In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Georgia to Lithuania
typically takes around 20-26 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 Georgia to Lithuania is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. Allow about 20-26 weeks; the requirements are detailed but predictable once mapped 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 Georgia to Lithuania process
1
First step. Must precede all vaccinations. If already chipped, confirm the chip is readable and the number is consistent with all documents.
ISO microchip (11784/11785) implanted
Responsible: Georgian vet
2
After microchipping. Must be a WHO-approved inactivated vaccine. Wait at least 30 days before titre test blood draw.
Primary rabies vaccination
Responsible: Georgian vet
3
At least 30 days after the primary vaccination. Blood shipped to EU-approved lab. Results within 2-4 weeks. The blood draw date starts the 90-day count.
FAVN titre test blood draw at EU-approved laboratory
Responsible: Georgian vet + EU-approved laboratory
4
Mandatory and cannot be shortened. Day 1 is the blood draw date, not the date results arrive. You must wait until day 91 at the earliest.
90-day wait from blood draw date
Responsible: N/A
5
During the 90-day wait. Research routing options and confirm live animal cargo acceptance on all segments.
Book live cargo from Tbilisi to Vilnius
Responsible: Owner or transport agent
6
Within 10 days of travel. Schedule the Georgian vet appointment close to departure.
NFA-endorsed export health certificate
Responsible: NFA-authorised vet + NFA
7
Travel day. Journey from Tbilisi via IST and hub airports to VNO is typically 9-15 hours.
Travel to Vilnius (VNO)
Responsible: Airline + owner
Checklist
Lithuania: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit transponder). Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. The chip number must match all supporting documents precisely.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Current vaccination, administered after microchipping. If a primary (first-ever) vaccination, at least 21 days must have passed before entry. Booster vaccinations within the valid period of the prior vaccine are immediately effective.
Rabies titre test
Required. Lithuania applies EU pet travel rules under EU Regulation 576/2013. As an EU unlisted country, Georgia requires a FAVN or equivalent rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after the primary vaccination. Minimum result 0.5 IU/ml. A mandatory 90-day wait from the blood draw date must elapse before entry. Source: Valstybine maisto ir veterinarijos tarnyba (VMVT, State Food and Veterinary Service of Lithuania), vmvt.lt.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for fully compliant arrivals. Penalty quarantine or return to origin applies for non-compliant documentation.
Import permit
Not required for companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial health certificate for unlisted third countries, issued by NFA-authorised vet, endorsed by NFA. Valid for 10 days for entry into Lithuania.
No formal export permit required for companion pets leaving Georgia for personal relocation.
Health certificate
EU-format non-commercial health certificate for unlisted third countries, issued by an NFA-authorised veterinarian in Georgia and endorsed by the National Food Agency (NFA). Valid for 10 days from issuance as an entry document. Must accompany the FAVN titre test result.
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
FAVN titre test (blood draw plus shipping to EU-approved laboratory): GEL 200-600 (approximately EUR 70-200)
2
NFA health certificate endorsement: GEL 50-150 (approximately EUR 15-50)
3
Live cargo TBS to VNO via hub: EUR 600-1,800 depending on routing and crate size
4
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 80-300
5
Pet transport agent (recommended for EU entry coordination): EUR 400-1,000
6
Total typical range: EUR 950-3,300 over a 5-7 month preparation period
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date, not the date the titre test results arrive. Starting the process early is the single most important logistical decision on this route.
⚠ Microchip must precede vaccination. If the chip was implanted after the vaccination, the vaccination does not count under EU rules and the process must restart from a new vaccination date.
⚠ Lithuania applies EU Regulation 576/2013 in full for pets from unlisted countries. There is no exemption or shortcut for Georgian-origin pets entering through Vilnius.
⚠ Vilnius Airport (VNO) is smaller than Riga or Warsaw. Direct cargo connections from Georgia are not available. A multi-leg routing via Istanbul and a Western European hub is standard for this corridor.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Turkish Airlines
Tbilisi International (TBS) to Istanbul Ataturk (IST), then IST to connections serving Vilnius (VNO). Turkish Airlines Cargo handles live animals at IST. From IST, cargo connections to VNO are available via European hub airports. This is the most reliable routing for Georgia-to-Lithuania pet cargo.
Cargo Only
LOT Polish Airlines
LOT connects from Warsaw (WAW) to Vilnius (VNO), making it a useful final leg for cargo arriving from a European hub. A pet transported to Warsaw from Istanbul or Frankfurt can continue to Vilnius on LOT.
Cabin and Cargo
Georgian Airways
Georgia's national carrier operates from Tbilisi to some European airports. Check whether Georgian Airways accepts live animal cargo and whether it connects to a hub with onward services to Vilnius.
Cargo Only
airBaltic
airBaltic connects from Riga (RIX) and various European hubs. A routing via a Western European airport to RIX, then onward connections to VNO, is a potential alternative. Confirm cargo policy and live animal acceptance directly with airBaltic.
Cargo Only
How Lithuania handles incoming pets
Lithuania has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
What experienced owners do
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
A minimum of 20-26 weeks from start to finish. This accounts for: microchipping, primary vaccination, 30-day minimum before blood draw, the titre test process, the 90-day wait from blood draw, and certificate preparation. Starting as soon as you know you are moving is essential.
This guide covers the Republic of Georgia, a country in the South Caucasus bordered by Russia, Turkey, Armenia, and Azerbaijan. The capital is Tbilisi. The rules described here have nothing to do with the US state of Georgia.
The FAVN (fluorescent antibody virus neutralisation) test measures your pet’s rabies antibody levels. Blood must be drawn by a licensed vet in Georgia and sent to an EU-approved laboratory. The blood draw must happen at least 30 days after the primary rabies vaccination. If the result is 0.5 IU/ml or above, the 90-day wait begins from the blood draw date.
LOT Polish Airlines does not fly from Tbilisi directly. LOT’s role on this route is to provide the final leg from Warsaw (WAW) to Vilnius (VNO). Pet cargo from Georgia would typically reach Warsaw via Turkish Airlines or another carrier before connecting to Vilnius on LOT. Confirm cargo acceptance on all legs before booking.
Airline guides
Turkish Airlines
LOT Polish Airlines
Georgian Airways
airBaltic
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.