🐕 Travelling with children and animals
In brief
Children need their own travel document when crossing a border. The child passport (Kinderreisepass) was abolished on 1 January 2024. An entry in a parent's passport has no longer been valid since 26 June 2012.
- For travel to EU states, the child's ID card is enough.
- If a child travels without parents, the Auswärtiges Amt recommends an informal consent declaration and a copy of the ID data page of the persons with custody.
Dogs, cats, ferrets need a pet passport in the EU, identification by microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. On entry from non-EU countries, an animal health certificate is required (at most 10 days old on entry).
Step by step
- Documents for childrenCheck the validity of the child's passport or ID card.
- Provide consentFor travel without a person with custody: declaration with a copy of ID.
- Prepare the animalClarify microchip, rabies vaccination and pet passport with the vet in good time.
- Check destination rulesSome countries require additional treatments.
Deadlines
- For dogs in Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland, tapeworm treatment 24 to 120 hours before arrival is mandatory.
- The EU pet rules apply under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 (since 22 April 2026); new EU animal health certificates from 1 October 2026, updated pet passports from 1 January 2028.
- Entry from non-EU countries: declaration to customs and document check.
- Carriage rules of the airline or ferry for animals: not checked.
In depth · legal basis, figures and practice – for advisers and professionals
Children
According to the Auswärtiges Amt, minor children must present a valid passport when crossing a border; the ID card is sufficient for travel to the EU, Norway, Iceland, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Turkey. The child passport (Kinderreisepass) was abolished on 1 January 2024; those issued earlier remain valid until the printed date. Child entries in a parent's passport have been invalid since 26 June 2012. For travel without a person with custody, an informal consent declaration with a copy of ID is advisable (a recommendation, not an obligation according to the source).
Animals
According to Your Europe, dogs, cats and ferrets need an EU pet passport for travel within the EU, an animal health certificate if they originate from outside the EU, and also a microchip (or a legible tattoo from before July 2011) and a rabies vaccination. Zoll online: when imported from non-EU countries, the animal must be declared; a document check and identity check take place.
The EU pet rules under Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 apply (since 22 April 2026). New EU animal health certificates apply from 1 October 2026, updated pet passports from 1 January 2028. The animal health certificate may be at most 10 days old on entry. Tapeworm treatment concerns only dogs (24 to 120 hours before arrival) entering Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland.
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