Bringing Your Pet to Athens, Step by Step
Relocating a pet to Athens involves navigating the EU’s pet travel requirements, from microchipping and rabies vaccination to the right health certificate for entry into Greece. Starwood Pet Travel handles every step of this process for you. We coordinate with airlines, ground handlers, and Greek border officials to make sure your dog or cat arrives safely and on schedule.
Whether you’re moving to Athens for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Greece, our team manages the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Airports Serving Athens
Recommended
ATH
Greece’s main international gateway
- Distance from city center 20 miles (33 km)
- Live animal cargo facilityYes
- Direct flights from US hubsSeasonal, from select major hubs
- Best forNearly every pet relocation to Athens
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Why airport choice matters
Athens International Airport is the only practical gateway for Athens, so the real choice is the route into it. Nonstop flights from the US run mainly in the warmer months, which is also when airline heat limits are strictest for pets in the hold. Outside that window, most pets connect through a major European hub, where they clear EU entry before the last leg. Starwood weighs season, temperature, and connection time and chooses the routing that’s safest for your pet.
Traveling to Athens with Pets
What Are the Requirements to Bring My Pet to Athens?
Greece follows the European Union’s pet travel rules. Getting the steps in the right order is what lets pets enter without quarantine.
It starts with a microchip that meets ISO 11784/11785 standards. The chip must be implanted and scanned before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine won’t count for EU travel. Your pet then needs a rabies vaccination, followed by a wait of at least 21 days. Some vaccine manufacturers require 30 days. For pets vaccinated in the US, the EU treats a first rabies shot as valid for only one year, even if it’s a three-year vaccine. Pets traveling from the United States don’t need a rabies antibody blood test, and Greece doesn’t require tapeworm treatment for dogs.
The final piece is the EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited veterinarian issues it, and the USDA endorses it. For Greece, the USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate, so the original paper document has to travel with your pet. New EU non-commercial certificates took effect October 1, 2026, and new commercial certificates took effect October 17, 2026. Under the new non-commercial certificate:
- The document is valid for 30 days after your vet issues it.
- USDA endorsement must happen within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU.
- Once in the EU, the certificate can be used for travel within the EU for up to six months, as long as the rabies vaccination stays valid.
Once you’ve settled in Athens, connect with a local veterinarian. Greece keeps a National Register of Companion Animals where certified veterinarians record pets and their treatments. A Greek vet can enter your pet and keep its records current from your first visit.
Commercial vs. non-commercial pet travel to Athens
Your pet can travel under a non-commercial certificate if both of these apply:
- You’re on the same flight, or someone you authorize travels with your pet within five days of your own trip.
- You’re moving five or fewer pets.
A commercial certificate is required if no owner or authorized person can travel with the pet, if you’re moving six or more pets, or if the pet is changing owners. Commercial certificates require a veterinary exam within 48 hours of departure.
Here’s the reassuring part: when these steps are completed correctly and in sequence, quarantine is not required. Pets that arrive with missing or incorrect paperwork can be quarantined or refused entry at the owner’s expense. This is exactly why timing and sequencing matter, and it’s where working with a pet relocation specialist makes the most difference.
Which Airport Should I Fly My Pet Into, and What Happens on Arrival?
Athens International Airport Eleftherios Venizelos (ATH) is the airport for any Athens relocation, about 20 miles east of the city center by road. Nonstop US service is mostly seasonal, so many pets arrive through a connection at a major European hub.
On arrival, your pet’s microchip and health certificate are checked at its first EU airport. If your pet connects through another EU country, that check happens there and the last leg into Athens is treated as an EU flight. Pets flying as cargo must also clear customs before they can be collected. Starwood coordinates clearance through our handling partners, so your pet moves from the aircraft to your new home as quickly as possible.
What Airlines Fly Pets to Athens, and How Should I Choose a Route?
Pets reach Athens on seasonal nonstop flights or through European hubs. Not every airline accepts pets as cargo, and pet policies vary by route, so Starwood confirms each carrier’s current rules before booking.
The right route depends on your departure city, travel dates, your pet’s breed and size, and seasonal temperature restrictions. Athens summers are hot, and many airlines limit pets in the hold when temperatures climb at the departure, connecting, or arrival airport. Snub-nosed breeds face extra airline limits. Starwood compares the options and books the safest, most direct routing available for your pet.
How Long Does the Process Take, and What Does It Cost?
For pets coming from the US, the minimum timeline is about 21 to 30 days after the rabies vaccination, depending on the vaccine. We recommend starting two to three months before your move. That leaves time for vet appointments, USDA endorsement, mailing the original ink-endorsed certificate, airline bookings, and seasonal restrictions.
Pets coming from countries the EU doesn’t list as low-risk need a rabies blood test and a three-month wait, so plan for at least four months.
Cost depends on your pet’s size, departure city, and routing. Use our cost calculator to get an estimate.
Why Choose Starwood for Pet Travel to Athens?
Starwood Pet Travel is an IATA-certified international pet relocation company and part of IVC Evidensia. Moving a pet to Greece comes with specific challenges:
- New EU health certificates
- Original ink USDA endorsement
- Seasonal nonstop service and summer heat limits
- Setting up care with a Greek veterinarian
Our team handles all of it, from vet coordination and USDA paperwork to airline booking, customs clearance, and delivery to your door. Whether you’re moving to Athens for work, relocating your family, or planning an extended stay in Greece, we manage the logistics so you can focus on the move itself.
Ready to start your pet’s journey to Athens? Request a free quote.
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