Lead time needed
16-20 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
High
Airlines
2 carriers on this route
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DO
GR

Pet Transport from the Dominican Republic to Greece: 2026 Guide

Shipping a dog or cat from Dominican Republic to Greece rewards owners who start planning early. Around 16-20 weeks is sensible here, with a few steps that must happen in a strict order. There is no routine quarantine, provided the paperwork is in order. A …

In short: Preparing to move a pet from Dominican Republic to Greece typically takes around 16-20 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.
Regulations checked
Step by step

The Dominican Republic to Greece import process

Every step must be completed in sequence. A single missed deadline can add months to your timeline. We own the entire process.

1
Before the rabies vaccination.
Confirm ISO microchip is implanted and scannable.

Responsible: Vet in the Dominican Republic.

2
At least 30 days before the FAVN blood draw.
Administer or confirm current rabies vaccination.

Responsible: DIGEGA-authorised vet.

3
30 or more days after vaccination. Allow 2-3 weeks for the sample to reach an approved lab and for results to return.
Draw blood for the FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory.

Responsible: Vet and EU-approved laboratory.

4
Cannot be shortened under any circumstances.
90-day mandatory wait from the blood draw date.

Responsible: N/A

5
Within 10 days of travel, once the 90-day wait has passed.
Obtain the EU-format export health certificate, endorsed by DIGEGA.

Responsible: DIGEGA-authorised vet and DIGEGA.

6
Once the titre test result, the 90-day wait and the certificate are all in place.
Travel from SDQ to Athens via Madrid or Paris.

Responsible: Airline cargo handling.

Requirements

What your pet needs to enter Greece

Every item must be verified before your pet can board. We track each one against current standards.

Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785. Implanted before or at the same time as the first …
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current. Primary vaccination at least 21 days before entry; a current …
Rabies titre test
Required. The Dominican Republic is an EU unlisted third country. FAVN or ELISA …
Quarantine
Not required for arrivals with compliant documentation.
Import permit
Not required.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate endorsed by DIGEGA.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal pets.
Costs

What this route typically costs

FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, including …
DIGEGA-endorsed export health certificate: USD 90-160.
Cargo fee, Santo Domingo to Athens via Madrid or Paris: USD 900-1,800 …
IATA-approved travel crate: USD 100-350.
Pet transport agent fees, if used: USD 350-800.
Total typical range: USD 1,600-3,400 over 4-5 months.

Critical points

The 90-day wait is fixed to the blood draw date, not the test result date or the certificate date. Start the process at least five months before your intended travel date.

There is no EU-approved rabies titre laboratory in the Dominican Republic, so the sample must travel internationally. Use a vet who has handled this shipping before.

There is no direct flight from Santo Domingo to Athens. Pets travel as manifest cargo via Madrid or Paris, so book cargo space with either Iberia or Air France well in advance.

Compare this route with Jamaica-to-Greece: Jamaica is EU Group 2 listed, so a Jamaican pet skips this entire titre-test process. The same Caribbean region produces two very different timelines depending on the country's EU listing status.

Airlines

Approved carriers for this route

Not all airlines accept live animals. We book only with carriers that handle live animal cargo correctly.

Iberia
Cargo service from Santo Domingo (SDQ) via Madrid (MAD), connecting onward to Athens …
Cargo Only
Air France
Cargo routing via Paris (CDG), connecting onward to Athens. Air France Cargo handles …
Cargo Only

Meeting Greece's entry requirements

The requirements for Greece are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.

Advice worth following

Work backwards from your travel date and add a buffer. Fixed waiting periods mean a single slipped appointment can push the whole move back by weeks.

Check the airline’s crate size and labelling rules early. An undersized or wrongly labelled crate is a frequent reason pets are refused at check-in.

Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.

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.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. The Dominican Republic is an EU unlisted third country, so a FAVN or ELISA rabies antibody titre test is required, with a minimum result of 0.5 IU/ml and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date before entry.
No. The 90 days runs from the date blood was drawn, regardless of how quickly the laboratory returns a result. This is a fixed EU requirement and cannot be reduced.
No. Pets travel as cargo via a connecting hub, most commonly Madrid with Iberia or Paris with Air France.
Jamaica is listed as EU Group 2 under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/1130, which exempts it from the titre test. The Dominican Republic has not received that listing, so it falls under the full unlisted country process instead. See our Jamaica to Greece guide for the contrast.
Airline guides
  • Iberia
  • Air France
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DO GRDominican Republic to Greece
International pet transport route
Lead time16-20 weeks
QuarantineNone
ComplexityHigh
Airlines2
ServiceDoor to door
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