crate. The crate must be correctly sized for your specific animal — your pet must be able to stand at full natural height, turn completely around, and lie down in a natural resting position. The crate must feature secure ventilation on at least three sides, a leak-proof floor with absorbent bedding, no protruding interior edges, and securely attached food and water containers. PetAeron sources and supplies the correct IATA pet crate for your animal’s breed, size, and species ahead of your pet’s departure date.
Non-Standard Pet Species — Birds, Rabbits, Rodents, Reptiles Pets other than dogs and cats relocating to Frankfurt are subject to separate EU import regulations and may require additional permits, species-specific health certificates, or advance authorisation from the relevant German veterinary authority. Birds may require CITES permits and avian influenza declarations. Rabbits and rodents have their own health certification requirements. Reptiles may be subject to CITES Appendix I or II restrictions that require advance import approval. If you are relocating a non-standard pet species to Frankfurt, contact PetAeron as early as possible — species-specific import permits can take weeks or months to obtain.
Understanding New Zealand's MPI Pet Export Process for Frankfurt
Before any pet can depart New Zealand for Frankfurt, New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) requires the animal to be cleared for export via an Export Health Certificate (EHC) issued by an MPI-accredited veterinarian. The EHC is a legally binding export document that confirms your pet’s identity by microchip number, records full vaccination and treatment history, certifies the animal is clinically healthy and fit for international pet transport, and verifies that the animal meets the import requirements of the destination country — in this case, Germany and the EU.
For pets relocating to Frankfurt, the EHC must simultaneously satisfy MPI’s New Zealand export standards and the EU’s Annex IV import format. These are two overlapping but distinct regulatory frameworks, and the issuing vet must be experienced with both. PetAeron works with MPI-accredited vets who regularly prepare export health certificates for EU destinations, ensuring the document is correctly formatted, complete, and accepted at Frankfurt Airport without amendment or delay.
The EHC must be issued within a defined pre-departure window — typically within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Frankfurt — making precise scheduling essential. PetAeron manages this timing: we confirm your pet’s cargo booking first, then schedule the vet appointment so the EHC is valid on travel day without falling outside the 10-day window. We also review the completed EHC before your pet’s departure to catch any errors or omissions that could cause a problem at the Frankfurt border.
Beyond the EHC, PetAeron manages the complete logistics of your pet’s international relocation: IATA pet crate procurement, labelling, and airline approval; live animal handling instructions for airline staff; transit country compliance checks for any intermediate stops; coordination with cargo handlers at Frankfurt Airport; and onward pet delivery to your Frankfurt address.
