A move from Lebanon to Greece with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Plan on roughly 20-26 weeks; the checklist is clear and the timing is …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day …
Rabies titre testRequired. Lebanon is not on the EU's …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for pets arriving …
Import permitNot required for non-commercial …
Health certificateEU-format Animal Health Certificate, …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Lebanon to Greece
typically takes around 20-26 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 (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Registered vet in Lebanon
2
Once the microchip is confirmed on a scanner
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Official vet in Lebanon
3
At least 30 days after vaccination, at an EU-approved laboratory
Blood drawn for FAVN or ELISA titre test
Responsible: Vet and approved laboratory
4
Counted from the blood draw date, not the result date
90-day wait
Responsible: Owner
5
Within 10 days of travel, endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture
EU-format health certificate issued and endorsed
Responsible: Vet and Ministry of Agriculture
6
Once the 90-day wait has fully elapsed
Fly Beirut to Athens direct with Aegean or MEA, or via Istanbul
Responsible: Airline cargo team
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 implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day wait after the primary vaccination before the titre test blood draw.
Rabies titre test
Required. Lebanon is not on the EU's approved list under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636. FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory, minimum result 0.5 IU/ml, blood drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, then a fixed 90-day wait from the blood draw date. Source: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for pets arriving with compliant documentation.
Import permit
Not required for non-commercial companion pet movements.
Health certificate
EU-format Animal Health Certificate, endorsed by the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture, issued within 10 days of travel.
Export permit
Export permit from the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture required.
Health certificate
Official export health certificate from an official vet, endorsed by the Ministry of Agriculture, 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.
Aegean Airlines
Flies Beirut (BEY) to Athens (ATH) non-stop, a genuine rarity on routes in this build. Small pets travel in the cabin under Aegean's weight limits; larger dogs go via the cargo hold on the same aircraft.
Cabin and Cargo
Middle East Airlines
Lebanon's national carrier also operates BEY-ATH direct on a seasonal basis, a useful second option if Aegean's live animal capacity is booked.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines Cargo
Via Istanbul (IST), for owners whose travel dates don't line up with either direct carrier's schedule.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: EUR 100-200
Cargo or cabin fee, direct BEY-ATH: EUR 350-800, considerably less than connecting routes elsewhere in this build
Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture export permit and certificate endorsement: EUR 80-150
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100-300
Pre-export vet appointments: EUR 60-150
Total typical range: EUR 700-1,600 over 5-7 months
Critical points
The 90-day wait runs from the blood draw date. A fast lab turnaround doesn't shorten it.
Microchip goes in before the vaccination, not after. Reverse the order and the vaccination doesn't count for the sequence.
Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture endorsement can take 2 to 4 weeks. Build that into the plan on top of the biological timeline.
Even with a direct flight, the regulatory wait is what sets the schedule, not the journey itself.
Greece entry requirements at a glance
The path into Greece is straightforward to follow once you know the steps. Give the time-sensitive items priority and check the details below.
Getting the details right
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.
Use an official, government-authorised vet for the health certificate, not just your usual clinic. Many destinations only accept certificates signed by an approved vet.
FAQ
Common questions
Yes. Aegean Airlines flies BEY-ATH non-stop, and Middle East Airlines runs the same route seasonally. This is one of the few genuinely direct pet routes out of Beirut in this build.
No. The titre test and 90-day wait are set by Lebanon’s status under EU rules, not by the flight routing. Greece applies the same unlisted-country sequence regardless of how the pet travels.
Plan for 20 to 26 weeks. The titre test sequence needs at least 120 days (30 days after vaccination, then 90 more from the blood draw), plus 2 to 4 weeks for Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture endorsement.
The Directorate General of Veterinary Services, under the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, inspects health certificates and titre test records at Athens International Airport.
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