Pet import requirements for Greece

Greece at a glance

The detail

ATH and SKG are on the arrival list for pets heading to Greece. Greece is part of the EU union there are 4 countries that borders Greece which are Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia and Turkey. Minimum - 12 Weeks to receive the rabies vaccine and after 21 days has passed may be imported from other EU member states.

Import requirements

Minimum - 12 Weeks to receive the rabies vaccine and after 21 days has passed may be imported from other EU member states

Requirements from EU-countries:

• Pet passport
• Identification (ISO compatible)
• Valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to entry into Greece
• Health certificate issued within 10 days if owner is not travelling within 5 days of the pet.

Requirements from low-risk rabies countries:

• Identification
• Microchip (ISO compatible)
• Must be implanted on the same day or prior to the rabies vaccination.
• EU health certificate

• Government endorsed –valid for 10 days.
• Valid rabies vaccination

• At least 21 days prior to entry into Greece
• Health certificate

• Issued within 10 days of travel.

Additional requirements from counties with urban rabies:

• Rabies blood test
• At least 30 days after rabies vaccination. At least three months must elapse between the blood test and entry into the country.

According to EU Standard.

Standard procedure, customs will charge 24% VAT.

https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/eu-legislation/non-eu-imports_en

If coming from a country at war you can ask for special permission to enter without following all the requirements

Identification and microchip

Microchip (ISO compatible) required & must be implanted prior to the rabies vaccination.

Rabies and vaccinations

The rabies vaccination and re-vaccination shall take place in accordance with Annex III of Reg. (EC) 576/2013.

According to EU standard

Tests and treatments

From high risk countries:

Must have undergone a Rabies antibody titration test at least 30 days after the date of the rabies vaccination and not less than three months before the date of import.

The rabies antibody titration test is carried out on a blood sample taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and performed in an approved laboratory.

The level of neutralizing antibody to rabies virus in serum must be equal to or greater than 0,5 IU/ml.

Greece does not require in ternal or external parasite treatments

Health certificate and permits

Health Certificate and Declaration - dogs, cats, and ferrets must be accompanied by:

• an animal health certificate (courtesy translations) - see model in Part 1 of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013
• completed and issued by an of ficial veterinarian, or by an authorized veterinarian and subsequently endorsed by the competent authority
• documenting the alpha-numeric code displayed by the transponder or the tattoo, the details of vaccination against rabies, the details of the blood sampling, and where applicable, the details of the treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis
• valid for 10 days from the date of issue by the of ficial veterinarian until the date of the documentary and identity checks at the traveler’s points of entry designated by Member States. In the case of a transport by sea, that period of 10 days is extended by an additional period corresponding to the duration of the journey by sea. For the purpose of further movements into other Member States the certificate is valid from the date of the documentary and identity checks for a total of four months or until the date of expiry of the anti-rabies vaccination or until the conditions relating to animals less than 16 weeks old cease to apply, whichever date is earlier.
• a written declaration completed by the owner or an authorized person (see model in Part 3 of Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013) regarding the non-commercial nature of the movement and attesting, where appropriate, the carriage of the animal under the responsibility of an authorized person within up to five days of the movement of the owner.

Regarding the animal health certificate - The movement into an EU country from a territory or a third country of a pet animal (dog, cat or ferret) accompanied by a passport shall be authorized.

• if issued in one of the territory or third country listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013
• if completed and issued by an authorized veterinarian before leaving the Union.

Regarding the passage through a travelers’ point of entry:

• Pet animals entering an EU country from a territory or a third country listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 are not required to pass through a travelers’ point of entry.
• EU countries may authorize registered military or search-and-rescue dogs to move through a point of entry other than a traveler’s point of entry.

Only for CITES Import permits can take 6-12 months to be issued

Quarantine

No quarantine facilites available.

Restrictions and banned breeds

No breed restrictions

Customs, agents, and airports

Not Required but Highly Recommended

ELEFTHERIOS VENIZELOS AIRPORT ATHENS ATH LGAV

Best Airport: ATH

Airports listed on this destination file: ATH, SKG.

Pets entry by cargo, the pets are taken to the AVI room where they wait in their crates till the vet checks if applicable and customs clearance is completed

Vets and customs work 09.00-17.00 Mon-Fri other times and weekends must be pre arranged by appointment

Pets may enter in cabin or as baggage

Export notes

The movement of animals from Greece to non-EU countries is subject to the national provisions of each third country.

Movements from Greece to other Member States or EEA (European Economic Area):

BIP of ficial veterinarians shall provide assistance and deal with in fringements referred to them by other authorities and bodies, regarding the non-commercial movement of pet animals.

CONTAINER REQUIREMENTS ARE EAXACTLY AS STATED IN THE LAR IF THEY ARE NOT EXACTLY TO THESE REQUIREMNETS THEY WILL BE REJECTED AT CHECK IN

Other pets / CITES / extra rules

Same as EU, Import permits can take 6-12 months to be issued

There are restrictions on animals not considered as pets depending on the species

Desexing microchip and vaccine registration Law 4830/2021

Official contacts

Ministry of Agriculture

Hellenic Republic

Ministry of Rural Development and Food

General Directorate of Veterinary Services

6 Kapnokoptiriou str.

Athens, 10433

Tel: +30 210 212-5753

Head: T. Alexandropoulos

Email: ka6u040@minagric.gr

Website

That supervises the following directorates:

Animals' Health Directorate

Tel: +30 210 212-5714

Head:

Email: ka6u026@minagric.gr

Directorate of Veterinary Public Health

Tel: +30 210 212-5759

Head: P. Triantafyllou

Email: npapadakis@minagric.gr

Directorate of Veterinary Perception, Medication & Applications

Tel: +30 210 212-5737

Head: C. Dile - Kostopoulou

Email: ka6u072@minagric.gr

Directorate of Veterinary Inspectorate and Control

Tel: +30 210 212-5752

Head: T. Alexandropoulos

Email: ka6u066@minagric.gr

Directorate of Forest Coordination & Inspection

Mesogeion 239 & Paritsi 145,

154 51, N. Psychiko Greece

e-mail: epitheorisi_dason@attica.gr

Current as of June 2024

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2025-08-25.

Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.

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