If you are relocating a pet from Uganda to Greece, the process is manageable once you know the sequence. This route takes some organising, and roughly 20-28 weeks of preparation is about right. …
In short:
Preparing to move a pet from Uganda to Greece
typically takes around 20-28 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 Uganda to Greece import process
01
Before any rabies vaccination
Microchip implanted (ISO 11784/11785)
Responsible: Ugandan vet
02
After the chip is confirmed
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Ugandan vet
03
At least 30 days after vaccination
Blood drawn, shipped to an approved laboratory
Responsible: Ugandan vet and laboratory
04
Counted from the draw, not the result
90-day wait from the blood draw date
Responsible: Owner
05
Within 10 days of travel
MAAIF-endorsed EU-format certificate issued
Responsible: MAAIF-authorised vet, then MAAIF
06
Once the 90-day date is confirmed
Cargo booked, Entebbe to Athens via chosen hub
Responsible: Owner or pet transport agent
Requirements
Greece entry requirements
Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.
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. Uganda is not on the EU's approved list under Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636. Titre test at an approved laboratory, minimum 0.5 IU/ml, drawn at least 30 days after vaccination, with a 90-day gap before the certificate is issued. 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, MAAIF-endorsed, issued within 10 days of entry into Greece.
Leaving Uganda
Export requirements
Export permit
No formal export permit required for personal companion pets leaving Uganda.
Health certificate
Official export health certificate from a MAAIF-authorised vet, endorsed by MAAIF, reformatted to EU standard. Issued within 10 days of travel.
Costs
What this route typically costs
Titre test and international sample shipping: EUR 100-220
MAAIF certificate and endorsement: UGX 100,000-250,000 (approx EUR 24-60)
Cargo Entebbe to Athens via chosen hub: EUR 800-1,900 depending on crate size
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 80-300
Pet transport agent coordination: EUR 400-900
Total typical range: EUR 1,400-3,400 over a 5-7 month window
Critical points
The 90-day wait is counted from the blood draw date, not the day the lab reports the result.
Microchip before vaccination, without exception, or the sequence has to restart.
No approved laboratory operates within Uganda, so the blood sample travels internationally. Confirm the courier arrangement with your vet well ahead of a fixed travel date.
MAAIF endorsement can take 2 to 4 weeks. Start this while the 90-day wait is still running, not after it finishes.
Airlines
Approved carriers on this route
Airline
Notes
Type
Ethiopian Airlines
Entebbe (EBB) to Addis Ababa (ADD), then ADD to Athens (ATH). Ethiopian serves Athens directly from its Addis hub, making this one of the more direct routings in this series.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines
Direct EBB to Istanbul (IST), then a short onward hop to Athens. The non-stop Entebbe leg and Istanbul's proximity to Greece make this a strong option.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Direct EBB to Doha (DOH), then DOH to Athens. A dependable Gulf alternative, subject to summer heat embargoes.
Cargo Only
The rules for bringing a pet into Greece
Greece asks for several pieces of paperwork, and they all need to line up. A checklist and a clear timeline are your best tools here.
How to keep this move on track
Get your pet used to the travel crate weeks in advance. A calm, crate-familiar animal travels far better than one meeting the crate for the first time at the airport.
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.
FAQ
Common questions about this route
The Directorate General of Veterinary Services, under the Ministry of Rural Development and Food, inspects health certificates and titre test records at the point of entry, typically Athens International Airport.
Not non-stop, but Ethiopian Airlines via Addis Ababa and Turkish Airlines via Istanbul both offer relatively short connecting routings compared with other European destinations in this series.
Yes. Greece applies the same unlisted-country rules to cats and dogs. Microchip, vaccination, titre test and the 90-day wait all apply regardless of species.
20 to 28 weeks from a standing start, once the 120-day minimum biological sequence, MAAIF endorsement, and international lab shipping are accounted for.
Airline guides
Ethiopian Airlines
Turkish Airlines
Qatar Airways
Breed guides
Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.