Canada to Greece
Pet Shipping from Canada to Greece
We provide international pet transport from Canada to Greece, planned around its import rules, the Canadian winter and your move date.
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.
- Airline booking
- The travel crate
- The CFIA export paperwork
- Check-in at your Canadian airport
- Pickup in Greece with delivery to your new address
Greece at a glance
Full requirementsThe CFIA says the EU certificate for a pet leaving Canada is valid for 10 days from the veterinarian’s signature, and that the pet has to wait at least 21 days after its rabies vaccination before entering the EU.
- Microchip
- ISO microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination
- Rabies vaccination
- At least 21 days old on arrival
- Rabies titre
- Not required. Canada is an EU listed country
- Health certificate
- EU certificate in English and the official language of the first EU country the pet enters. Completed in block letters and endorsed by the CFIA. The templates are on the CFIA website
- Who signs it
- Any licensed Canadian veterinarian. No federal accreditation is needed
Pet Shipping from Canada to Greece
Relocating a pet from Canada to Greece follows the EU’s standard pet import framework. As an EU member, Greece requires an ISO microchip, a current rabies vaccination, and an endorsed health certificate. Canada is listed on the EU’s Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636 (approved-country list), which exempts your pet from the rabies titre test and quarantine requirements that apply to pets from unlisted countries. Your vet completes the certificate and the CFIA endorses it, with English beside the language of the first EU airport your pet reaches.
For a broader look at how international pet shipping works, our overview guide explains the general process. If you need information about bringing a pet into Canada from abroad, our Canada import guide covers those requirements.
We manage the entire relocation for you. That includes:
- Choosing the CFIA certificate template in the language of your pet’s first EU airport
- Coordinating vet appointments within the tight validity window so every document is current on travel day
- Routing your pet through the best European hub based on departure city, season, and airline policies
- Walking you through arrival procedures at the Greek border inspection post
Choosing the CFIA certificate template in the language of your pet’s first EU airport
Approved Routes and Entry into Greece
There are no non-stop flights from Canada to Athens, so every pet shipment routes through a European hub. The connection city matters because it determines which airline handles the live-animal transfer and how long your pet spends in transit.
- From Toronto (YYZ), the most common connections are through Frankfurt (FRA) and Munich (MUC) on Lufthansa, or through Amsterdam (AMS) on KLM. Both carriers have established live-animal handling at their hubs.
- From Vancouver (YVR), routing typically goes through Frankfurt or Amsterdam, with longer total transit times. We factor layover duration into the plan to keep it within a comfortable range for your pet.
- Summer cargo restrictions affect Canadian departures significantly. Lufthansa suspends pet cargo June 1 through August 31, and other carriers impose embargoes between May and September. Because Canadian routes already involve a connection, the restricted season narrows options further.
What are the entry requirements for pets going to Greece?
The short answer
From Canada, the CFIA has the certificate completed in English and the official language of the first EU country the pet enters, so a pet connecting in Frankfurt or Munich uses the English and German version, and its microchip should meet ISO standard 11784 or travel with a reader that can scan it.
Import Eligibility for Pets
Greece follows EU Regulation 2026/131 for non-commercial pet imports. Canada is listed on Annex II, the EU’s roster of approved countries, so pets from Canada skip the rabies titre test and face no quarantine. Your pet needs an ISO-standard microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination, a current rabies vaccination (at least 21 days after the primary dose), and a completed bilingual health certificate. Greece does not restrict any breeds under Law 4830/2021, which evaluates animals by behaviour rather than breed. Up to five pets may travel under non-commercial rules.
Before scheduling any vet visits, we confirm Greece’s current rules and the CFIA process for the bilingual certificate. Request a quote to get a plan built around your travel date.
Health Preparation and Documentation
The CFIA gives the language rule by example: a pet bound for Poland that arrives through an airport in Germany uses the English and German certificate, and a pet bound for Greece through Frankfurt does the same. The EU model has it completed in block letters, and the CFIA endorses it before travel. The bilingual PDF template is available directly from the CFIA website. Unlike the US process, Canadian veterinarians do not need special federal accreditation to complete the form.
Any licensed vet can do it. However, the CFIA endorsement itself requires a scheduled appointment at a CFIA office, and the agency’s booking page says the fee is paid online at least 3 days ahead. The 10-day validity window starts from the vet’s signature date, which is a tighter clock than some other countries use, so the timing of your vet visit is critical.
| Requirement | Greece, from Canada |
|---|---|
| Microchip | ISO microchip, implanted before the rabies vaccination |
| Rabies vaccination | At least 21 days old on arrival |
| Rabies titre | Not required. Canada is an EU listed country |
| Health certificate | EU certificate in English and the official language of the first EU country the pet enters. Completed in block letters and endorsed by the CFIA. The templates are on the CFIA website |
| Who signs it | Any licensed Canadian veterinarian. No federal accreditation is needed |
| Quarantine | None for a correctly prepared dog or cat |
For the most current rules, refer to these official sources:
Planning Timeline for Pet Shipping to Greece
Begin three to four months ahead of your move. The largest variable is the CFIA endorsement appointment, which can have limited availability depending on your region and time of year. Book it early. The vet examination, certificate completion, and CFIA endorsement must all land within the 10-day window before departure, so every earlier step (microchip, vaccination, rabies waiting period) needs to be completed well in advance.
Turkey works the other way round: the certificate comes from Türkiye, not the CFIA. See our Turkey page.
Every Pet Travels Differently
Different destinations, different routes, different challenges.
No two pet moves follow the same path. Your pet’s breed, size, health history, and departure city all shape the plan. We customize every detail.
Destination-Focused Planning
The EU certificate is written in English and in the language of a pet’s first point of entry into the EU, which on a routing through a European hub is that hub’s country rather than Greece. We confirm the current CFIA (Canadian Food Inspection Agency) process and certificate template before anything else, so the paperwork is right the first time. Your plan reflects Greece's specific rules from the start.
Smart Routing and Logistics
There are no direct flights from Canada to Athens. Pets departing from Toronto (YYZ) or Vancouver (YVR) typically connect through a European hub like Frankfurt, Munich, or Amsterdam before reaching Athens (ATH) or Thessaloniki (SKG). We evaluate each connection for transfer time, airline pet handling, and seasonal restrictions to find the route that keeps your pet comfortable.
Personalized Support
A single coordinator manages your relocation from the first conversation through your pet's arrival in Greece. They handle scheduling, document reviews, and airline communication so you can focus on the rest of your move.
Questions about moving a pet to Greece
Request a QuoteWhat does it cost to relocate a pet from Canada to Greece?
The cost of a move depends on several things: your pet’s size and weight, which set the crate and cargo price, the airline and departure city, veterinary fees for the health certificate and any required tests, government endorsement and permit fees, and how much of the process you would like us to coordinate. Because those pieces change from one pet and route to the next, we quote the full journey up front, including government fees, so there are no surprises later. Tell us your pet and your destination and we will send a clear plan and a price.
What documents does the CFIA require for pet travel to Greece?
The CFIA endorses the EU health certificate, written in English and in the official language of your pet’s first point of entry into the EU. Your licensed vet completes the health examination and fills out the bilingual template (available as a PDF from the CFIA website). You then bring the completed certificate to a CFIA office for endorsement. The endorsement confirms that a federal inspector has reviewed the paperwork and verified it meets Greece’s import standards. You will also need your pet’s rabies vaccination certificate and proof of microchip implantation. No electronic submission is available for this process.
Are there direct pet shipping routes from Canada to Greece?
No. There are no non-stop flights from any Canadian city to Athens or Thessaloniki that carry live animal cargo. All pet shipments from Canada connect through a European hub. The most common options are Frankfurt, Munich, or Amsterdam, depending on your departure city and airline. We select the connection that minimizes total transit time and uses airlines with reliable live-animal handling procedures at the hub.
When is the best time of year to ship a pet to Greece?
Late September through April is the most practical window. During summer (May through September), airlines restrict or suspend live animal cargo because tarmac temperatures exceed safe limits. Lufthansa, which handles many European hub connections from Canada, blocks pet cargo entirely from June 1 through August 31. Spring and fall offer the widest range of airline options, mild temperatures, and shorter booking lead times. If you must move in summer, in-cabin travel for smaller pets is still available on most routes.
How does Pet Travel Advisors coordinate a Canada to Greece move?
We manage the full process from planning through arrival. That starts with confirming Greece’s current rules, obtaining the bilingual certificate template, and mapping your timeline. We coordinate your vet visit, schedule the CFIA endorsement appointment, select the best route through a European hub, and prepare you for the border inspection in Greece. One coordinator handles your file from start to finish, so you have a single point of contact throughout. Request a quote to start planning your move.
Ready to start?
Book door-to-door pet relocation, or only the parts you need.