Getting a pet from Kazakhstan to Greece is a step by step process, and each stage has its own timing. Set aside roughly 20-27 weeks for this route and keep a close eye on the …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day …
Rabies titre testRequired. Kazakhstan is not on the EU's …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for compliant …
Import permitNot required for non-commercial …
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate, …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Kazakhstan to Greece
typically takes around 20-27 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.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by Pet Transport Global Editorial Team
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Before the rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation
Responsible: Committee for Veterinary Control-authorised vet in Kazakhstan
2
After microchipping. Minimum age 12 weeks.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Committee for Veterinary Control-authorised vet
3
At least 30 days after vaccination, sample to an EU-approved laboratory
Blood draw for FAVN or ELISA titre test
Responsible: Vet and approved laboratory
4
Counts from the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
5
Within 10 days of travel
EU-format health certificate, Committee endorsement
Responsible: Authorised vet, endorsed by the Committee for Veterinary Control
6
After the 90-day wait has fully elapsed
Travel Almaty to Athens via Istanbul
Responsible: Owner and airline cargo handling
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, before the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Kazakhstan is not on the EU's approved list under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an approved laboratory, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, then a fixed 90-day wait. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for compliant arrivals.
Import permit
Not required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificate
EU-format Animal Health Certificate, endorsed by the Committee for Veterinary Control, issued within 10 days of entry into Greece.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for companion cats and dogs leaving Kazakhstan.
Health certificate
Official export Animal Health Certificate from a Committee for Veterinary Control-authorised vet, endorsed by the Committee. Reformatted to EU standard for Greece. Issued within 10 days of travel.
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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.
Turkish Airlines
Almaty (ALA) to Istanbul (IST), a genuine long-haul sector at around 5 hours, then a further connection on to Athens (ATH). The most established option for Central Asian pets heading into Greece.
Cargo Only
Air Astana
Kazakhstan's national carrier flies ALA to Istanbul on select schedules, worth comparing against Turkish Airlines for capacity and price on this leg.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: EUR 100-220
Cargo fee, Almaty to Athens via Istanbul: EUR 700-1,600 depending on crate size and season
Committee for Veterinary Control export certificate and endorsement fees
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 70-280
Total typical range: EUR 1,100-2,700 over 5-7 months
Critical points
The 90-day wait counts from the blood draw date, not the day the result arrives.
Microchip has to precede the rabies vaccination. A reversed order restarts the entire sequence.
Almaty to Istanbul alone runs about 5 hours, longer than the Caucasus sectors in this build, so build extra transit time into the schedule.
Greece import rules, explained
Greece has a detailed set of import rules, and each one needs to be satisfied before travel. None of it is unusual, but the order and timing are what catch people out.
Practical tips for this move
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.
Book the titre test laboratory well ahead. Approved labs have limited slots and the sample takes time to process, so this is not something to leave to the final weeks.
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. Kazakhstan is not on the EU’s approved list, so the full unlisted-country sequence applies: a titre test at an EU-approved laboratory and a 90-day wait from the blood draw date.
The Almaty-Istanbul sector alone runs approximately 5 hours, longer than the Caucasus routes in this build, with a further connection needed on to Athens.
The Committee for Veterinary Control and Supervision, under the Ministry of Agriculture, which authorises the vet issuing the health certificate and then endorses it before departure.
20 to 27 weeks. The titre test sequence takes at least 120 days, and the longer Almaty-Istanbul sector adds extra transit planning on top.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Greece.
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