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

A move from United Kingdom to Greece with a dog or cat is mostly about preparing the documents in the right order. Expect about 2-4 weeks, with a short and predictable checklist. …

2-4 wks
Preparation needed
None
Quarantine on arrival
Low
Route complexity
Managed
Full door to door
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Lead time needed
2-4 weeks
Quarantine
None
Route complexity
Low
Airlines
3 carriers on this route
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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→
Country and airline guides
Shipping pets from the UK→Greece pet import rules→Aegean Airlines cargo policy→
In short: Preparing to move a pet from United Kingdom to Greece typically takes around 2-4 weeks. There is no routine quarantine on arrival for compliant pets. A rabies titre test is not required.
Regulations checked
Prepared and reviewed by , 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

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, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131.
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.
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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.

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.

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.

What Greece requires

The requirements for Greece are light, but not zero. A little planning goes a long way on a route like this.

Avoiding the common mistakes

If this is your first international move, consider an IPATA-registered pet transport agent. They handle the documents, airline booking and crate sizing, and can troubleshoot problems.

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.

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.
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.
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Airline guides
  • Aegean Airlines
  • British Airways
  • Lufthansa Cargo
Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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Sources

Requirements on this page were checked against the authorities below. Rules change, so confirm current conditions with the relevant authority before you travel.

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