Greece and Portugal are both EU member states, which makes this one of the most manageable international pet moves you can undertake. No import permits, no quarantine, no embassy endorsement process.
Your pet needs a valid EU Pet Passport with a current rabies vaccination and a readable ISO microchip. If everything is already in order, you could be ready to travel within a couple of weeks. The main bottleneck is booking cabin pet space on your chosen airline before it fills up.
Portugal’s DGAV handles animal import matters, but for intra-EU movement they defer entirely to EU Regulation 2019/2035.
Documents Required for This Route
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Health certificate | EU Pet Passport only. DGAV (Portugal's Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs) administers animal import rules. |
| Microchip record | Required (ISO 11784/11785). Recorded in EU Pet Passport. |
| Rabies vaccination record | Required and current. Recorded in EU Pet Passport. 21-day wait after first vaccination before travel. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required for intra-EU movement. |
| Import permit | Not required. |
| Export permit (Greece) | {'required': False} |
| Export health certificate | EU Pet Passport covers this movement. No separate export health certificate required for intra-EU travel. |
How the Process Works
Portugal: Entry Requirements for Pets
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required (ISO 11784/11785). Recorded in EU Pet Passport. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required and current. Recorded in EU Pet Passport. 21-day wait after first vaccination before travel. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required for intra-EU movement. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine for EU to EU travel with valid documents. |
| Import permit | Not required. |
| Health certificate | EU Pet Passport only. DGAV (Portugal's Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary Affairs) administers animal import rules. |
Leaving Greece: Export Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | {'required': False} |
| Health certificate | EU Pet Passport covers this movement. No separate export health certificate required for intra-EU travel. |
What This Route Typically Costs
| # | Cost factor |
|---|---|
| 1 | Airline cabin pet fee (typically 40-70 EUR on European routes) |
| 2 | Soft-sided IATA-compliant carrier for cabin |
| 3 | Vet fee for passport update if vaccination is not current |
Critical Points — Read Before You Book
Portugal's requirements for EU companion animal arrivals
Portugal follows EU Regulation 2019/2035 for companion animals arriving from other EU states. What that means in practice: valid EU Pet Passport, ISO microchip recorded within it, and a current rabies vaccination.
Portugal’s DGAV (dgav.pt) can be contacted for queries about specific breed restrictions or if your pet has any unusual vaccination history. Standard dogs and cats travelling with a clean EU Pet Passport will not encounter problems.
Preparing your EU Pet Passport in Greece
The EU Pet Passport is standardised across all member states, but it must be issued or updated by a vet authorised by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
If your pet’s passport is from another EU country, it remains valid. You do not need a new Greek passport unless you want to update records.
Check the rabies vaccination date. The vaccination is valid from 21 days after administration. Annual boosters are needed to maintain continuous validity. There is no grace period after expiry.
Flying Greece to Portugal with a pet
There are no direct Greece-Portugal flights in most schedules. The most common connections are via Lisbon on TAP, via Barcelona on Vueling, or via Frankfurt on Lufthansa.
TAP Air Portugal is the most convenient carrier for this destination and accepts cabin pets (up to 8kg including carrier). Book the pet space at the same time as your ticket.
For larger dogs, cargo is the only option. Lufthansa Cargo and KLM Cargo are reliable operators on European routes. Both use temperature-controlled holds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Other Routes to Consider
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