FAQ animals

Plan your trip with your pet well in advance so that necessary tests can still be carried out by your trusted veterinarian.

Travel within the EU member states:

A uniform EU pet passport must be carried for each animal. The document can be issued by any veterinarian in private practice who has the appropriate authorization from the veterinary office. The pass contains information about the state of health of your animal as well as proof that your animal has been vaccinated against rabies.

You can find more information on the applicable regulations for travel within the EU on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.  This is always up-to-date, complete and binding. There are no exceptions, not even for war refugees, politicians, diplomats, VIPs, military personnel.

Travel to third countries and/or return/entry into an EU member state:

Depending on where you are travelling with your pet and how long you are staying, you may need to present additional documents for the EU pet passport, e.g. a rabies antibody test, for the return journey or the first entry.    

Further information on the applicable EU entry regulations can be found on the website of the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture.  This is always up-to-date, complete and binding. There are no exceptions, not even for war refugees, politicians, diplomats, VIPs, military personnel or the like.

Transit through the EU

Since 2022, all animals must comply with the import regulations into the EU (see above), even if they only transit through the EU and do not even leave the transit area. This is checked on a random basis.

Leaving the EU without re-entry

You do not need any documents to simply leave the EU. You don't have to declare it to customs or the like. To find out which documents you need to enter a third country, please contact the local authorities. Please understand that we do not have an overview of all entry requirements for each animal species into all countries of the world and therefore we do not provide any information on this.

No, neither the airport operator, customs, nor the veterinary border control office check your pet's documents in advance. You, as the pet owner, are solely responsible for ensuring that all vaccinations and documents comply with European Union regulations. This applies to arrivals, departures and transits.

No, you only need to coordinate this with your airline in advance. Neither the airport operator, customs, nor the veterinary border control office at Frankfurt Airport need to be informed in advance. This applies to arrivals, departures and transits.

If your pet travels as excess baggage, please proceed to the designated bulky baggage counter of your airline about two hours before departure. There you can also drop off your regular luggage. If you need assistance to find the bulky baggage counter, please go to the Service Point in the Terminal or contact your airline.

If your pet travels with you in the cabin, please go to the regular check-in counter that is designated for your flight.

It will be checked if your pet has all required documents and a suitable container.   Further information can be found here.

An online check-in is not possible with pets. After check-in there is no possibility to go for a walk with your pet. There is no designated pet relieve area at Frankfurt Airport.

Dogs and cats weighing up to 6 kg may be carried in the cabin in a suitable container with the permission of the airline. Certain animals, such as birds or rodents, are not accepted by many airlines as travel companions in the cabin; they must be transported in the cargo area of the aircraft.

Please note that the applicable maximum weights and dimensions of the respective airline must not be exceeded for the transport box. Depending on the type of aircraft, very large transport containers may not be able to be loaded.

Please contact your airline exclusively and at an early stage regarding these topics.

If the animal is transported in the cargo hold of the aircraft, sturdy wooden or plastic boxes are required for loading, which must be equipped with a water bowl and absorbent material. This transport box must be provided by the pet owner. The transport box must be well ventilated, escape-proof and leak-proof. The animal must be able to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in a natural position in the transport box. Depending on the type of the aircraft, very large transport containers may not be able to be loaded.

Attention: If the transport box does not meet the requirements, it is possible that the animal will not fly with you, even if you have already checked it in.

Please contact your airline exclusively and at an early stage regarding these topics.

If the transport box does not meet the requirements, the animal may not fly. It may not even be checked in. It can also happen that the airline checks in the animal and defects are discovered during a later inspection before loading. In these cases, we are obliged to refuse a flight or ground transport.  

The size of the transport box

The animal must be able to stand, lie, sit and turn around in a natural posture in it. Some airlines have stricter criteria. Please contact your airline.

The material of the transport box

The transport box must be stable and safe so that the animal cannot free itself from it. Most of the boxes are made of sturdy, non-toxic plastic material or wood. Raffia baskets, cardboard boxes or cages are not permitted. Some airlines have special requirements when transporting certain breeds of dogs. Please contact your airline.

Equipment of the transport box

The transport box must be lined with absorbent material and equipped with a water bowl. Absorbent material can be a suction mat, old towels from home, old T-shirts or even newspapers. It smells like home and calms down your pet.

Water bowls must be made of harmless, non-toxic material and must be firmly attached to the door and be fillable from the outside. Water teat bottles are not permitted as the only source of water. You do not have to offer food to the animal during the trip. You can do it if you want to.

Check that there are no sharp-edged corners or nails protruding in the inner part of the box. The animal could injure itself from it.

Any rollers on the transport boxes must be removed and stowed in your own luggage.

Ventilation of the transport box

The transport box must be adequately ventilated from three sides. Make sure that no paw can get caught in the door grille. The animal can injure itself from it. If necessary, cover up with a finer wire mesh.    

Leashes, harnesses or spiked collars

The leash does not belong in the transport box, but in your own luggage. On a leash or harness the animal may strangle itself in the transport box. Normal, body-hugging collars are allowed, but some airlines do not allow that either. Spiny collars are not permitted.

Use of sedatives

The use of sedatives can have fatal consequences for your animal and is only permitted under veterinary supervision under EU law. Therefore, refrain from using sedatives. A slow acclimatization to the transport box and familiar smells (e.g., old towels as absorbent material) take away the fear.  

Other medications

If your pet needs medication on a regular basis (e.g., diabetes, thyroid problems, epilepsy), write this down and attached it to the transport box with the following information:

• Drug name (trade name)
• Dosage and route of administration
• Time of last administration
• Timing of scheduled next administration
  

It is best to buy the transport box early from a specialist retailer and get your pet used to it. So on the day of the flight, the "box" is no longer foreign and it travels more calmly.

All three baggage storages offer pet transport boxes for sale in sizes L and XXL. You can find their opening hours and locations here.

The "Flughafen-Gepäck-Services" (FGS) also offers transport boxes in various sizes. Further information on opening hours and location can be found here.

There are also specialist dealers who deliver boxes to the airport at short notice.

If your pet is traveling as excess baggage, meaning in the cargo hold of the aircraft, the security check of the pet cannel is carried out by specialized staff during the check-in process. If you are taking your pet with you in the cabin, you and your pet will go through the regular security check in front of the gates. There, your pet will also be checked in a special room behind the security checkpoint in your presence.

If your pet travels as excess baggage and the transit stay at Frankfurt Airport is less than 3 hours, it will be placed in its transport box in a special room for animals. We make a superficial visual inspection of the animal as well as the transport box and whether there is enough water, which we refill if necessary. We can't take it out of the box or let it run free. It is not possible for you to visit the animal. We are also unable to provide any information about the condition of your pet during this time. Please refrain from making such inquiries. For transit times of more than 3 hours , we will take it to the Animal Lounge (operated by Lufthansa Cargo) for professional care.

In both cases, they don't need to worry about it. We automatically redirect your pet to the connecting flight. The costs for temporary care are already included in your travel price. Unfortunately, in the case of cargo transit, there is no possibility to visit your animal. In case of a transit of more than 3 hours, you an book a premium service through your airline. You will then be sent an up-to-date photo of your pet during your stay in the Animal Lounge.

If your pet travels with you in the cabin, you can take it with you to the passenger transit area and reach the connecting flight by yourself.

Attention: Since January 15, 2022, even animals that are only transiting through the European Union must also meet the health requirements and have the appropriate documents that apply to an entry. This is checked on a random basis.

This is only relevant for animals that travel with you in the cabin.

Unfortunately, there are no designated pet relieve areas in the transit areas of Frankfurt Airport. Please have suitable materials with you to clean up your pet's droppings. Please keep your pet on a leash and do not let it run free in the transit area. If the transport box needs to be cleaned, please do so in the toilets.

All animals that travel as excess baggage (i.e., handed over at the airline's check-in counter) will receive a baggage tag upon departure. These animals are handed out in Frankfurt in the respective arrivals terminal after unloading from the aircraft, where you also get your luggage (bulky luggage area).

When leaving the baggage area, you are obliged to walk through the red aisle at customs with your pet (no matter if excess baggage or pet in cabin). The customs officers will then check your pet's documents and microchip at the exit. If there is something wrong with the papers, the animal will be taken to the Animal Lounge  for further inspection by the state veterinarians. There you can pick up your animal afterwards.

If the animal is not eligible for an import into the EU, it will be returned to its country of origin on the next flight. "Emotional Support Pets" are also subject to the same entry requirements as other dogs, cats and ferrets. There are no exceptions, not even for war refugees, politicians, diplomats, VIPs, military personnel or the like.

Animals that are transported alone as cargo (possibly in conjunction with a freight forwarder) and transported under an air waybill (11-digit bill of lading number e.g. 123-1234 5670) must be picked up at the Animal Lounge.

Depending on the airline, you may first have to pick up the documents from the airline at the cargo office. Please keep in mind that veterinary and customs clearance must be completed before you can pick up your pet at the Animal Lounge. There are costs here and you have to plan time accordingly (one to two hours).

If you don't fly yourself, you need a freight forwarder to import or export an animal. He makes the booking and creates an airway bill.

Appropriate handling agents could be:

Pet-Air GmbH

Phone +49 69 690 71915 or 71916

www.petair.de

Gradlyn Kennels

Phone +49 69 690 50081

www.petshipping.com

Animal Logistics

Phone +49 6107 4077 921

www.animallogistics.net

The customs and veterinary clearance in Frankfurt can theoretically be done by yourself. However, it is time-consuming and you have to be mobile, because the path leads around the airport. The freight forwarders can also take care of this (costs approximately € 100.00).

Upon arrival, your pet will be taken to the Animal Lounge. There you can pick up your animal.

Please keep in mind that the dog center is NOT used for animals that are in transit through Frankfurt.

At the dog center, you can drop off your dog and have it looked after for the duration of your holiday trip. Please book this there well in advance.

Contact:

E-mail: info@hundezentrum-fra.de

Phone: +49 160 90834225

Have you read all the FAQ and your questions are not answered yet?  

For general questions about the handling of animals at Frankfurt Airport, please contact Fraport Wildlife & Animal Services.

E-mail:
avi-services@fraport.de

For questions on the legal status of the import, export or transit of animals please contact the Veterinary Border Inspection Post at Frankfurt Airport

E-mail: poststelle.tgsh@lhl.hessen.de