How We Handle Pet Relocation to Berlin from New Zealand
Berlin is Germany’s capital and one of Europe’s most culturally dynamic cities — a magnet for New Zealand expats, creative professionals, tech workers, and families on international transfers. It’s also one of the more complex destinations for international pet relocation from New Zealand. Pets travelling from New Zealand to Berlin must satisfy both New Zealand’s MPI export requirements and the European Union’s strict third-country pet import rules — two separate regulatory frameworks that must be navigated simultaneously and precisely.
PetAeron’s pet relocation process for Berlin starts weeks before your travel date. We begin with a full compliance audit: checking your pet’s microchip against the ISO 11784/11785 standard required by the EU, reviewing rabies vaccination records, confirming parasite treatment history, and identifying any gaps that could delay or block your pet’s entry into Germany. We coordinate with an MPI-accredited veterinarian to prepare 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 Berlin. We book cargo space on the safest available international pet transport route to Berlin, arrange the correct IATA-approved pet travel crate for your animal’s breed and size, and manage all check-in documentation at your departure airport. Throughout the pet shipping journey, you receive direct status updates from your dedicated PetAeron pet relocation consultant — not automated emails.
Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER) is Germany’s main capital airport and receives international pet cargo from carriers via major transit hubs including Dubai, Singapore, Doha, and Hong Kong. PetAeron selects the pet transport route with the fewest handovers, the most appropriate layover conditions, and the best cargo handling record for live animal shipments — because the route matters as much as the paperwork when you’re moving a living animal.
Understanding Berlin & Germany's Pet Import Requirements
Germany is a full EU member state, and all pets arriving in Berlin from New Zealand must comply with EU-wide live animal import regulations. New Zealand is classified as a third country by the EU — meaning no preferential treatment applies, and the full set of EU import documentation is required for every pet regardless of breed, age, or travel history. Below is a full breakdown of what your pet needs to enter Berlin legally:
ISO-Compliant Microchip Your pet must be implanted with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip. This is a non-negotiable EU entry requirement. Critically — if your pet’s microchip was implanted after the rabies vaccination, the vaccination is considered invalid under EU rules and must be repeated. PetAeron verifies microchip compliance and vaccination sequencing at the very start of the pet relocation process to catch this issue before it becomes a problem at the border.
Rabies Vaccination A current, valid rabies vaccination is mandatory for all dogs and cats relocating to Berlin from New Zealand. New Zealand does not hold approved third-country status under EU rabies regulations, so no exemptions apply. The vaccine must be administered after microchipping, must be from an approved vaccine brand, and must not be expired on your pet’s arrival date in Berlin. PetAeron confirms vaccination status and timing during your initial pet relocation consultation.
EU Annex IV Animal Health Certificate The official EU animal health certificate — issued in Annex IV format — must be prepared by a government-authorised veterinarian and issued within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Berlin. In New Zealand, this is 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 issuing vet’s official stamp and signature. PetAeron coordinates the vet appointment, reviews the draft certificate before signing, and confirms it meets both MPI and EU Annex IV format requirements.
Echinococcus Tapeworm Treatment — Dogs Only Dogs entering Germany — including Berlin — must be treated against Echinococcus multilocularis tapeworm between 24 hours and 5 days before their scheduled arrival in Berlin. The treatment must be administered by a licensed veterinarian and recorded in the EU health certificate with the exact product name, dose, date, and time of administration. The timing window is strict — if your dog arrives outside this window, the treatment is invalid and re-treatment may be required before entry is permitted. PetAeron schedules this treatment to land precisely within the valid window for your specific travel date.
IATA-Compliant Pet Travel Crate All pets travelling as international air cargo or excess baggage to Berlin must be transported in an IATA Live Animals Regulations-compliant crate. The crate must be appropriately sized — your pet must be able to stand at full height, turn around fully, and lie down in a natural position. The crate must have secure ventilation, no protruding parts, a leak-proof floor, and must carry food and water containers. PetAeron supplies or sources the correct IATA pet crate for your animal’s species, breed, and size.
Other Species — Birds, Rabbits, Rodents, Reptiles Non-standard pets travelling to Berlin are subject to separate EU and German national import rules. Birds may require CITES permits, avian influenza declarations, and advance authorisation from the relevant German veterinary authority. Rabbits and rodents have their own import requirements. Reptiles may be subject to CITES Appendix restrictions. If you are relocating a non-standard pet species to Berlin, contact PetAeron early — some species-specific permits take weeks or months to obtain.
Understanding New Zealand's MPI Pet Export Process for Berlin
Every pet leaving New Zealand for an international destination — including Berlin — must be cleared for export by New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI). This clearance takes the form of an Export Health Certificate (EHC), issued by an MPI-accredited veterinarian. The EHC is a legally binding document that confirms your pet’s identity via microchip number, records vaccination and treatment history, certifies the animal is fit for international pet transport, and meets the import requirements of the destination country.
For pets relocating to Berlin, 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 requirements, and the issuing vet must be familiar with both. PetAeron works specifically with MPI-accredited vets who have experience preparing export health certificates for EU destinations, ensuring the document is correct the first time.
The EHC must be issued within a specific pre-travel window — typically within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in Berlin — so the timing of the vet appointment must be coordinated precisely with your flight booking. PetAeron manages this scheduling: we confirm your pet’s cargo booking first, then arrange the vet appointment to ensure the EHC is valid on travel day without falling outside the permitted window.
Beyond the EHC, PetAeron manages the full logistics of your pet’s international move: IATA crate procurement and labelling, airline cargo check-in documentation, transit country clearance verification (if your pet’s route to Berlin includes a stop in a third country), live animal handling instructions for airline staff, and coordination with the receiving agent or delivery service in Berlin.
