JP
Japan
✈️
GR
Greece
Pet Transport Japan to Greece: No Titre Test, Just the AQS and AHC
6-10 weeks
Typical preparation
None
Quarantine on arrival
Moderate
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Japan to Greece
typically takes around 6-10 weeks.
There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets.
A rabies titre test is not required.
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Overview
Planning a pet relocation from Japan to Greece is easier when you work backwards from your travel date. This is a middle of the road route, and about 6-10 weeks of preparation usually covers it. Pets with correct documentation skip quarantine entirely.
A rabies titre test is not needed for this route. The guide below walks through each stage so nothing gets missed.
Step by step
The Japan to Greece process
1
Before rabies vaccination (note: Japan domestic rules also require microchip before or on same day as vaccination).
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet
2
After microchip. Allow at least 21 days before the planned departure.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
3
At least 4 to 6 weeks before travel. Confirm size limits and documentation requirements with the airline.
Book cargo flight and arrange crate
Responsible: Owner
4
At least 2 weeks before travel. Book AQS inspection appointment at departure airport.
AQS export health certificate application
Responsible: AQS/MAFF
5
Within 10 days before arrival in Greece.
EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
Responsible: Authorised vet in Japan
6
On travel day.
AQS inspection and departure clearance at NRT or HND
Responsible: AQS, airline cargo
Checklist
Greece: entry requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required. ISO 11784/11785, 15-digit non-encrypted. Before rabies vaccination. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. After microchip. At least 21 days before travel to Greece. |
| Rabies titre test | Not required. Japan is listed as a third country under EU Regulation 2016/429 (Annex II, Part 1). Pets from Japan do not need a FAVN titre test or 90-day waiting period to enter the EU. |
| Quarantine | None. No quarantine on arrival in Greece for pets from Japan with correct documentation. |
| Import permit | Not required. |
| Health certificate | EU Animal Health Certificate (AHC), issued by an authorised vet within 10 days before arrival in Greece. |
Leaving Japan
Export requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | Formal export permit from AQS/MAFF. Arrange the AQS appointment in advance. Inspect at Narita (NRT), Haneda (HND), or another AQS-registered departure airport. |
| Health certificate | AQS (Animal Quarantine Service) export health certificate issued by MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). Completed after veterinary inspection at the AQS office at the departure airport. |
Costs
What this route typically costs
| 1 | AQS export health certificate fee: JPY 5,000 to JPY 15,000 |
| 2 | Rabies vaccination and vet consultation: JPY 5,000 to JPY 15,000 |
| 3 | IATA-compliant travel crate: JPY 10,000 to JPY 50,000 |
| 4 | Cargo airline fees (NRT to ATH): JPY 80,000 to JPY 250,000 |
| 5 | EU Animal Health Certificate: JPY 5,000 to JPY 15,000 |
| 6 | Pet transport agent fee: JPY 30,000 to JPY 100,000 |
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ Japan is listed for EU pet travel, meaning no FAVN titre test or 90-day wait is required. This is a significant advantage compared to most other Asian origins.
⚠ Japan's own domestic pet handling (rabies-free status, AQS supervision) means the export process is well-organised. The AQS inspection appointment must be booked in advance.
⚠ The EU AHC must be issued within 10 days before arrival in Greece. Do not have it issued earlier.
⚠ Some dog breeds face restrictions in Greece at the municipal level. Confirm your breed's status before travel.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
Japan Airlines Cargo
Tokyo Narita (NRT) to Athens (ATH). Japan Airlines accepts pets as cargo. Primary carrier on this corridor.
All Nippon Airways (ANA) Cargo
NRT to ATH via connecting hub. ANA accepts pets as cargo.
Lufthansa Cargo
NRT via Frankfurt (FRA) to ATH. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets.
The rules for bringing a pet into Greece
Greece has a clear set of import requirements that are manageable with some planning. Follow them in order and keep an eye on the dates that cannot move.
How to keep this move on track
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.
Ask about temperature embargoes for your travel window. Summer and winter cargo restrictions can rule out certain routes and dates entirely.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Japan is classified as a listed country under EU Regulation 2016/429, Annex II, Part 1. Pets from listed countries do not need a FAVN rabies titre test or a 90-day waiting period to enter any EU member state, including Greece. This is in contrast to most other Asian countries, which are unlisted and do require the titre test.
The AQS (Animal Quarantine Service) export health certificate is issued by Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) after a physical inspection of your pet at the departure airport. It documents the microchip number, rabies vaccination details, and confirms the pet is healthy for export. It is a government-issued document, separate from the EU AHC which is issued by an authorised vet.
Direct Tokyo to Athens flights are limited and seasonal. Most routes connect through a European hub, typically Frankfurt (Lufthansa), or occasionally via a Middle East hub. Japan Airlines and ANA offer cargo services with European connections. Confirm the connecting airline also accepts live animals before booking the full itinerary.
Six to ten weeks is typical from starting preparations to travel day. Key steps are: microchip, then rabies vaccination, then wait 21 days for the vaccine to meet the EU minimum requirement, then book AQS inspection, then get the AHC within 10 days of arrival. There is no titre test wait on this route, so the timeline is considerably shorter than for unlisted country origins.
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