Pet Transport Greece to Brazil: Ministry Health Certificate and MAPA Arrival Process
4-8 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Low
Route complexity
✓ Managed
Full door-to-door service
Regulations verified
Regulations sourced from DEFRA, USDA APHIS, DAFF and other official authorities.
How we source our data →
Overview
Greece to Brazil is one of the more manageable long-haul pet moves. Brazil does not require a titre test for dogs and cats from Greece, no quarantine applies, and the main requirements are a valid rabies vaccination (21 days before arrival), an antiparasitic treatment for dogs, and a CVI endorsed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development within 10 days of the arrival date. Allow four to eight weeks.
Step by step
The Greece to Brazil process
1
Before the rabies vaccination.
Implant ISO microchip
Responsible: Vet
2
After microchip. Allow 21 days before departure.
Rabies vaccination
Responsible: Vet
3
Between 1 and 15 days before arrival in Brazil. Dogs require documented ectoparasite treatment.
Antiparasitic treatment (dogs only)
Responsible: Vet
4
At least 3 to 4 weeks before travel.
Book cargo flights
Responsible: Owner or agent
5
Within 10 days before arrival in Brazil.
CVI issued and endorsed by Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food
Responsible: Official vet, Greek Ministry of Rural Development
6
On arrival. Proceed to MAPA inspection desk before customs.
MAPA inspection at GRU or GIG on arrival
Responsible: MAPA
Checklist
Brazil: entry requirements
Requirement
Detail
Microchip
Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard. Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccination
Required. Dogs and cats over 3 months of age. Must use an inactivated vaccine. At least 21 days must pass after primary vaccination before entry.
Rabies titre test
Not required. Brazil does not require a FAVN titre test for dogs and cats from Greece.
Quarantine
No mandatory quarantine for dogs and cats, provided all documentation is complete on arrival at the MAPA inspection desk.
Import permit
Not required for personal pet dogs and cats (up to 2 per passenger).
Health certificate
CVI (Certificado Veterinário Internacional) in the format required by MAPA (Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply). Issued by an accredited vet and endorsed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Valid 10 days from the endorsement date.
Leaving Greece
Export requirements
Requirement
Detail
Export permit
No formal export permit required for pet dogs and cats from Greece. The endorsed health certificate covers the export documentation.
Health certificate
EU-format health certificate issued by an official veterinarian and endorsed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food (YPEN).
Costs
What this route typically costs
1
Vaccinations and vet consultation: EUR 80 to EUR 250
2
CVI issuance and Ministry of Rural Development endorsement: EUR 50 to EUR 150
3
Antiparasitic treatment: EUR 20 to EUR 80
4
IATA-compliant travel crate: EUR 100 to EUR 500
5
Cargo airline fees (ATH to GRU): EUR 800 to EUR 2,500
6
Pet transport agent fee: EUR 400 to EUR 1,200
Critical points
Read before you book
⚠ The CVI must be endorsed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food (YPEN), not just signed by a vet. Allow time for the endorsement step.
⚠ The 10-day validity runs from the MAPA endorsement of the CVI. Time this to fall within 10 days of arrival in Brazil, not departure from Greece.
⚠ Dogs require antiparasitic treatment against ectoparasites (ticks and fleas) administered between 1 and 15 days before arrival. Cats do not currently require this. Keep the treatment record as MAPA will ask for it.
⚠ Brazil has a 2-pet limit per passenger under the accompanied baggage rule. More than 2 pets require a formal import permit from MAPA.
Carriers
Airlines on this route
TAP Air Portugal Cargo
Athens (ATH) to São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) or Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG) via Lisbon (LIS). TAP is the natural carrier on this corridor via its Lisbon hub. TAP Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Lufthansa Cargo
ATH via Frankfurt (FRA) to GRU. Lufthansa Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
Turkish Airlines Cargo
ATH via Istanbul (IST) to GRU. Turkish Airlines Cargo accepts pets.
Cargo Only
The CVI: how Greece's endorsement works
The CVI, or Certificado Veterinário Internacional, is Brazil’s standard import health document for pets. Your Greek vet issues it in the MAPA format, documenting the microchip number, rabies vaccination date and product, antiparasitic treatment (for dogs), and the pet’s health status.
The CVI then needs to be endorsed by the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food (YPEN). This endorsement step is the government-to-government verification that makes the document acceptable to MAPA in Brazil. Allow a few days for this endorsement. The 10-day validity clock starts from the MAPA endorsement date, not the vet’s signature date.
MAPA arrival inspection: what to expect in Brazil
On arrival at Guarulhos (GRU) or Galeão (GIG), do not go directly to general customs. Proceed to the MAPA inspection desk in the arrivals area. A MAPA inspector will check the CVI, verify the microchip number against the chip reader, confirm the vaccination and antiparasitic treatment dates, and clear the pet for entry.
If the documents are complete and current, this inspection is quick. The MAPA desk at GRU is well-accustomed to international pet arrivals. Your cargo agent will advise on the cargo terminal process, which is handled separately from passenger arrivals.
FAQ
Common questions
No. Brazil does not require a FAVN rabies titre test for dogs or cats. The requirements are: ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination (primary at least 21 days before arrival), antiparasitic treatment for dogs (1 to 15 days before arrival), and a MAPA-format CVI endorsed by the Greek government authority. This makes Brazil considerably simpler to prepare for than many destinations.
As of 2026, the ectoparasite treatment requirement applies to dogs, not cats. MAPA requires dogs to have documented treatment against ticks and fleas administered between 1 and 15 days before arrival. For cats, the standard requirements are microchip, rabies vaccination, and endorsed health certificate. Verify with MAPA or a Brazil-experienced pet transport agent in case regulations have been updated since this was written.
No. Brazil does not impose mandatory quarantine for dogs and cats from Greece, provided all documents are correct on arrival. The MAPA inspection at GRU or GIG is a documentary and physical check, not a quarantine hold. If documentation is missing or incorrect, the animal may be held at the facility at the owner’s expense while issues are resolved.
São Paulo Guarulhos (GRU) is the main international gateway and is the best option for most arrivals. MAPA has a well-staffed inspection desk there. Rio de Janeiro Galeão (GIG) is also an approved entry point. Brasília (BSB) and other major airports can handle international pet arrivals but are less commonly used for cargo routes from Greece.