Prepared by Marcus Webb, Senior Pet Relocation Consultant
Step by step
The import process, in full
1
Start of planning.
Confirm microchip is ISO-compliant and implanted before the first rabies vaccination.
Responsible: Your vet
2
Several weeks before travel.
Check rabies vaccination is current and the primary course was completed at least 21 days before travel. Schedule a booster if needed.
Responsible: Your vet
3
When planning travel dates.
Check airline heat restrictions for your travel dates. Athens temperatures regularly exceed 35 degrees Celsius between June and September.
Responsible: You
4
Within 10 days of travel.
Book an APHA-authorised official vet to issue the AHC within the 10-day window.
Responsible: APHA-authorised official vet
5
Several weeks before travel.
Book cargo space with Aegean Airlines or British Airways from Heathrow to Athens.
Responsible: You
6
Travel day.
Travel to Athens. AHC and microchip checked on arrival at ATH.
Responsible: You and airline
Which Greece rules depend on a pet coming from the United Kingdom?
The EU sorts non-EU countries into groups, and the United Kingdom falls in “Listed third countries and territories, Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636”.
No rabies antibody titration test needed. Animal health certificate, microchip and rabies vaccination still required; entry through a travellers' point of entry with documentary and identity checks. Montenegro and Serbia were added by Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/1228. The EUR-Lex text of 2026/636 lists the USA as including American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands. Official source
The rules that apply to every pet entering Greece, whatever the origin, are listed with their official sources in our Greece guide.
What does the United Kingdom require before your pet leaves?
We are still checking the export rules of the United Kingdom against official government pages, so they are not shown here yet.
"
We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your United Kingdom to Greece move gets missed.
Pet Transport Global
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
Aegean Airlines operates from London Heathrow (LHR) to Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH). Aegean Cargo accepts pets as manifested cargo. As Greece's largest airline, Aegean has established procedures for pet cargo handling at ATH. Seasonal restrictions apply in summer: confirm availability and breed eligibility before booking for June-September travel.
Cargo Only
British Airways
British Airways operates from Heathrow to Athens via IAG Cargo. BA Cargo accepts pets on the LHR-ATH route. Confirm crate dimensions and heat embargo policy for summer travel dates.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
Via Frankfurt (FRA) to Athens. Lufthansa Cargo has an extensive European network. Hub connection adds transit time but may offer more scheduling options.
Cargo Only
Costs
What this route typically costs
AHC from APHA-authorised official vet: GBP 150 to GBP 400
Pet cargo (London to Athens): GBP 200 to GBP 650
IATA-compliant travel crate: GBP 60 to GBP 250 if needed
Total typical range: GBP 410 to GBP 1,300
Critical points
Athens summer heat is intense. Temperatures regularly exceed 35-40 degrees Celsius from June through August. Airlines apply heat embargoes on pet cargo during this period, and brachycephalic breeds face near-total restrictions in summer. Plan travel for October to May if possible.
UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are not valid for EU entry. The AHC from an APHA-authorised vet, issued within 10 days of travel, is the required document.
Breed is not part of the Greek import requirements: the microchip, the rabies vaccination and the AHC apply to every dog whatever its type. Greek national law on dog ownership is a separate matter from import control, and we have not confirmed a current Greek restricted-breed list against a Greek government source, so ask the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food directly if you own a type that is restricted in other countries. The breed rule that bites on this route is the airline one: flat-faced breeds face seasonal or year-round limits in the hold.
FAQ
Common questions
No. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Scotland, Wales) are not valid for EU entry since January 2021. You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official vet within 10 days of travel to Greece. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
No. Greece applies EU regulations, and the UK is listed as an approved third country. No titre test is required for personal pets from the UK entering Greece. You need the AHC, a current ISO microchip, and a valid rabies vaccination with the primary course completed at least 21 days before travel.
It is possible but more difficult. Athens temperatures regularly exceed 35-40 degrees Celsius in July and August, and most airlines apply heat embargoes on pet cargo during this period. Brachycephalic breeds face near-total restrictions. The recommended travel window is October to May, when heat restrictions are rarely an issue. If summer travel is unavoidable, confirm heat embargo policies directly with your airline.
Aegean Airlines operates from London Heathrow (LHR) to Athens (ATH) and accepts pets as manifested cargo via Aegean Cargo. British Airways also flies the LHR-ATH route with IAG Cargo handling. Lufthansa Cargo offers an alternative via Frankfurt. Confirm seasonal restrictions and heat embargo policies before booking.
Not in the import rules. Greece applies the EU requirements, and those turn on the microchip, the rabies vaccination and the Animal Health Certificate, not on the breed of the dog. Greek national law on dog ownership is separate from import control, and we have not confirmed a current Greek restricted-breed list against a Greek government source, so contact the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food (minagric.gr) if you own a type that is restricted elsewhere in Europe. The limit most owners meet on this route comes from the airline: British Airways and Aegean both restrict flat-faced breeds in the hold, and that applies whatever Greek law says.
Ready when you are
Move your pet
to Greece.
Get a free, fully itemised quote for this route. Preparation timeline, full cost breakdown, and breed specific advice. No commitment.
Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm
current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.