Relocating a pet from New Zealand to Germany involves two regulatory systems: New Zealand’s MPI export requirements and the European Union’s strict animal import rules. PetAeron navigates both. Our process begins with a compliance audit weeks before your travel date — we review your pet’s microchip, vaccination records, and treatment history against Germany’s current entry requirements. From there, we coordinate with an MPI-accredited vet to prepare the Export Health Certificate, book your pet’s flight, and arrange an IATA-approved crate sized correctly for your animal.
Germany, as an EU member state, requires all incoming pets to meet EU regulations — not just German ones. This means the documentation must be in the correct EU format, the microchip must be ISO 11784/11785 compliant, and rabies vaccinations must be current and recorded correctly. PetAeron’s team is familiar with these requirements and prepares a complete, audit-ready documentation set before your pet’s travel date. We also manage airline cargo bookings and coordinate with receiving agents in Germany where needed.
Germany follows EU-wide rules for the import of dogs, cats, and ferrets from third countries — and New Zealand is classified as a third country for this purpose. To enter Germany legally, your pet must meet all of the following:
Microchip: Your pet must be microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785-compliant chip. If your pet was microchipped before being vaccinated against rabies, the vaccination must be redone after chipping.
Rabies Vaccination: A valid rabies vaccination is required. The vaccine must be administered after microchipping and must be current at the time of travel. New Zealand is not on the EU’s approved rabies-free country list, so this requirement applies to all pets travelling from New Zealand.
EU Animal Health Certificate: An official animal health certificate in the EU format (Annex IV) must be issued by a government-authorised veterinarian within 10 days of travel. In New Zealand, this is issued by an MPI-accredited vet.
Parasite Treatment: Dogs entering Germany must be treated for tapeworm (Echinococcus) between 1 and 5 days before arrival. Treatment must be recorded in the health certificate.
Other Species: Birds, rabbits, rodents, and reptiles are subject to separate import rules and may require CITES permits or additional documentation. Contact PetAeron early if you are travelling with a non-standard species.
PetAeron prepares a full compliance checklist for your specific pet and travel date, coordinates all vet appointments, and ensures no requirement is missed.
