Pet Transport from the Netherlands to Greece
At a glance
- Typical timeline: 4-6 weeks from start to arrival
- Complexity: Low — plan well ahead
- Quarantine: No quarantine for EU to EU travel with valid documents.
If you are moving from Amsterdam to Athens, or heading to one of the Greek islands for a longer stay, the good news is that travelling with your pet does not have to be complicated. Both countries are EU members, which means the same set of rules applies throughout, and those rules are genuinely simple when your paperwork is in order.
An EU Pet Passport with a current rabies vaccination and a working ISO microchip is all you need. No embassy visits, no import permits, no quarantine waiting on the other side.
The thing most people trip over is discovering that their pet’s rabies vaccination has quietly lapsed. That means a booster and then a 21-day wait before you can travel. Check the passport well before you start looking at flight prices.
The Journey, Step by Step
What Greece Requires
Microchip
Required (ISO 11784/11785). Recorded in EU Pet Passport.
Rabies Vaccination
Required and current. Recorded in EU Pet Passport. Valid from 21 days after first dose.
Titre Test
Not required for intra-EU travel.
Quarantine
No quarantine for EU to EU travel with valid documents.
Import Permit
Not required.
Health Certificate
EU Pet Passport only. Greece enforces EU Regulation 2019/2035 for companion animals from EU member states.
What to Budget For
- Airline cabin pet fee (typically 30-60 EUR for European routes)
- Soft-sided IATA-compliant carrier
- Vet fee if EU Pet Passport update needed
Before You Leave Netherlands
Show export requirements from Netherlands
Export permit: {'required': False}
Health certificate: EU Pet Passport covers intra-EU movement. Issued by an NVWA-authorised veterinarian.
Things to Know Before You Book
EU travel with your pet: why this route is genuinely easy
Greece and the Netherlands are both part of the EU’s companion animal movement framework, governed by EU Regulation 2019/2035. For your dog or cat, that means: show a valid EU Pet Passport at the border, and you are in.
The passport records your pet’s microchip number and vaccination history. As long as the rabies vaccination is current and the microchip is readable, Greek border vets have everything they need.
Some owners worry about travelling through other EU countries on connecting flights. For intra-EU connections, the same passport rules apply. You are not entering a third country.
The vaccination timing that catches people out
The 21-day rule is the one detail that derails even the most organised pet owners. After a first rabies vaccination, the pet is not cleared for EU travel until 21 days have passed. After a lapsed booster, the same clock resets.
If your pet’s passport shows a vaccination that expired three months ago, you cannot simply get a booster and fly next week. You need the booster, plus 21 days. Build that into your planning.
Annual boosters, kept current, avoid this problem entirely. Many Dutch vets will flag the upcoming expiry, but it is worth checking yourself before any trip.
Which airline to choose from Amsterdam to Greece
KLM is the home carrier and flies direct from Schiphol to Athens (and seasonally to Thessaloniki, Heraklion, and other Greek airports). Its cabin pet process is well-established. Register the pet when you buy your ticket.
Transavia (KLM’s low-cost arm) also covers Amsterdam to Greek destinations seasonally, particularly in summer. It accepts cabin pets on most routes.
Aegean Airlines, flying out of the Greek end, is another reliable option if you are connecting through another hub.
Ryanair and easyJet both operate heavily on this corridor. Neither accepts pets. The fares look attractive until you remember you are travelling with a dog.
Frequently Asked Questions
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