Germany → Mainland China: travel preparation checklist

1. Map out the journey and the companion

Write down the complete itineraryRecord cities, airports, dates and connections for Germany → Mainland China. Distinguish the first entry point from the final destination.Identify the companion and travel datesIdentify the owner and any authorised companion. For non-commercial movements involving the EU, check the authorisation and that the owner travels within five days before or after the animal.Collect identification and existing recordsGather identification, vaccinations, passport and veterinary history. Check microchip readability and consistent details across the travel documents.

2. Coordinate the health documents

Determine the entry requirementsPlan for one dog or cat per person per entry into mainland China. Confirm the microchip, official certificate and GACC pathway according to origin, vaccinations, laboratory and possible quarantine exemption. Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan are separate cases.Arrange the departure-country formalitiesAsk your vet and the competent Veterinäramt about the destination certificate, endorsement and appointment. Confirm the document requirements before booking the official visit.Schedule appointments in the right orderHave vaccinations, sampling date, GACC-accepted laboratory, report validity and clinical examination checked for your pathway. Keep these deadlines separate from EU-return testing; a quarantine exemption is not guaranteed.

3. Confirm the flight, carrier and arrival

Obtain pet acceptance on every flightConfirm the animal’s place, PETC or accompanied AVIH option, aircraft, breed, weight and connections with every operating airline. The passenger booking does not confirm pet acceptance.Check carrier dimensions and preparationMeasure the animal and carrier, weigh them together and compare with the airline’s accepted conditions. Prepare ventilation, secure closure, absorbent lining and gradual familiarisation.Plan the checks and onward transferConfirm the port with GACC before finalising the flight. If quarantine is required, check authorised facilities; a favourable report does not automatically permit entry at any airport.

4. Review the folder before departure

Pack originals and accessible copiesUse this page’s document folder. Keep required originals, copies, airline confirmations and arrival contacts together.Cross-check the whole fileCompare microchip number, names, vaccinations, sampling dates, certificates and flights. Resolve discrepancies with the document issuer before travelling.Prepare the next journey tooOpen the reverse route Mainland China → Germany and review its conditions separately. Do not assume that the outbound permit or certificate covers the return.

Build your document folder

Keep the required originals and accessible copies together. This folder is for Germany → Mainland China; connections and the animal’s history can add conditions.

Traveller identification and companion authorisation where needed.
Animal identification, vaccinations and veterinary history.
Departure certificate and official endorsement applicable to the departure country.
Official certificate, vaccinations and GACC-accepted laboratory report as applicable; port and quarantine arrangements.
Pet acceptance on every flight and carrier details.
Itinerary, arrival contacts and preparation for the next journey.

Official instructions to open while planning

Shanghai Government / Customs · Bringing a pet to China · Source language: EN
Bayern · Reisen mit Heimtieren · Source language: DE
Landkreis München · Reise und Veterinäramt · Source language: DE