Moving a dog or cat from the Philippines to Greece is a significant undertaking. The Philippines is a non-listed country under EU animal movement regulations, which means your pet must complete a rabies titre test and serve a mandatory 3-month waiting period before they can enter any EU country.
You cannot shortcut the waiting period. Start your preparation at least 22 weeks before your intended travel date.
Greece is an EU member state and applies EU Regulation 576/2013 fully. Entry must be through a designated Border Control Post (BCP), where a MINAGRIC veterinarian will check your pet’s documents. Everything must be in order.
Documents Required for This Route
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Health certificate | Required. EU-format veterinary health certificate for non-listed countries (Annex IV of Regulation 577/2013). Must be issued by an official veterinarian and endorsed by BAI within 10 days of travel. |
| Microchip record | Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count. |
| Rabies vaccination record | Required. Minimum age 12 weeks at time of first vaccination. Vaccination must have been administered after microchipping. |
| Rabies titre test | Required. Philippines is a non-listed country under EU Regulation 576/2013. Rabies antibody titre test (FAVN) required: minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, at an EU-approved laboratory. A mandatory 3-month waiting period applies after a satisfactory titre test result before travel. |
| Import permit | Not required. However, all documentation must comply with EU Regulation 576/2013 before travel. |
| Export permit (Philippines) | Not required for personal pets. |
| Export health certificate | BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) export health certificate required. Issued by an accredited government veterinarian and endorsed by BAI. Allow 5-7 working days. Must be issued in the EU-required format for non-listed countries. |
How the Process Works
Greece: Entry Requirements for Pets
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Microchip | Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count. |
| Rabies vaccination | Required. Minimum age 12 weeks at time of first vaccination. Vaccination must have been administered after microchipping. |
| Rabies titre test | Required. Philippines is a non-listed country under EU Regulation 576/2013. Rabies antibody titre test (FAVN) required: minimum 0.5 IU/ml. Blood drawn at least 30 days after the last rabies vaccination, at an EU-approved laboratory. A mandatory 3-month waiting period applies after a satisfactory titre test result before travel. |
| Quarantine | No quarantine for compliant pets. Documentary check by official veterinarian at designated Border Control Post (BCP) on arrival. |
| Import permit | Not required. However, all documentation must comply with EU Regulation 576/2013 before travel. |
| Health certificate | Required. EU-format veterinary health certificate for non-listed countries (Annex IV of Regulation 577/2013). Must be issued by an official veterinarian and endorsed by BAI within 10 days of travel. |
Leaving Philippines: Export Requirements
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Export permit | Not required for personal pets. |
| Health certificate | BAI (Bureau of Animal Industry) export health certificate required. Issued by an accredited government veterinarian and endorsed by BAI. Allow 5-7 working days. Must be issued in the EU-required format for non-listed countries. |
What This Route Typically Costs
| # | Cost factor |
|---|---|
| 1 | Airline cargo fees (long-haul MNL-ATH route, typically higher than short-haul) |
| 2 | IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire) |
| 3 | Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate |
| 4 | Rabies titre test (FAVN) laboratory fee |
| 5 | EU-format health certificate preparation and BAI endorsement fee |
| 6 | Pet transport agent fee (strongly recommended for this complexity level) |
Critical Points — Read Before You Book
EU non-listed country protocol explained
The Philippines sits in the non-listed category under EU pet movement rules. This differs from listed countries (like the UK or Switzerland) which have streamlined protocols.
For non-listed countries, the EU requires a full rabies antibody titre test (FAVN method) with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The blood must be drawn at an EU-approved laboratory and at least 30 days after your pet’s last rabies vaccination. After a satisfactory result, a 3-month wait applies before your pet can travel to Greece.
This sequence is the rate-limiting step for the entire route. Everything else – crate training, flights, paperwork – can be done during the wait. Plan around it, not against it.
Practical advice for shipping your pet from the Philippines
Microchip first, vaccinate second. This is the most common and most costly mistake. If the microchip is implanted after the rabies vaccination, that vaccination does not count for EU entry purposes. Start over.
Use an EU-approved laboratory for the titre test. The list of approved labs is maintained by each EU member state’s veterinary authority. Not every lab in the Philippines qualifies. Your vet or a pet transport agent can advise on options.
There are no direct Philippines to Greece flights. You will route through a hub – Frankfurt (FRA) via Lufthansa, Dubai (DXB) via Emirates, or Doha (DOH) via Qatar Airways are the main cargo options. Each hub adds complexity. Work with an agent who knows the pet cargo connection processes at each hub.
The EU-format health certificate (Annex IV) must be issued by an official veterinarian, endorsed by BAI, and dated within 10 days of travel. Get the endorsement appointment booked in advance – BAI endorsement is not same-day.
Frequently Asked Questions
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