Home/Routes/United Kingdom to Greece
GB
GR

Pet Transport UK to Greece: The 2026 AHC Guide for Athens and the Islands

Greece is an EU member state, and the UK holds listed third country status, so UK dogs and cats do not need a titre test or quarantine to enter Greece with correct documentation. …

2-4 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
Get my free quote
Get a free quote
What's required
MicrochipISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must …
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Primary course completed at …
Rabies titre testNot required. The UK is listed by the EU …
QuarantineNo routine quarantine for dogs and cats …
Import permitNot required for personal pets from the …
Health certificateAHC issued within 10 days of travel. …
Related routes
Pet Transport Greece to UK→Pet Transport UK to Italy→Pet Transport UK to Spain→
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

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
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required. Must be implanted before or on the same day as the first rabies vaccination. Source: European Commission, Regulation (EU) 576/2013.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Primary course completed at least 21 days before entry. Booster vaccinations valid immediately if administered before the previous vaccination expired. Source: European Commission pet travel rules.
Rabies titre test
Not required. The UK is listed by the EU as an approved third country. No titre test needed for personal pets from the UK entering Greece.
Quarantine
No routine quarantine for dogs and cats from the UK with correct documentation.
Import permit
Not required for personal pets from the UK.
Health certificate
AHC issued within 10 days of travel. Valid for that EU entry and for up to 4 months of onward travel within EU member states. Source: Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
Export permit
No formal UK export permit required.
Health certificate
Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of travel to Greece. UK pet passports issued in Great Britain are not valid for EU entry post-Brexit. Source: UK government, gov.uk/taking-pet-abroad.
"

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. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

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.

If your final destination is a Greek island rather than Athens, all international pet cargo enters through Athens International Airport (ATH). Domestic onward transport to the islands requires additional planning, as domestic Greek airline routes have their own pet policies, and ferry services vary in how they handle pets.

Greece has breed-specific legislation targeting Pit Bull-type dogs and certain other breeds. Confirm with the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food whether your dog's breed is restricted before making the move.

Summer heat and why October to May is the easier window

Greece is one of the hotter EU destinations for pet cargo, and summer creates a genuine logistics problem. Athens International Airport sits in the Attica basin and temperatures can climb well above 35 degrees Celsius from June through August, with some days reaching 40 degrees or beyond.

Airlines set ground temperature thresholds for pet cargo. When the temperature at the origin, transit, or destination airport breaches the threshold (typically around 29-32 degrees Celsius at ground level, depending on the carrier), the cargo booking is cancelled or refused. For brachycephalic breeds, the threshold is lower still, and restrictions effectively run from May through September on busy Mediterranean routes.

The practical advice is to plan travel for October through April if you have flexibility. Athens winters are mild (averaging 12-15 degrees Celsius) and the journey is straightforward in cooler months. If a summer move is unavoidable, confirm the specific heat embargo policy for each leg of the journey with your airline, and build in a backup plan if the booking is cancelled due to temperatures on the day.

Island destinations and the Athens routing

All international pet cargo arriving in Greece enters through Athens International Airport (ATH). There is no direct international cargo routing to Greek islands such as Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos, or Corfu. If your final destination is an island, you need a plan for the onward leg after Athens.

Domestic Greek airlines (Olympic Air, Sky Express) have their own pet policies for in-cabin or checked pets on domestic routes. These are separate from cargo rules and vary by carrier and aircraft type. Ferry routes also connect Athens (Piraeus) to most major islands, and some ferry operators allow pets on board in appropriate carriers or crates. Research the onward connection before finalising your Athens arrival.

Athens itself has a large expat community and good veterinary facilities. The Athens veterinary association can help with finding a practice for ongoing care.

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.
All international pet cargo enters Greece through Athens International Airport (ATH). There is no direct international cargo service to Greek islands. After clearing Greek customs in Athens, you will need to arrange onward transport to your island destination, either via a domestic flight (Olympic Air, Sky Express, with their own pet policies) or by ferry from Piraeus. Research both options before travel.
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.
Yes. Greece has breed-specific legislation covering Pit Bull-type dogs and certain other breeds. The rules apply to importation and ownership. Check with the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food (minagric.gr) before importing a dog that could be classified as a restricted type.
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.

Get my free quote
Airline guides
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

Browse all breed guides →

Get a free pet transport quote

Tell us your route and pet details. We will send you a step-by-step plan and tailored quote.

Request a Quote
Chat with us