---
title: "Bringing Your Pet to Greece"
country: "Greece"
iso2: "GR"
difficulty: "moderate"
typical_prep_weeks: 4
quarantine_required: false
last_verified_date: "2026-04-19"
canonical_url: "https://pettravelcheck.com/country/greece"
data_url: "https://pettravelcheck.com/country/greece.json"
license: "CC-BY-4.0"
---

# Bringing Your Pet to Greece 🇬🇷

> Verified pet travel requirements for Greece. Last updated 2026-04-19.

## Summary

- **Difficulty:** Moderate
- **Typical prep time:** 4 weeks
- **Quarantine required:** No
- **Typical all-in cost (USD):** $400 – $1000
- **Accepted airports:** ATH, SKG, HER, RHO, CFU

## Requirements by pet type

### Dogs

- **Microchip required:** Yes (ISO 11784/11785)
- **Rabies vaccination:** Required, at least 21 days before travel
  - Primary vaccination requires a 21-day wait (some manufacturers specify 30 — follow the vaccine label). Boosters given on schedule are valid immediately. Lapsed rabies restarts the 21-day clock.
- **Rabies titer test:** Not required
- **Health certificate:** Required (USDA APHIS-endorsed EU Annex IV non-commercial health certificate), issued within 10 days of travel
  - Government endorsement required
- **Minimum age:** 3 months


### Cats

- **Microchip required:** Yes (ISO 11784/11785)
- **Rabies vaccination:** Required, at least 21 days before travel
  - Must remain current.
- **Rabies titer test:** Not required
- **Health certificate:** Required (USDA APHIS-endorsed EU Annex IV health certificate), issued within 10 days of travel
  - Government endorsement required
- **Minimum age:** 3 months


### Ferrets

- **Microchip required:** Yes (ISO 11784/11785)
- **Rabies vaccination:** Required, at least 21 days before travel
  - Must remain current.
- **Rabies titer test:** Not required
- **Health certificate:** Required (USDA APHIS-endorsed EU Annex IV health certificate), issued within 10 days of travel
  - Government endorsement required
- **Minimum age:** 3 months

## Customs process on arrival

Present documents at the veterinary border inspection post at Athens (ATH) or your port of entry. Athens's Eleftherios Venizelos airport has experienced animal border vets. Most arrivals clear within 20-60 minutes. Regional airports (Thessaloniki, Heraklion, Rhodes, Corfu) accept pets but may have more limited hours for animal inspections — arrive during business hours when possible.

## Cost breakdown

| Item | USD range |
|------|-----------|
| Microchip (if not already chipped) | $40 – $80 |
| Rabies vaccination | $20 – $60 |
| USDA-accredited vet exam + EU health certificate | $150 – $400 |
| USDA APHIS endorsement fee | $38 – $173 |
| Airline pet fee (in-cabin or cargo) | $125 – $300 |
| **Typical all-in** | **$400 – $1000** |

## Common mistakes to avoid

- Getting the rabies vaccine before the microchip is implanted. Greek border vets verify the order precisely — microchip first, always.
- Flying during the peak summer heat embargo (June-September). Athens regularly exceeds 38°C/100°F; most airlines suspend brachycephalic cargo and may suspend general pet cargo during heat waves.
- Flying into a small regional airport on a weekend. Some Greek island airports only staff veterinary border inspections during limited hours — arriving Sunday evening can mean waiting until Monday morning.
- Traveling less than 21 days after the first rabies vaccination. Greece enforces the EU rule strictly.
- Not accounting for Greece's summer heat when boarding your pet. Even if your pet flies safely, ground transfers in July-August can be dangerous for pets in crates on hot tarmacs.

## Airline notes

Aegean Airlines is Greece's flag carrier and permits in-cabin pets up to 8 kg including carrier on most routes. United, Delta, Lufthansa, and Air France connect to Athens. There are NO nonstop flights from the US to Greece most of the year — expect a connection in Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Paris, Rome, or London. Summer heat embargoes on cargo pets are real: Aegean and most carriers suspend brachycephalic breed cargo from June through September, and may suspend all pet cargo during extreme heat waves.

## Frequently asked questions

### Does Greece require quarantine?

No. Greece allows dogs, cats, and ferrets from the US to enter without quarantine when paperwork is complete. Standard EU requirements apply: ISO microchip first, then rabies vaccine with a 21-day wait, then a USDA-endorsed health certificate issued within 10 days of travel. Pets with incomplete paperwork may be held at the Athens airport for correction at the owner's expense.

### Are there breed restrictions in Greece?

At the federal level, no. Greece doesn't have a nationwide dangerous dog breed ban like Spain or Germany. Some municipalities may have local muzzle/leash laws for specific breeds, but these are enforced inconsistently. However, Greek rental markets often restrict pets — especially large dogs — so factor that into your housing search before arriving. Greece's animal welfare laws were strengthened in 2021 with mandatory microchipping and stricter anti-abandonment rules.

### When is the worst time to fly pets to Greece?

Mid-June through early September. Athens regularly hits 38°C/100°F and heat waves can reach 45°C/113°F. Airlines impose cargo embargoes on brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, Persian cats) during this window, and sometimes suspend all pet cargo during extreme heat. For summer travel, aim for early morning arrivals or delay until October. Spring (April-May) and fall (September-October) are ideal pet travel windows.

### Should I fly into Athens or a regional airport?

Athens (ATH) for most pet imports. It has the most experienced border veterinary staff, extended hours for animal inspection, and the widest range of airline options. Regional airports — Thessaloniki (SKG), Heraklion on Crete (HER), Rhodes (RHO), Corfu (CFU) — do accept pets but may have limited vet inspection hours, particularly on weekends. If your final destination is an island, flying into Athens and connecting via ferry with your pet is often smoother than a direct island flight.

### Can I take my pet on Greek ferries?

Yes. Most Greek ferries between the mainland and islands accept dogs, cats, and small animals. Small pets in carriers travel in the passenger cabin; larger dogs may be required to stay in designated pet kennels on deck or in the car hold. Fees range from free to €20 depending on the ferry company and route. This is extremely useful if you're relocating to an island — flying your pet to Athens then taking the ferry is cheaper and less stressful than direct flights to regional airports.

### Can I fly in cabin to Athens?

Yes, for small pets. Aegean Airlines (Greece's flag carrier) permits in-cabin pets up to 8 kg including carrier on most routes. Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM (common connection points from the US) also offer in-cabin pet service. US carriers (United, Delta, American) don't fly nonstop to Athens but their codeshare partners do. Expect 1-2 connections; each connection airline's pet policy must be met.

### Is Greece pet-friendly?

Increasingly so. Greek culture has historically been cat-friendly (stray cats are everywhere, especially on islands) and is becoming more dog-friendly as urban pet ownership grows. Athens and Thessaloniki have growing networks of dog parks and pet-friendly cafés. Island life varies — Mykonos and Santorini are welcoming, smaller islands more traditional. Be prepared for a high stray population in some areas. Greece's 2021 animal welfare reforms require microchipping of all owned pets and have strengthened anti-abandonment enforcement.

## Official sources

- [Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food — Pet travel](https://www.minagric.gr/index.php/en/) — last checked 2026-04-19
- [USDA APHIS — Pet Travel to Greece](https://www.aphis.usda.gov/pet-travel/us-to-another-country-export/pet-travel-us-greece) — last checked 2026-04-19
- [EU — Travelling with pets](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/travel/carry/pets-and-other-animals/index_en.htm) — last checked 2026-04-19

---

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