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Bringing a Cat from the USA to Greece: Requirements & Timeline

Standard EU dates for cats, with the Greek particular: enter via an authorized point — Athens or Thessaloniki from the US.

Rules last verified against official sources: 2026-07-24

Planning for a dog instead? See the dog version of this route →

Pick your travel date to get a dated, backward-planned checklist. (This tool needs JavaScript; the full requirements are listed below either way.)

Cats enter Greece on the EU baseline: ISO microchip before the rabies vaccination, vaccination at 12 weeks or older, the 21-day wait, and a USDA-endorsed EU certificate with arrival within 10 days. No titer, no tapeworm ever for cats. Enter via an authorized point — from the US that means Athens or Thessaloniki in practice; confirm island arrivals with the Greek authorities first.

Minimum lead time: about 0.7 months (21 days). Achievable in under a month; the 21-day wait is the floor. Pick an authorized arrival point — Athens and Thessaloniki are the safe choices.

The requirements, in order

Order matters — several steps are only valid if the earlier ones were done first. This is the same sequence the planner above turns into dated deadlines.

  1. ISO microchip implanted
    ISO 11784/11785 microchip, implanted and scanned BEFORE the rabies vaccination — a shot given before the chip does not count and must be redone.
    Official source ↗
  2. Rabies vaccination (then a 21-day wait)
    Given at 12 weeks (84 days) of age or older, after the microchip; a primary vaccination requires a 21-day wait before entry (shot day = day 0). No titer test from the US, and no tapeworm treatment for Greece. Greece refuses animals under ~15 weeks — no young-animal exception.
    Official source ↗
  3. EU health certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS
    A USDA-accredited vet completes the EU non-commercial certificate (via VEHCS); USDA APHIS endorses it. Arrive in the EU within 10 days of endorsement, entering Greece via an authorized point for the documentary and identity checks. After entry it covers onward EU travel for 6 months or until the rabies vaccination expires.
    Official source ↗

Island trips

Enter at Athens or Thessaloniki and continue domestically — safer than betting on a smaller port's authorization status. The certificate then covers onward EU travel for 6 months.

Official sources

These are the only authorities on this route. If anything here disagrees with them, they win — and please tell us.

FAQ

How long does it take to bring a cat from the US to Greece?
About 3–4 weeks: microchip and rabies vaccination, the 21-day wait, then the USDA-endorsed certificate within 10 days of arrival.
Can I fly my cat straight to a Greek island?
Only via an authorized entry point — several islands qualify, but entering at Athens or Thessaloniki and continuing domestically is the safe plan.
Does my cat need a titer test or tapeworm treatment?
Neither — the US is EU-listed, and tapeworm treatment never applies to cats.

Other cat routes

Disclaimer: Preflight Pet is a planning aid, not legal or veterinary advice. Import rules change; airlines add their own requirements. Always confirm every step with the official government sources linked on this page, and with your airline and accredited veterinarian, before booking travel.