Shipping a dog or cat from Greece to India rewards owners who start planning early. Expect around 10-14 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed waiting periods. Factor in 15 days of quarantine at the destination.
You will …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Greece to India
typically takes around 10-14 weeks.
Expect 15 days of quarantine on arrival.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The Greece to India pet import process
Each step must be completed in a precise sequence. Start early. We manage every stage and deadline.
1
Apply for the AQCS NOC before departure.
Responsible: Owner or agent, via AQCS.
Approximately 5 working days to process.
2
Confirm microchip is implanted and scannable.
Responsible: Vet in Greece.
Before the rabies vaccination.
3
Administer or confirm rabies vaccination.
Responsible: Vet in Greece.
More than 1 month before travel, within 12 months.
4
Obtain the Directorate General of Veterinary Services-endorsed export health certificate.
Responsible: Official vet in Greece.
Within 10 days of travel.
5
Travel via Doha or Istanbul to an approved AQCS airport.
Responsible: Qatar Airways or Turkish Airlines.
Once the NOC and documentation are current.
6
Complete AQCS quarantine on arrival.
Responsible: AQCS officials.
15 days, extendable to 30 if health concerns arise.
Requirements
What your pet needs to enter India
Every item below must be in place before your pet can travel. We manage and verify each one.
Microchip
ISO 11784/11785 or AVID microchip required.
Rabies vaccination
Required. More than 1 month before travel, within 12 months.
Rabies titre test
Not required. India does not mandate a titre test from any country, including Greece.
Quarantine
15 days at an AQCS quarantine facility on arrival. Extendable to 30 days if health concerns arise.
Health certificate
Export health certificate confirming freedom from rabies, distemper, parvo and leptospirosis.
Export permit (Greece)
No formal export permit required for companion pets leaving Greece.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Export health certificate and vet examination: USD 100-180.
Connecting cargo fee, Athens to Delhi or Mumbai via Doha or Istanbul: USD 700-1,300 depending on crate size.
Critical points to read before you book
Apply for the AQCS NOC before finalising travel dates. It's a required pre-departure clearance, not a formality completed on arrival.
Entry is restricted to five airports with AQCS quarantine stations: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Hyderabad. Booking a connection into any other Indian city will not work for a pet.
There is no non-stop flight from Athens to India. Doha and Istanbul are the strongest connecting hubs.
Airlines
Carriers approved for this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know which carriers to use and how to book.
QATAR AIRWAYS
Qatar Airways
Connects Athens to Delhi or Mumbai via Doha, one of the more established options given Qatar's dedicated animal-handling facility at DOH.
Cargo Only
TURKISH
Turkish Airlines
Connects via Istanbul, a realistic alternative hub serving multiple Indian gateway cities.
Cargo Only
What India requires
Bringing a pet into India involves a fair amount of documentation. Keep everything organised and check each item against the current requirements before you book.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
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 about Greece to India pet transport
No. Realistic routings connect through Doha on Qatar Airways or Istanbul on Turkish Airlines.
No. India does not mandate a titre test from any country, including Greece.
Only Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata or Hyderabad, the five airports with AQCS quarantine stations.
15 days at an AQCS facility for a compliant arrival, extendable to 30 days if health concerns arise.
Airline guides
Qatar Airways
Turkish Airlines
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.