In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Brazil to Greece
typically takes around 20-24 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is required, which adds a fixed waiting period, so start early.
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Overview
Planning a pet relocation from Brazil to Greece is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Give yourself close to 20-24 weeks so none of the fixed waiting periods catch you out. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A rabies titre test is required, and it carries a fixed waiting period, so start it early. The guide below walks through each stage so nothing gets missed.
Step by step
The Brazil to Greece process
1
Before rabies vaccination.
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet
2
After microchip. Allow 21 days before titre test.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
3
Blood draw at least 21 days after vaccination. EU-approved laboratory.
FAVN titre test
Responsible: EU-approved laboratory
4
From confirmed blood draw date.
90-day waiting period
Responsible: Owner to track
5
During 90-day wait. CVI endorsed by MAPA no more than 10 days before departure.
Book cargo and arrange MAPA CVI endorsement
Responsible: Vet and MAPA
6
Within 10 days before arrival in Greece.
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Responsible: Authorised vet
7
On travel day.
MAPA inspection at GRU or GIG on departure
Responsible: MAPA, airline cargo
Checklist
Greece: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit non-encrypted. Before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. After microchip. At least 21 days before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. FAVN rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Brazil is an unlisted third country under EU Regulation 2016/429. 90-day waiting period from blood draw date.
Quarantine
None. No quarantine on arrival in Greece for compliant pets.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued within 10 days before arrival in Greece.
No separate export permit for dogs and cats. The MAPA-endorsed CVI serves as the export health document. MAPA inspection occurs at the point of departure (Guarulhos/GRU or Galeão/GIG).
Health certificate
CVI (Certificado Veterinário Internacional) issued by an accredited vet and endorsed by MAPA (Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento). Valid 10 days from issue.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
FAVN titre test at EU-approved laboratory: BRL 400 to BRL 900 (approximately £60 to £140)
2
MAPA CVI endorsement fee
3
Rabies and core vaccinations: BRL 200 to BRL 600
4
IATA-compliant travel crate: BRL 500 to BRL 2,500
5
Cargo airline fees (GRU or GIG to ATH): BRL 3,000 to BRL 10,000
6
Pet transport agent fee in Brazil: BRL 2,000 to BRL 5,000
7
EU Animal Health Certificate: BRL 300 to BRL 800
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Brazil is unlisted for EU pet travel. FAVN titre test and 90-day wait are mandatory.
⚠ The MAPA CVI must be endorsed by MAPA (not just signed by a vet). Allow time for MAPA endorsement after the vet signs.
⚠ The CVI is valid for 10 days from the date of MAPA endorsement. Time the endorsement to fall within 10 days of arrival in Greece.
⚠ Lisbon (TAP) is often the most straightforward hub for Brazil-to-Greece cargo logistics, with direct GRU-LIS and LIS-ATH options.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
TAP Air Portugal Cargo
São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) to Athens (ATH) via Lisbon (LIS). TAP is the natural carrier on the Lisbon hub for Brazil-to-Greece connections. TAP Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
GRU to ATH via Frankfurt (FRA). Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines Cargo
GRU via Istanbul (IST) to ATH. Turkish Airlines Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
LATAM Cargo
GRU to European hub for connecting cargo to ATH. LATAM Cargo accepts pets on international routes.
Cargo Only
Greece import rules, explained
Greece has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.
Practical tips for this move
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
Microchip before you vaccinate. The microchip must be in place before the rabies shot for the vaccination to count, and getting this order wrong is the most common and costly mistake.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.
FAQ
Common questions
No quarantine on arrival, provided all EU requirements are met. Brazil is an unlisted third country, so the safeguard is the FAVN titre test (0.5 IU/ml or above) and the 90-day wait before travel. If all that is in order, along with the EU AHC issued within 10 days before arrival, no quarantine applies in Greece.
MAPA operates inspection desks at the main international airports handling live animal cargo. For most international departures, this is São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG). The MAPA inspector checks the CVI and endorsement, inspects the animal, and clears the cargo. Arrive early at the cargo terminal to allow time for this process.
The European Commission’s Food Safety website publishes the current list of designated laboratories for rabies antibody titration. Laboratories in the USA and parts of Europe are commonly used for samples from South America. Your vet or cargo agent can advise on which EU-approved laboratory is currently recommended for Brazilian samples, and how to ship the blood sample correctly to preserve integrity.
No. The journey involves at least one stop and a long international flight. Pets travel as manifest cargo in IATA-compliant crates, not in the passenger cabin. Confirm the crate size requirements with your chosen carrier and ensure the crate is correctly constructed, ventilated, and labelled before departure.
Airline guides
TAP Air Portugal Cargo
Lufthansa Cargo
Turkish Airlines Cargo
LATAM Cargo
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.