Is Greece a good place to travel or relocate to with dogs and/or cats?

Here are reviews and details to help you see if this country is a good place to travel with your pets.

Official Greek government website on importing pets

Official government website on pets coming from the US to Greece

Entry Requirements from Non-high Rabies Country 

Medical Requirements: 

The anti-rabies vaccination must be valid at the time of travel. You must wait 21 days for travel If the animal is being vaccinated against rabies for the first time or if the previous vaccination is no longer valid.

Documentation Required and how to get it:

You will need a health certificate prepared by a vet from the country of departure.

For pets coming from the US, that certificate has to be endorsed by a USDA Endorsement Office.  Before your pet can enter the European Union, an endorsement must be given by a veterinarian 10 days before its arrival.

If you are coming from the US, ask your veterinarian to give your pet a 1-year rabies vaccination (after scanning the microchip) Doing it this way also makes it easier for the USDA endorsement office to review, which means you get your endorsed certificate back faster.

You only need the EU pet passport if you’re traveling between any EU country. It’s easy, and all the information is listed there. An EU pet passport is recommended for pets that will travel through the EU or will be repeat visitors. For future visits, health certificates can be replaced with the EU passport.

There are some airlines that require a vet’s certificate showing the pet is healthy in order to fly.

Entry Requirements from High Rabies Country

Medical Requirements: 

Have your pet’s blood sample (rabies titration) tested for rabies at an EU-authorized lab three months before you travel (list of rabies testing authorized laboratories on the Europa website). So long as the rabies vaccine is current, the test results will remain valid.

 Documentation Required and how to get it: 

Have a health certificate prepared by a vet from the country of departure. Depending on the country you are arriving from, you may be required to meet specific timelines.

An EU pet passport is recommended for pets that will travel through the EU or will be repeat visitors. Health certificates can be replaced with the EU passport for future visits.

There are some airlines that require a vet’s certificate showing the pet is healthy in order to fly.

Additional Considerations

Microchip Requirements: 

(ISO) standards ISO 11784 and ISO 11785 given before or at the time of the rabies vaccine.

Quarantine Requirements (if any):

NA other than exceptional circumstances

Breed Restrictions:

None listed on the official Greek site, but other non-official sites state the following dogs are banned in Greece: Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, English Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Akita Inu, Fila Brasileiro (Brazilian Mastiff), Tosa Inu

More research needed to verify

Number of pet restrictions:

Up to 5 animals 

Other:

It isn’t required, if you are visiting between May and September, you may want to get the Canileash vaccine to protect against Leishmaniasis. It’s a chronic illness spread by sandflies

Is this country considered high-risk rabies for entry into the US?

No

Is this country considered high rabies for entry into EU countries?

No

Are you flying to Greece?

Read Flying with a Dog Under the Airplane Seat: The Ultimate Guide

Read Flying with a Big Dog: Travel Tips for Ease & Safety

This information was last updated January 2023. If you notice any errors or updates, please let us know by contacting us here.