Countries:
Germany
Time to read: Approximately 3 minutes
The Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture is the Animal Quarantine Authority for the entry of dogs to Germany.
There are no separate Assistance Dog Travel Rules for Germany. Follow the Standard (pet) Dog links provided.
Contact the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
Be prepared
- Confirm any specific requirements with all Animal Quarantine Authorities before booking your trip. This includes both entering/leaving any country and all airline/cruise line requirements.
- The Travel Process can take several months so leave plenty of planning time for your trip (except for valid EU Pet Passport travel).
Travel Rules for Standard (pet) Dogs
These links detail the process for Standard (pet) Dogs, which Assistance Dogs must also follow. Visiting these links will open another website.
Bringing all dogs into Germany
The process for bringing all dogs into Germany.
Miscellaneous Information
Extra information that is specific to the region or country.
German Public Access Laws
The law covering the rights and responsibilities of Assistance Dog Handlers in Germany is the Equality Act for People with Disabilities. This law was updated in 2021 to include Section 2b, which is the section pertaining to Assistance Dogs. Under this section, Assistance Dogs that are recognised in Germany can accompany their Handler into facilities typically accessible to the general public, unless access with an Assistance Dog would constitute a disproportionate or unreasonable burden. Failure to comply with this provision constitutes discrimination.
As individual countries each have their own definition of ‘Assistance Dog,’ be sure to confirm whether your Assistance Dog is covered by Germany’s public access law prior to travel. The 2022 Assistance Dog Ordinance (regulations made under the Equality Act) may assist you in doing so, or you may wish to contact the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, which is the responsible authority in relation to the public access law. There is a contact form available on their website linked here.
Note that we have provided links to the German language version of the Equality Act and the Assistance Dog Ordinance. If you have google translate on your browser it should be possible to translate into the language of your choice. We have also provided a link to an unofficial English translation of the Equality Act. Unfortunately it is only available as a pdf so may not be accessible to all.
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