Bringing Pets To: Greece

Moving a dog or cat from the US to Greece follows the standard EU import process, with two Greece-specific requirements that most guides don't mention. Greece requires a bilingual English/Greek version of the EU health certificate -- the standard English-only form isn't accepted. It also requires the certificate to be typed, not handwritten; arrivals with handwritten certificates are rejected at the point of entry. Beyond the paperwork, Greece has a routing consideration that's easy to overlook: not every Greek airport is an approved entry point for pets arriving from outside the EU, and the mainland vs. island distinction catches people by surprise.

Here's what you need, in the order you need to do it.

Requirement	Details
Microchip	ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit); non-ISO chips (including older AVID formats) require a compatible scanner or second ISO chip
Rabies vaccination	Required; 21-day wait after primary vaccine (some manufacturers: 30 days)
Health certificate	Bilingual EU health certificate (English/Greek), typed — USDA-endorsed
Titer test	Not required from USA
Quarantine	None if documentation is complete
Arrival window	Pet must arrive in Greece within 10 days of USDA endorsement date
Minimum age	15 weeks (12 weeks + 21-day post-vaccine wait)
Maximum pets (non-commercial)	5 animals per owner
Breed restrictions	See below

 

Microchip

Your dog or cat must have an ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchip -- 15-digit, non-encrypted -- implanted before the rabies vaccination. If your pet has a non-ISO chip -- such as an older 9-digit AVID -- you have two options: travel with a compatible scanner that can read it, or have a second ISO-compliant chip implanted before travel. If you go the second chip route, both chip numbers must be listed on the health certificate.

The sequence matters. If your vet administers the rabies vaccine before implanting the microchip, the vaccination doesn't count toward the EU entry requirement -- the 21-day clock resets from the microchip date. Confirm the order before any procedures are done.

Rabies Vaccination

A current rabies vaccination is required, administered by a USDA-accredited veterinarian after the microchip is confirmed. For a primary (first-ever) vaccination, your pet must wait at least 21 days before entering Greece -- some manufacturers specify 30 days, so follow whatever the vaccine label states. Boosters given on schedule are valid immediately with no waiting period.

Your pet must be at least 12 weeks old to receive the vaccine. Combined with the 21-day wait, the practical minimum age for Greece entry is 15 weeks.

EU Health Certificate -- Bilingual and Typed, Both Required

Greece has two certificate requirements beyond the standard EU process, and either one missed means rejection at the border.

Bilingual English/Greek version required. Greece is on APHIS's bilingual certificate list -- the standard English-only EU health certificate is not accepted. Your USDA-accredited vet must request the bilingual version from APHIS before issuing the certificate, by emailing [email protected]. Build this into your timeline; it's an additional step that takes a few days.

Certificate must be typed, not handwritten. Greece requires the certificate to be typed -- handwritten certificates are rejected at the point of entry. The practical solution is to have your vet complete and submit the certificate through VEHCS (the Veterinary Export Health Certification System), which satisfies both the typed requirement and the USDA endorsement process simultaneously.

Timing: For non-commercial moves, your pet must arrive in Greece within 10 days of the USDA endorsement date. Allow 3 to 5 business days for VEHCS processing.

Commercial moves: If neither you nor a designated person travels within five days of your pet, the commercial certificate applies -- issued and pet departing within 48 hours. The 2025 EU commercial certificate is now required; the 2024 version expired January 11, 2026.

Titer Test

No titer test is required for dogs and cats traveling from the USA. The US is on the EU's approved country list.

Travelers from unlisted countries must microchip and vaccinate (vaccine at least 30 days old before blood draw), test at an EU-approved lab, then wait 90 days after a passing blood draw result before completing export paperwork.

No Quarantine

Greece does not require quarantine for dogs and cats from the USA if documentation is complete and correctly sequenced. Pets with errors can be held or refused at the Border Inspection Post.

The Five-Day Rule: Non-Commercial vs. Commercial

Non-commercial: You or a designated person (family member, friend, or authorized representative) travels within five days before or after your pet. Standard EU health certificate applies, 10-day arrival window from endorsement.

Commercial: Neither you nor a designated person travels within five days. Commercial certificate applies -- issued and pet departing within 48 hours. More than five pets also triggers commercial classification regardless of travel dates.

If your timeline has you traveling ahead of your pet or your household goods are shipping separately, work through the five-day window before booking anything.

Breed Restrictions

Sources conflict on Greece's current official position on breed restrictions. If your dog is a breed that has historically faced restrictions in other EU countries, contact us before finalizing your move plan.

Entry Airports and Routing -- Mainland vs. Islands

This is the Greece-specific issue that catches more people off guard than any other, and it's absent from most guides.

Greek mainland: Pets arriving from non-EU countries must enter through an approved Border Inspection Post. The two approved mainland BIPs are Athens (Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport) and Thessaloniki (Macedonia International Airport).

Greek islands: Accompanied pets flying direct to the islands may enter at the following approved airports: Rhodes, Kos, Kalimnos, Mitilini (Lesbos), Mirina (Limnos), Chios, Ermoupolis (Syros), Crete (Iraklio and Chania), and Corfu.

The routing catch: Not every Greek island airport is an approved BIP. If your final destination is an island not on the list above, your pet must route through Athens or Thessaloniki first, clear entry there, then take a domestic connecting flight. Book your itinerary with this in mind -- finding out after booking is expensive to fix.

If you're unsure whether your destination island airport qualifies, contact us before booking.

Airline and Transport Options

For most dogs traveling from the US, the transatlantic leg means cargo or excess baggage. Small dogs and cats may qualify for in-cabin travel if under 8 kg including the carrier.

For the transatlantic leg from the US to Greece, most pets travel as manifest cargo. Athens Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is the primary entry point for cargo arrivals and connects to most major US gateway airports via European hub carriers. Thessaloniki (SKG) accepts pets at the land border inspection post but is less commonly used for US-origin cargo.

For island destinations, your pet will need to clear customs at Athens or Thessaloniki first, then transfer to a domestic Greek flight. Domestic island airports are not Border Inspection Posts and cannot process international arrivals directly. Confirm with your cargo carrier that the routing reflects this sequencing -- pets arriving on a single ticket routed directly to an island airport without an ATH or SKG customs stop will be refused.

Airline cargo policies -- breed embargoes, weight limits, seasonal temperature restrictions, and booking deadlines -- change frequently and without notice. PetRelocation verifies current carrier acceptance policies at the time of booking. Confirm directly with any airline or cargo handler before booking pet transport on a specific route.

Cargo vs. excess baggage: Excess baggage means your pet travels on your flight as oversized luggage -- simpler customs process, generally lower cost. Manifest cargo means your pet ships separately, typically required for larger dogs. Both can qualify as non-commercial if you or a designated person travels within five days.

Island flight capacity: Domestic flights to the Greek islands often operate on smaller aircraft with limited hold capacity. Book pet cargo space early -- island routes fill faster than mainland, especially in summer.

Crate requirements: Your crate must meet IATA Live Animal Regulations standards: rigid construction, sized so your pet can stand, turn, and lie down, secure hardware, ventilation on at least three sides, external food and water containers. Airlines may reject non-compliant crates at check-in.

Seasonal embargoes: Most carriers restrict cargo pet travel when temperatures exceed around 85°F / 29°C. Greece in July and August regularly exceeds this threshold. If your move is between May and September, confirm embargo dates before booking -- and note that Athens is one of the hotter European transit points in summer.

Transit routing: If your flight transits through an EU Member State, no additional transit documentation is needed. If your routing includes a layover in an unlisted third country, a Transit Declaration is required stating your pet had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained within the aircraft or secured airport zone.

Timeline: USA to Greece

3 to 4 months before travel: Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and implanted before the rabies vaccine. If a primary vaccination is needed, schedule it now and note the 21-day (or 30-day) wait. Identify a USDA-accredited vet who uses VEHCS -- this is non-negotiable for Greece, since the certificate must be typed. Confirm your routing: mainland BIP or direct island airport. Book airline cargo space early.

6 to 8 weeks before travel: Email [email protected] to request the bilingual English/Greek health certificate template. Don't leave this until the week before travel.

7 to 10 days before travel: Your vet completes the bilingual EU health certificate via VEHCS and submits for USDA endorsement. Allow 3 to 5 business days. Once endorsed, your pet must arrive in Greece within 10 days.

Common mistakes that cause rejections:

• Microchip implanted after the rabies vaccine -- clock resets

• Vet completes the certificate by hand rather than via VEHCS -- hard rejection at Greek customs

• Using the English-only EU certificate instead of the bilingual Greek version

• Routing direct to an island that isn't an approved BIP

• Leaving the bilingual cert request until the last week

• Island cargo space not booked early enough

How PetRelocation Can Help

We've coordinated moves to both mainland Greece and the islands, including the routing decisions that make or break the timeline.

Complete Support covers everything: USDA-accredited vet coordination, bilingual cert facilitation via [email protected], typed VEHCS submission, APHIS endorsement management, airline cargo booking (including island routing), and customs coordination at the Greek BIP.

Vet Paperwork Support covers the documentation chain -- bilingual certificate, typed VEHCS submission, USDA endorsement -- while you manage airline logistics.

Consultation gives you access to our team to work through your specific routing, timeline, and questions before deciding how to proceed.

Ready to start? Get a free quote from PetRelocation and talk through your Greece move with a relocation manager.