Greece – famous for Plato and Socrates. The Olympic Games. Huge temples with Greek columns. If you’re considering moving to Greece, it’s important that you find out exactly what you need to do to take your furry friends along for the ride. It’s just unbearable to think of leaving them behind.

So, once you’ve made the decision and you’re ready to take the plunge, what are you first steps in the moving process for your pets?

Beginning the Moving Process

Just like all countries, there are specific requirements for each pet when they enter.

Microchips

All pets will need to be vaccinated and microchipped at least 30 days before they move to Greece. The microchip should comply with the ISO11784 standards and should be in place prior to vaccination records being created.

Ferndale can help you understand the full process when it comes to microchips, as well as all aspects of the pet relocation process.

Vaccinations

It’s also a requirement that your pet has the Rabies vaccine and a certificate to prove the date that it was given. It’s recommended to also have the following vaccines:

For Dogs

Hepatitis
Leptospirosis
Parainfluenza
Parvovirus
Distemper
Bordetella

For Cats

Calicivirus
Panleukopenia
Viral Rhinotracheitis

These vaccines are normally included in your typical annual vaccinations, rather than as a pet travel requirement. However, we recommend all the vaccines are kept up to date to ensure transmissible diseases are prevented during or after travel.

We can help you plan them in advance to avoid delays with travel documentation.

Documentation

Our team will help arrange for your dog or cat to have a full vet check and receive a signed-off full bill of health for your pet within 10 days of your departure.

For Greece, as part of the European Union, we will need to fill out the EU Health Certificate. This certificate will be valid in Greece for 10 days after the vet has signed it. We will help plan your move around dates like the vet appointment, travel date, and any other important commitments, to ensure the validity of your documents.

The European 5-Day Rule

Within the EU, pet owners will need to fly within 5 days of the pet. This is to comply with their quarantine requirements and to ensure that you can pick them up on time and don’t get charged any taxes for commercial pet trade. Make sure you plan your journey around your pet’s.

What do I need to Know About Having Pets in Greece?

Overall, Greece is a pretty pet friendly place. It is usually quite hot in the summer, meaning you may need to be careful about their coat length and always be mindful to keep them hydrated.

Throughout most of the year, it’s warm enough to eat outside and the public transport allows small dogs or cats onboard as long as they’re carried, so you can pretty much take them everywhere with you. They’re even allowed on most beaches – though you will need to be mindful of your dog’s behaviour and they are often banned from swimming in the sea.

However, one major problem is the sheer number of stray cats on the streets, beaches and outside restaurants. If you have a dog that isn’t very cat friendly, then walking around could be difficult for you.

If you have a cat, it’s important that they’re a house cat. Allowing them outside could mean that they get into fights with strays, may contract illness, or even be mistaken for a stray and not be treated very kindly by the locals. In some areas of Greece, the cats are treated like vermin and unfortunately, this can lead to some distressing sights.

In Greece, typically around 14% of households own a dog and 13% own a cat, so you won’t be alone in having pets with you.

Banned Breeds of Dog in Greece

There are several banned breeds of dog in Greece. If you have one of these, unfortunately, your dog won’t be able to travel with you:

Pit Bull Terrier
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Rottweiler
Akita Inu
Tosa Inu
English Bull Terrier

Seeking Help from our Professional Pet Relocator Service

Pet travel for the first time does seem quite overwhelming, and with everything else going on, it’s just another thing to think about. To eliminate worry about your pet’s journey or the documentation you need to travel, it’s a good idea to seek the advice of our colleagues at Ferndale professional pet relocation company for support. Please reach out to us!