GR
Greece
✈️
TH
Thailand

Pet Transport from Greece to Thailand

8-12 weeks
Typical preparation
None
No quarantine required
Medium
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

Relocating a pet from Greece to Thailand is a manageable route, but it has one step that stops people in their tracks: the health certificate must be endorsed by the Thai embassy in Athens before you travel. You cannot sort this on arrival.

Start the process at least eight weeks before your travel date. The documentation itself is not complicated, but the embassy endorsement adds time and a fixed appointment. Thailand’s Department of Livestock Development (DLD) controls all pet imports.

Greece is an EU member, so your pet’s health history will follow EU standards. Thailand recognises these, but still requires its own import permit and embassy endorsement process.

Step by step

The Greece to Thailand process

1
First step. Must be done before any rabies vaccination.
Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)

Responsible: Your veterinarian

2
After microchip. Two doses required (21 days apart) if no prior valid vaccination history.
Rabies vaccination course

Responsible: Your veterinarian

3
At least 15 days before travel. Apply via Thai DLD or through your agent.
Apply for Thailand DLD import permit

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

4
6-8 weeks before travel. Confirm pet acceptance in writing.
Book compliant airline and confirm pet space

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

5
Within 10 days of departure. Issued by official vet under Greek MRDF.
Obtain official veterinary health certificate

Responsible: Official veterinarian (Greek Ministry authorised)

6
Allow 3-5 working days. Book appointment in advance.
Get health certificate endorsed by Thai embassy in Athens

Responsible: You (must present in person in most cases)

7
At least 3 hours before departure for cargo pets.
Travel day: check in with full document set

Responsible: You and airline cargo desk

Checklist

Thailand: entry requirements

RequirementDetail
MicrochipRequired (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before rabies vaccination.
Rabies vaccinationRequired. Minimum two doses given at least 21 days apart, or one dose if the pet has a valid vaccination history. Certificate must be current.
Rabies titre testNot required for pets from Greece under current DLD rules. Verify with Thai DLD before travel as rules can change.
QuarantineNo quarantine if documentation is complete and compliant.
Import permitRequired. Apply to the Thai Department of Livestock Development (DLD) at least 15 days before travel.
Health certificateOfficial veterinary health certificate required from Greece. Must be endorsed by the Thai embassy or consulate in Athens before departure. Present original on arrival at Suvarnabhumi Airport.
Leaving Greece

Export requirements

RequirementDetail
Export permit{'required': False}
Health certificateOfficial veterinary health certificate required. Issued by an authorised official veterinarian under the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food. Must be endorsed or accepted by the Thai embassy or consulate in Greece before travel.
Costs

What this route typically costs

1Airline cargo fees (based on route, pet weight and crate dimensions)
2IATA-compliant travel crate
3Veterinary fees: microchipping, vaccinations, health certificate
4Thai DLD import permit fee
5Thai embassy health certificate endorsement fee
6Pet transport agent fee (recommended for first-time international moves)
Critical points

Read before you book

⚠ Health certificate must be endorsed by the Thai embassy before departure. This cannot be done on arrival.
⚠ Microchip must be implanted before the first rabies vaccination. If done in the wrong order, the vaccination may not count.
⚠ Verify current DLD import rules before booking. Thailand's rules can update. Source: Thai Department of Livestock Development (dld.go.th).
Carriers

Airlines on this route

Emirates
Cargo: Emirates SkyCargo handles all pet transport as manifested cargo. Temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds subject to seasonal and breed restrictions.
Cargo Only
Qatar Airways
Cargo: pets travel in temperature-controlled hold via Qatar Airways cargo. Brachycephalic breeds restricted. Allow 48 hours for booking confirmation.
Cargo Only
Thai Airways
Small pets (up to 5kg including carrier) allowed in cabin on approved routes. Cargo: larger pets via Thai Airways cargo as manifested freight. Book early as space is limited.
Cabin and Cargo
Lufthansa
Small pets (up to 8kg with carrier) allowed in cabin. Cargo: larger pets via Lufthansa Cargo in pressurised, temperature-controlled hold. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo year-round.
Cabin and Cargo
KLM
Small pets allowed in cabin (up to 8kg including carrier). Cargo via KLM Cargo with temperature controls. Brachycephalic breeds restricted from cargo.
Cabin and Cargo

Thailand import requirements: what the DLD needs

Thailand’s DLD requires all incoming pets to arrive with an approved import permit, a valid ISO microchip, current rabies vaccination, and an official health certificate that has been endorsed by the Thai embassy or consulate in the country of origin.

The import permit must be applied for at least 15 days before travel. You cannot apply on arrival or at short notice.

DLD source: Thai Department of Livestock Development (dld.go.th). Requirements verified against current DLD import guidance.

The embassy endorsement step

This is the part of the process that most owners miss until it is too late. Your official veterinary health certificate, issued in Greece by an authorised vet, needs to be taken to the Royal Thai Embassy in Athens and endorsed before you fly.

Appointments are typically required. Allow 3-5 working days minimum and build in buffer time for rescheduling. Do not book your flight until you know your appointment date.

Greece export requirements

Greece does not require a separate export permit for pet dogs and cats. Your official health certificate (issued by an authorised official vet under the Greek Ministry of Rural Development and Food) serves as the export document.

Your pet must have an ISO-compatible microchip and an up-to-date rabies vaccination before the health certificate can be issued.

Airlines flying this route

There is no direct Greece-to-Thailand flight. You will connect through a hub, most commonly Dubai (Emirates or flydubai), Doha (Qatar Airways), or a European hub (Lufthansa via Frankfurt, KLM via Amsterdam).

Thai Airways operates via Bangkok and occasionally codes routes through European partners. Confirm pet acceptance on each leg of your itinerary separately. Some connecting carriers will not accept pets.

If your pet flies cargo, they travel in the temperature-controlled hold as manifested freight. Book cargo space separately and early.

FAQ

Common questions

Yes. The official veterinary health certificate must be endorsed by the Thai embassy or consulate in Greece before travel. You cannot get this endorsement on arrival. Allow at least 3-5 working days for the appointment and processing.
No quarantine is required if your paperwork is complete, your import permit is approved, and your pet arrives with a valid endorsed health certificate. Incomplete documentation can result in quarantine or refusal of entry.
Apply directly to the Thai Department of Livestock Development (dld.go.th) at least 15 days before travel. Your pet transport agent can handle this on your behalf if preferred. The permit specifies what documentation your pet must carry.
There is no direct flight. Common options include Emirates (cargo via Dubai), Qatar Airways (cargo via Doha), Thai Airways (cabin or cargo, with connections), Lufthansa (via Frankfurt), and KLM (via Amsterdam). Confirm pet space on every leg of a connecting itinerary.
At least eight weeks, and twelve is safer. The DLD import permit needs 15 days, the embassy endorsement needs up to a week, and airline cargo space needs to be confirmed well ahead of departure.
Breed guides

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