Pet Transport from Germany to China
Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities. How we source our data →
Germany to China is one of the most logistically demanding pet moves in the world. China’s GACC requires a 180-day pre-travel wait after the titre test, a mandatory 30-day quarantine for dogs on arrival, and restricts entry to one pet per person per year. Excellent direct Lufthansa cargo from Frankfurt doesn’t make the regulatory complexity any simpler, but it does make the logistics cleaner once the process is complete.
Allow 36-44 weeks and engage an experienced agent early.
The Germany to China process
Responsible: German vet
Responsible: German vet
Responsible: German vet + GACC-approved lab
Responsible: N/A
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: You or agent
Responsible: DENV-authorised vet + German authority
Responsible: GACC quarantine facility
China: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required (ISO 15-digit). Before any vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. At least 30 days before travel. Within 12 months of travel. |
| Rabies titre test | Required for most countries including Germany. FAVN at GACC-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn 30+ days after vaccination. 180-day wait from blood draw date before entry into China. |
| Quarantine | Mandatory. Dogs: 30 days at GACC-approved quarantine facility in China. Cats: 7 days if from approved countries. Germany may qualify for reduced cat quarantine, confirm with GACC. |
| Import permit | Required. Import declaration at customs. One dog or cat per person per year. |
| Health certificate | German competent authority-endorsed certificate in GACC format. Within 10 days of travel. |
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit for personal pets from Germany. |
| Health certificate | Official health certificate from DENV-authorised vet, endorsed by German competent authority, in GACC format. Issued within 10 days of travel. |
What this route typically costs
| 1 | Lufthansa or Air China Cargo fees FRA to Chinese city |
| 2 | IATA-compliant crate |
| 3 | FAVN titre test at GACC-approved lab |
| 4 | German competent authority endorsement fees |
| 5 | 30-day GACC quarantine fees (dogs, owner pays) |
| 6 | Import customs duties |
| 7 | Agent fee (strongly recommended) |
Read before you book
Airlines on this route
The GACC protocol: what Germany triggers
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO 15-digit, before any vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | 30+ days before titre test, within 12 months of travel |
| Titre test | FAVN, GACC-approved lab, 0.5+ IU/ml, 30+ days post-vaccination |
| Post-titre wait | 180 days from blood draw. No exceptions. |
| Dog quarantine on arrival | 30 days at GACC facility, owner pays |
| Cat quarantine | 7 days if approved: confirm for Germany |
| Import limit | One dog or cat per person per year |
| Entry airports | GACC-approved list only |
| Health certificate | German authority-endorsed GACC format, within 10 days |
| Total preparation | 36-44 weeks |
Source: GACC China. Verify at gacc.gov.cn before starting process.
Lufthansa from Frankfurt: the direct route
Lufthansa Cargo operates direct Frankfurt to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou services. As one of Europe’s most established cargo carriers on the China corridor, their Frankfurt operation handles GACC-bound documentation regularly. For German-origin China moves, Lufthansa is the natural first-choice airline.
Air China, China Eastern, and China Southern all operate direct or connecting cargo from Frankfurt and Munich to their respective hub cities. As Chinese carriers, their cargo teams at Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou have deep GACC customs familiarity on the arrival end.
Your entry airport must be on GACC’s approved live animal import list. Confirm the specific airport before booking cargo, not every Chinese airport accepts live animals at customs.
The one-per-person rule and multi-pet households
China’s customs regulations permit one dog or one cat per passport holder per year. A family of four can theoretically import four pets, but each individual must be listed as the importer for their specific animal. In practice, this requires careful documentation and clear assignment of each pet to a family member.
If you have two dogs and two adults in the household, the process is manageable with the right documentation. If you have three dogs, you have a genuine problem that requires consultation with an experienced China-specialist agent.
Common questions
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