Taking your dog or cat from Rwanda to Greece comes down to good timing and the right paperwork. Expect around 20-26 weeks of lead time to line up the documents and the fixed …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum age 12 weeks. 21-day …
Rabies titre testRequired. Rwanda 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 Rwanda 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 or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination
Microchip implantation
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian in Rwanda
2
After microchipping. Minimum age 12 weeks.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: RAB-authorised veterinarian
3
At least 30 days after vaccination
30-day wait, then blood draw for FAVN or ELISA titre test
Responsible: Vet, sample sent to an EU-approved laboratory
4
Counts from the draw date, not the result date
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
5
Issued within 10 days of travel
EU-format health certificate, RAB endorsement
Responsible: RAB-authorised vet, endorsed by RAB
6
After the 90-day wait has fully elapsed
Travel Kigali to Athens via Addis Ababa or Istanbul
Responsible: Owner and airline cargo handlers
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. Rwanda 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 before entry. 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, RAB-endorsed, issued within 10 days of entry into Greece.
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate from an RAB-authorised veterinarian, endorsed by the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board before departure.
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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.
Ethiopian Airlines
Kigali (KGL) to Addis Ababa (ADD), then ADD to Athens (ATH). Ethiopian's own Addis hub connects directly onward to Athens, the shortest routing of the three options.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines
KGL to Istanbul (IST), then a short onward hop to Athens. Istanbul's proximity to Greece keeps the final leg brief.
Cargo Only
Brussels Airlines
KGL to Brussels (BRU), with an onward connection to Athens. A well-established route for Rwanda-origin pets, though the routing runs north before turning south again.
Cargo and Cabin
Costs
What this route typically costs
FAVN or ELISA titre test at an EU-approved laboratory: EUR 100-200
Cargo fee, Kigali to Athens via chosen hub: EUR 800-1,900 depending on crate size and routing
RAB export health certificate and endorsement fees
IATA-approved travel crate: EUR 60-250
Pre-travel veterinary examination fee
Total typical range: EUR 1,300-3,200 over 5-7 months
Critical points
The 90-day wait is counted from the blood draw date, not the day the lab reports a result.
Microchip before vaccination, without exception, or the whole sequence restarts.
There is no EU-approved titre test laboratory in Rwanda, so the sample travels internationally. Confirm the courier arrangement with your vet well ahead of a fixed date.
The EU-format health certificate is valid for only 10 days. Time its issue against the actual arrival date in Athens, not the departure date from Kigali.
What Greece requires
The requirements for Greece are thorough rather than difficult. Work through them methodically and confirm anything you are unsure about with the official source.
Avoiding the common mistakes
Confirm live animal acceptance on every flight segment before booking. Not all aircraft or connections take pets, and cargo terms can differ leg to leg.
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.
FAQ
Common questions
Rwanda is not on the EU’s approved list under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so the full unlisted-country sequence applies: a titre test of at least 0.5 IU/ml at an EU-approved laboratory, plus a 90-day wait from the blood draw.
Ethiopian Airlines via its own Addis Ababa hub connects most directly onward to Athens. Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is a close second.
The blood draw date. This is the detail that catches out the most owners on unlisted-country routes; a fast lab result doesn’t shorten the wait.
The Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB) endorses the EU-format health certificate after an RAB-authorised vet issues it, ahead of departure.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Greece.
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