IN
India
✈️
GR
Greece
Pet Transport India to Greece: The FAVN Titre Test Route
20-24 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from India to Greece
typically takes around 20-24 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
Taking your dog or cat from India to Greece comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect about 20-24 weeks. Nothing here is unusually complex, but the deadlines matter. No routine quarantine applies as long as every requirement is met.
You will need a rabies titre test, which adds a mandatory wait, so begin it as soon as possible. Everything you need, from documents to carriers, is broken down below.
Step by step
The India to Greece process
1
Immediately. Must be in place before the rabies vaccination.
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet
2
After microchip is confirmed. Dog: also update distemper, parvovirus, hepatitis, leptospirosis vaccinations. Allow at least 21 days before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies vaccination (primary)
Responsible: Vet
3
At least 21 days after the rabies vaccination. Send to an EU-approved laboratory. Result must be 0.5 IU/ml or above.
FAVN rabies titre test blood draw
Responsible: EU-approved laboratory
4
Mandatory once the valid titre test result is confirmed. Travel cannot happen before the 90 days are complete.
90-day waiting period from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner to track
5
During the 90-day wait. Confirm IATA-compliant crate size with the airline.
Book cargo flights and agent
Responsible: Owner or transport agent
6
Within 10 days before entry into Greece. Issued by an authorised vet in India.
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued
Responsible: Authorised vet
7
On the day of travel. AQCS officer checks documents and inspects the pet. NOC issued on site.
AQCS inspection at departure airport
Responsible: AQCS, then airline cargo
Checklist
Greece: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard, 15-digit non-encrypted. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Administered after the microchip. At least 21 days must have passed before the date of the FAVN titre test blood draw. |
| Rabies titre test | Required. FAVN rabies antibody titre test at an EU-approved laboratory. Result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml. India is an unlisted third country under EU Regulation 2016/429, so the titre test is mandatory. A 90-day waiting period runs from the date the valid blood draw result is recorded. |
| Quarantine | None, provided all documentation is complete and correct on arrival at the approved EU entry point. |
| Import permit | Not required. The EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) serves as the travel document. |
| Health certificate | EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by an authorised veterinarian within 10 days before entry into Greece. Must reference the microchip number, rabies vaccination details, and titre test result. Valid for 4 months from issue or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is earlier. |
Leaving India
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | No formal export permit. An NOC (No Objection Certificate) is obtained from the AQCS (Animal Quarantine and Certification Services) inspection on departure day. AQCS offices are at Indira Gandhi International (DEL), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj (BOM) and Chennai International (MAA). |
| Health certificate | Issued by a government-accredited veterinarian. Must cover microchip number, rabies vaccination, and distemper/parvovirus/hepatitis/leptospirosis vaccinations for dogs; rabies for cats. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | FAVN titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: INR 8,000 to INR 15,000 (approximately £75 to £140) |
| 2 | Vaccinations and vet certificates: INR 5,000 to INR 12,000 |
| 3 | IATA-compliant travel crate: INR 5,000 to INR 20,000 depending on size |
| 4 | Cargo airline fees (DEL to ATH): INR 60,000 to INR 1,50,000 depending on crate size and route |
| 5 | Pet transport agent fee: INR 20,000 to INR 60,000 |
| 6 | EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issuance: INR 3,000 to INR 8,000 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ India is classified as an unlisted third country for EU pet travel. The FAVN titre test and 90-day waiting period are mandatory. Starting the process without the titre test step will prevent travel.
⚠ The 90-day wait runs from the date the blood draw produced a valid result of 0.5 IU/ml or above. If the first test fails, the clock restarts from the retest date.
⚠ The EU Animal Health Certificate must be issued within 10 days before entry into Greece. Do not have it issued earlier.
⚠ Garuda Indonesia is not relevant here, but note that some connecting carriers via Middle East hubs may not accept large breed dogs. Confirm with the airline before booking.
⚠ Some dog breeds are restricted or banned in Greece. Pit Bull Terrier and Tosa Inu types require documentation and may face restrictions. Check before booking.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Air India
Operates Delhi (DEL) to Athens (ATH). Pets travel as manifest cargo. Book through Air India Cargo at least 7 days in advance.
Lufthansa Cargo
Delhi to Athens via Frankfurt (FRA). Reliable handling record. Use the Frankfurt hub for connecting cargo.
Qatar Airways
Delhi via Doha (DOH) to Athens. Qatar Airways Cargo accepts pets. The Doha connection adds transit time but is a solid option.
What Greece requires
Getting a pet into Greece is a middle of the road process. The rules are well defined, so most of the work is simply staying on schedule.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
Keep every original document together and take copies. Border officials want originals, and a missing signature or date can hold up clearance.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Greece does not impose quarantine on pets from India, provided the full EU import protocol is complete before arrival. That means an ISO microchip, a valid rabies vaccination, a FAVN titre test result of 0.5 IU/ml or above, a 90-day wait from the blood draw date, and an EU Animal Health Certificate issued within 10 days before entry. If documentation is incomplete on arrival, the pet can be held at the owner’s expense.
The test itself is processed in a few days at an EU-approved laboratory. However, the blood must be drawn at least 21 days after the rabies vaccination, and the 90-day wait starts only once a valid result is confirmed. Turnaround from an approved Indian laboratory is typically 5 to 14 days. Factor in the full sequence when planning: vaccination, 21 days, blood draw, 5 to 14 days result, 90 days wait, then travel.
AQCS offices operate at Indira Gandhi International (DEL), Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International (BOM) and Chennai International (MAA). If you are in another city, your pet will need to transit through one of these three airports on departure. Check with your cargo agent that the animal transfer between airports is handled correctly.
No. Greece is not reachable by cabin baggage with a pet from India. The journey requires a connecting flight, and most airlines on this route only accept pets as manifest cargo. Your dog or cat travels in the aircraft hold in an IATA-compliant crate, either on the same flight as you or on a separate cargo booking.
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