Shipping a dog or cat from Greece to Switzerland rewards owners who start planning early. Preparation is relatively light here, so plan on about 1-2 weeks to be comfortable. There …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Must be current and recorded …
Rabies titre testNot required for pets travelling from EU …
QuarantineNo quarantine for pets arriving from EU …
Import permitNot required for EU-to-Switzerland pet …
Health certificateEU Pet Passport issued by an authorised …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Greece to Switzerland
typically takes around 1-2 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
Verification date not recorded. Confirm current requirements with the destination authority.
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Check microchip record and vaccination expiry before booking.
Confirm EU Pet Passport is current with valid rabies vaccination
Responsible: Your authorised veterinarian (Greece)
2
SWISS direct ATH-ZRH is ideal. Book cabin space at time of booking.
Book flight with confirmed cabin or cargo pet space
Responsible: You
3
Cabin: 2 hours before departure. Cargo: 3 hours.
Travel day: check in with EU Pet Passport
Responsible: You + airline check-in
Checklist
What your pet needs
Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be recorded in the EU Pet Passport.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Must be current and recorded in the EU Pet Passport. Switzerland follows EU Regulation 576/2013 standards via bilateral agreement.
Rabies titre test
Not required for pets travelling from EU member states to Switzerland.
Quarantine
No quarantine for pets arriving from EU countries with a valid EU Pet Passport. OSAV or cantonal veterinary authority may inspect at Zurich (ZRH).
Import permit
Not required for EU-to-Switzerland pet movements under the bilateral agreement.
Health certificate
EU Pet Passport issued by an authorised vet in Greece is the required document.
Export permit
Not required for personal pets.
Health certificate
EU Pet Passport is accepted for travel from EU member states to Switzerland under the bilateral veterinary agreement between Switzerland and the EU. No additional health certificate is required.
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Airlines
Carriers on this route
Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. Confirm the operating carrier's current policy for every flight segment.
SWISS (Swiss International Air Lines)
Cabin: SWISS accepts small pets (up to 8kg including carrier) in cabin on European routes including ATH-ZRH direct and via FRA/MUC. Cargo: larger pets in hold via SWISS Cargo. As the national carrier of Switzerland, SWISS is the natural first choice for this route.
Cabin and Cargo
Aegean Airlines
Cabin: Aegean accepts small pets in cabin on EU routes. ATH-ZRH service available. Combines Greek departure convenience with good cabin pet policy.
Cabin and Cargo
Lufthansa
Cabin and cargo: Lufthansa via FRA or MUC connects ATH to ZRH. Cargo option for larger pets. Brachycephalic restrictions apply year-round.
Cabin and Cargo
easyJet
Cabin: easyJet accepts cabin pets on European routes. ATH to ZRH or GVA connections available. Low-cost option.
Cabin and Cargo
Costs
What this route typically costs
Airline cabin fee (varies by carrier)
IATA-compliant soft carrier
Veterinary fee if vaccinations need renewal
Critical points
Switzerland is not an EU member state, but it accepts EU Pet Passports under the bilateral veterinary agreement with the EU. The process is equivalent to an intra-EU move.
OSAV or cantonal vet may inspect the passport at Zurich. Have it ready.
If travelling to Switzerland from Greece via a non-EU country, additional transit rules may apply.
Switzerland entry requirements at a glance
The requirements for Switzerland are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.
Getting the details right
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.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes, and that is all it requires for EU-to-Switzerland movements. Switzerland accepts EU Pet Passports under the bilateral veterinary agreement with the EU. No separate health certificate or import permit is needed.
No quarantine for compliant pets. OSAV or cantonal veterinary authority may conduct a documentary check at the entry airport, but compliant pets are not held.
No. Switzerland follows EU Regulation 576/2013 standards for pets arriving from EU countries. No titre test is required.
Yes, if small enough (typically under 8kg including carrier). SWISS accepts small cabin pets on European routes including ATH-ZRH. Aegean and easyJet also accept small cabin pets. Book the cabin space at the time of booking.
If your routing involves a stopover in another EU country before continuing to Switzerland, the EU Pet Passport covers all legs. The same intra-EU rules apply throughout the EU, and Switzerland accepts the same passport on arrival.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Switzerland.
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