USA to Greece
Pet Shipping from the USA to Greece
We provide international pet transport from the USA to Greece, planned around its import rules, the season and your move date.
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.
- Airline booking
- The travel crate
- The export and import paperwork
- Check-in at your US airport
- Pickup in Greece with delivery to your new address
Greece at a glance
Full requirementsEU law has a pet’s health certificate drawn up in English and in a language of the EU country it enters through, so a pet landing first in Athens travels on an English and Greek certificate, and one connecting in Frankfurt on an English and German one.
- Microchip
- ISO microchip, fitted before the rabies vaccination
- Rabies vaccination
- Valid, with at least a 21 day wait before travel
- Rabies titer
- Not required. The United States is on Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636
- Health certificate
- English and a language of the EU country of entry, Greek for a pet entering in Greece. Completed in block letters. USDA endorses it no more than 10 days before the pet reaches the EU
- How to request it
- Your USDA-accredited veterinarian issues it and APHIS endorses it
Pet Shipping from the USA to Greece
Greece is one of the more welcoming EU destinations for pets from the United States. As an EU member state, it follows the standard European pet import framework: ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination, and an EU-format health certificate endorsed by the USDA. There is no quarantine period, no rabies titer test requirement, and no breed-specific import ban. Your USDA-accredited veterinarian prepares the certificate, in English and the language of the routing’s first EU stop, and APHIS (the USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service) endorses it.
If you are still in the early stages of planning your international move, our overview of how international pet shipping works walks through the general process. For pets returning to the US after time abroad, our United States import guide covers re-entry requirements.
We coordinate the full process for you. That includes:
- confirming Greece’s current import requirements and the certificate language your routing calls for
- scheduling and sequencing vet visits so every document falls within its validity window
- booking compliant flights and selecting the right crate for your pet’s size and route
- preparing you for customs clearance and veterinary inspection at the Greek port of entry
confirming Greece’s current import requirements and the certificate language your routing calls for
Approved Routes and Entry into Greece
Greece’s list of entry points, published by the European Commission and read October 29, 2026, puts border inspection posts at Athens International Airport (ATH) and Thessaloniki’s Macedonia airport (SKG), and also names island airports, among them Rhodes, Kos, Heraklion and Chania on Crete, and Corfu. Which of them a flight can carry a pet to depends on the airline.
- Direct flights from JFK and Newark to Athens run daily on multiple carriers, making the East Coast the simplest departure point for cargo shipments.
- From the Midwest and West Coast, connecting routes through Frankfurt (FRA) or Munich (MUC) offer reliable options with pet-friendly transfer procedures.
- Airlines restrict live animal cargo during summer heat. Lufthansa suspends pet cargo from June 1 through August 31, and other carriers set embargoes between May and September when ground temperatures exceed safe thresholds. Plan around these windows early.
Route details: USA to Greece
- Route
- USA to Greece
- Arrival airports
- Athens or Thessaloniki airport inspection posts, or island airports Greece lists to the EU, e.g. Rhodes, Kos, Heraklion, Chania, Corfu
- How the pet flies
- With the owner (cabin or hold, same flight) or an authorized person within 5 days of the owner’s trip, up to 5 pets. Otherwise commercial
- Advance notice
- With the owner: report to the officials at the point of entry on arrival. Commercial: one working day’s notice to the border control post
- Health certificate
- EU certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, valid 30 days from issue (APHIS); USDA endorses it in ink within 10 days of arrival in the EU
- Quarantine on arrival
- Papers and identity are checked at the point of entry; a pet refused entry is held in isolation at the post until it goes back, Greece’s list says
- Time to get ready
- At least 21 days: microchip, then rabies shot at 12 weeks or older, then the 21-day wait; the EU lists the USA as needing no titer test
Work out your pet’s dates for this route
From official sources, read October 29, 2026: European Commission, Travellers’ points of entry; European Commission, Travellers’ points of entry: Greece’s list, PDF; European Commission, Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country; European Commission, Dogs, cats and ferrets: FAQs; USDA APHIS, Pet Travel From the United States to Greece; European Commission, Entry into the EU; USDA APHIS, Model Animal Health Certificate for Non-Commercial Movements of Pet Dogs, Pet Cats or Pet Ferrets into a Member State 2026/131 Article 18), United States; European Commission, Listing of territories and non-EU countries.
What are the entry requirements for pets going to Greece?
The short answer
From the United States, APHIS says a dog, cat or ferret needs a working microchip before its rabies vaccination, a wait of at least 21 days after a first dose, and the EU health certificate, which USDA must endorse within 10 days of the pet’s arrival in the EU.
Import Eligibility for Pets
Greece is an EU member state and follows EU Regulation 2026/131 for non-commercial pet movement. The United States is listed on Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 (the EU’s approved-country list), which means pets arriving from the US do not need a rabies titer test and are not subject to quarantine. Your pet needs an ISO-standard microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a current rabies vaccination with at least 21 days elapsed since the primary dose, and a completed EU health certificate. Greece has no breed-specific import restrictions under Law 4830/2021, which uses a behavior-based approach. You may bring up to five pets for non-commercial travel.
Before scheduling vet steps or flights, we confirm what rules apply to your pet and whether airline restrictions (breed, size, or heat embargo) affect your route. Request a quote to get started.
Health Preparation and Documentation
EU law has the certificate drawn up in English and in at least one official language of the EU country of entry, and completed in block letters. A pet entering the EU in Greece needs English and Greek, and one connecting in Frankfurt carries English and German. The APHIS endorsement fee is $101 per certificate. Your pet must also arrive within 10 days of the endorsement date. A pet entering the EU on the non-commercial certificate travels with its owner or with a person the owner authorizes, and the European Commission, read October 29, 2026, has the owner travel within 5 days before or after the pet; a pet outside those terms goes on the commercial certificate.
| Requirement | Greece, from the United States |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO microchip, fitted before the rabies vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | Valid, with at least a 21 day wait before travel |
| Rabies titer | Not required. The United States is on Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 |
| Health certificate | English and a language of the EU country of entry, Greek for a pet entering in Greece. Completed in block letters. USDA endorses it no more than 10 days before the pet reaches the EU |
| How to request it | Your USDA-accredited veterinarian issues it and APHIS endorses it |
| Quarantine | None for a correctly prepared dog or cat |
We keep your checklist aligned with the official rules. For the US export side, we follow USDA APHIS guidance for US to Greece travel. For EU entry rules, we reference the European Commission guidance on moving pets.
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Greece
Start three to four months before your move date. The fixed dates come late: APHIS says the certificate is valid for 30 days after your veterinarian issues it, and USDA has to endorse it within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU, so every earlier step must be locked in well ahead of time.
For a line by line breakdown of what this move costs, from freight to the USDA endorsement fee, see our USA to Greece pet shipping cost page.
Moving to Turkey instead? Our Turkey page covers a route built on a 3 month rabies titer clock.
Every Pet Travels
Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
Because timelines, airline rules, and Greece’s entry requirements can vary, we build a plan that fits your pet, your route, and your schedule. No two moves look the same.
Destination-Focused Planning
Every EU health certificate pairs English with the language of the EU country a pet enters through, which on a connecting routing is not Greece. Planning starts by settling the routing and the certificate language that goes with it, so there are no surprises at the airport. Your plan is built around Greece’s rules from day one.
Smart Routing and Logistics
Direct flights from JFK and Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) run year-round, and connecting routes through Frankfurt or Munich can reach Thessaloniki (SKG) and approved island airports. We evaluate every routing option against airline pet policies, seasonal cargo restrictions, and your travel date to find the safest, most practical path.
Personalized Support
One coordinator handles your file from the first call through arrival in Greece. They track vet appointments, document timelines, and airline booking windows so you always know what is happening and what comes next.
Questions about moving a pet to Greece
Request a QuoteWhat does it cost to ship a pet from the USA to Greece?
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
Does Greece require a rabies titer test for pets from the US?
No. The United States is on the EU’s Annex II approved-country list, so Greece does not require a rabies titer test for pets arriving from the US. You do need a current rabies vaccination with at least 21 days elapsed since the primary dose, and the vaccination must be given after the microchip is implanted. This is one of the things that makes Greece simpler than destinations like Japan or Australia, which require titer testing months in advance.
Does my pet need quarantine in Greece?
No. Greece does not quarantine pets arriving from the United States as long as the import documentation is complete and valid. Your pet clears a veterinary border inspection at the airport, and assuming the microchip, vaccination records, and bilingual health certificate all match, they are released to you once that check is done.
Can my pet fly to a Greek island directly?
It depends on the island and the airline. Greece lists several island airports to the EU as entry points for pets, but whether a flight can carry a pet there is up to the airline. Where none does, a pet can enter through Athens (ATH) and then connect to the island via a short domestic flight or ferry. We check the specific island’s airport status and available carriers when we build your routing plan.
How can Pet Travel Advisors help with a USA to Greece move?
We handle the full process from your first call through arrival at the Greek airport. That means confirming current requirements and the language your routing needs, timing your vet visits around the certificate’s 30 day validity and the 10 day endorsement window, selecting a compliant crate and flight, and preparing you for the border inspection. One coordinator manages your file the entire way. Request a quote to get started with a plan built around your move date.
Ready to start?
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.