Pet Transport from the Netherlands to Greece

Greece and the Netherlands are both part of the EU’s companion animal movement framework, governed by EU Regulation 2019/2035. For your dog or cat, that means: show a valid EU Pet Passport at the border, and you are in.

The passport records your pet’s microchip number and vaccination history. As long as the rabies vaccination is current and the microchip is readable, Greek border vets have everything they need.

Some owners worry about travelling through other EU countries on connecting flights. For intra-EU connections, the same passport rules apply. You are not entering a third country.

The 21-day rule is the one detail that derails even the most organised pet owners. After a first rabies vaccination, the pet is not cleared for EU travel until 21 days have passed. After a lapsed booster, the same clock resets.

If your pet’s passport shows a vaccination that expired three months ago, you cannot simply get a booster and fly next week. You need the booster, plus 21 days. Build that into your planning.

Annual boosters, kept current, avoid this problem entirely. Many Dutch vets will flag the upcoming expiry, but it is worth checking yourself before any trip.

KLM is the home carrier and flies direct from Schiphol to Athens (and seasonally to Thessaloniki, Heraklion, and other Greek airports). Its cabin pet process is well-established. Register the pet when you buy your ticket.

Transavia (KLM’s low-cost arm) also covers Amsterdam to Greek destinations seasonally, particularly in summer. It accepts cabin pets on most routes.

Aegean Airlines, flying out of the Greek end, is another reliable option if you are connecting through another hub.

Ryanair and easyJet both operate heavily on this corridor. Neither accepts pets. The fares look attractive until you remember you are travelling with a dog.