Pet travel to Greece is subject to the rules of the European Union Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), making travelling with a pet dog or cat to Greece from another European Union (EU) country very simple. No need to panic if you reside in a non-EU country as the requirements for entering Greece with a pet dog, cat or ferret are clearly stipulated for countries outside the European Union too. So if you’re taking your dog on a Greek adventure soon, or relocating to Greece with your cat, here’s the information you need for importing a pet to Greece.
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Table of contents
- Pet travel to Greece from another EU country
- Taking pet cats and dogs to Greece from a non-EU country
- Travelling to Greece with more than 5 pets
- Pet-Friendly travel options to Greece by plane, train & ferry
- Travelling from the United Kingdom to Greece with a pet
- Pets travelling without their owner
- Related Pages
Pet travel to Greece from another EU country
In order to travel from another EU member state to Greece, your cat, dog or ferret must have:
- A working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- a valid EU issued Pet Passport
Taking pet cats and dogs to Greece from a non-EU country
With a few exceptions, your pet dog or cat can travel with you to pet import italy travelling to Greece with a dog taking pet cats and dogs to Greece from a non-EU country if they have:
- A working Microchip (in line with the technical requirements of Annex II of the EU Regulation on the movement of pets), or has a clearly readable tattoo if applied before 3 July 2011
- been vaccinated against Rabies
- Animal Health Certificate, or a Pet Passport that was issued by an EU member state
You can also use a Pet Passport issued in one of the following countries to travel to pet import italy travelling to italy with a dog taking pet cats and dogs to Greece:
- Andorra
- Switzerland
- Faroe Islands
- Gibraltar
- Greenland
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Monaco
- Norway
- San Marino
- Vatican City State
Travelling to Greece with more than 5 pets
Under the rules of the EU Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), you can enter Greece with up to 5 pets as long as each pet meets the stated requirements for travel. If you are travelling to Italy with more than five pets (dogs, cats or ferrets) you must provide proof that:
- they are participating in a competition, exhibition or sporting event (by providing for example a registration document) and
- they are more than 6 months old
Pet-Friendly travel options to Greece by plane, train & ferry
Available options for travel to Greece with a cat, dog or ferret depend on your country of origin. However, you’ll be pleased to know that pet transport methods to Greece are widely available, including airlines, ferry companies and train services.
Travelling from the United Kingdom to Greece with a pet
As the United Kingdom (UK) is no longer part of the European Union (EU) following Brexit, the regulations for taking a cat, dog or ferret from the UK (Scotland, England, Wales & Northern Ireland) to Greece changed. This resulted in separate rules for the countries that form Great Britain (Scotland, England & Wales) and Northern Ireland (NI). Pet travel regulations were differentiated between Scotland, England & Wales and the EU and Northern Ireland in order to avoid a ‘hard’ border post-Brexit between Northern Ireland and the Ireland.
Some of the airlines, ferry companies and trains offering pet friendly routes directly to, or close to Greece from the United Kingdom include:
Importing a pet to Greece from Scotland, England or Wales
- You must have your dog, cat or ferret microchipped.
- Vaccinate your dog, cat or ferret against rabies – your pet must be at least 12 weeks old before they can be vaccinated.
- Wait 21 days after the primary vaccination before travel.
- Visit your vet to get an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for your pet, no more than 10 days before travel to the EU.
- Remember that if you’re taking your dog to Greece, on your return to the UK your pooch will need a Tapeworm Treatment 1 to 5 days before arriving on UK soil. Your vet must enter full details on the AHC following treatment.
Taking a pet to Greece from Northern Ireland (NI)
For the reasons previously mentioned, NI is subject to the same Pet Travel Scheme rules as other EU countries due to its shared border with the Ireland, an EU member state.
Pets travelling without their owner
As a rule, pets imported to Greece must travel with their owner. However, the owner may give written permission to another person to accompany their cat, dog or ferret on their behalf. In this case, the owner must be reunited with their pet within 5 days of the cat or dog’s relocation.
Always protect your pet against vector-borne disease when travelling to a foreign country, and remember to leave a review if you’ve travelled to Greece with your cat or dog!
