Moving your pet from Greece to Germany?

The Greece–Germany route requires quarantine on arrival, so planning well ahead matters. In plain terms, this is a moderate route, meaning the requirements are relatively straightforward compared to many international moves.

Most owners start the process around 20-26 weeks before the flight date. That window is not arbitrary — it accounts for vaccination waiting periods, titre test processing, and document endorsement.

Here is how the preparation unfolds from start to travel day:

Costs vary considerably depending on your pet's size, the airline, and whether you use a pet relocation agent. The main factors to price up are:

• Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)
• IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
• Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate
• Rabies titre test laboratory fee
• Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)

Microchip: Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or at same time as rabies vaccination

Rabies vaccination: Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel. Standard EU 21-day wait from date of first vaccination before travel. No additional Germany-specific requirements beyond EU framework.

Titre test: Required for: Pets from unlisted third countries (countries not on EU Annex II list). Not required for: Pets from EU member states, listed third countries (all P1 countries are listed). Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from test date before entry

Health certificate: Required

Import permit: No formal import permit. EU pet passport (intra-EU) or Animal Health Certificate (from third countries) serves as documentation.

Quarantine: No quarantine for pets entering with correct EU documentation. Non-compliant animals may be returned, quarantined at owner's expense, or in worst case euthanised.

Export permit: No formal export permit required. Destination import documentation serves as travel authority.

Several airlines serve routes between Greece and Germany, each with different policies on pets in cabin versus cargo hold:

Compared to some international pet transport routes, Greece to Germany is manageable. That said, every country’s rules are different and the timing requirements are strict.

Germany follows EU harmonised pet movement rules (Regulation 576/2013, transitioning to new rules under Regulation 2026/131 from 22 April 2026). Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) oversees. Individual Bundeslaender may have additional animal welfare rules. Germany is considered pet-friendly with high dog ownership rates.

Microchip first, then vaccinate. The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count. It’s the most common and costly mistake people make.

Book the titre test laboratory well in advance. Approved labs have limited appointment slots and the blood sample processing takes time. Don’t leave this to the last few weeks.

Get the health certificate from an official (government-approved) veterinarian, not just your regular vet. Some countries have strict requirements about who can sign the certificate. Check the destination authority’s approved list.

If this is your first international pet move, consider using a registered pet transport agent. They handle the documentation, airline booking, crate sizing, and can troubleshoot issues. IPATA-registered agents are the recognised standard.

• Pet Transport Germany to Greece