CUSTOMS

IMPORT REGULATIONS

Pets

Animals travelling to Greece from an EU country require the following:

• A microchip or tattoo (the latter needs to be dated before 3 July 2011). Microchips must comply with ISO 11784 standards and be read with an ISO 11785 compliant reader.
• A rabies vaccination. The animal must be aged at least 12 weeks or older and be given at least 21 days prior to departure.
• A Common Veterinary Health Certificate certifying the healthy inspection must be provided with the customs declaration.
• A valid pet passport containing information on the identification of the animal and a record of the animal's rabies vaccination.

Animals travelling to Greece from a non-EU country or state require the following:

• A health certificate provided by an official veterinarian from the country of origin, which will include information about the animal's identification and health.
• A microchip or tattoo (the latter needs to be dated before 3 July 2011). Microchips must comply with ISO 11784 standards and be read with an ISO 11785 compliant reader.
• A rabies vaccination. This must be valid at the time of travelling. The vaccination must have taken place at least 21 days prior to departure with verification from an official veterinarian.
• At least three months before travelling, the animal will need to conduct a rabies antibody test in an EU-approved laboratory. The test result should be 0.5 IU/ml or above. The sample must be analysed in an EU-approved laboratory.
• Some countries and territories are exempt from needing an antibody test. They are:

Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Aruba, Ascension Island, Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Belarus, Bermuda, BES Islands (Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba), Bosnia-Herzegovina, British Virgin Islands, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, Curaçao, Falkland Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Gibraltar, Great Britain, Guernesey, Hong Kong, Ile de Man, Jamaica, Japan, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Montserrat, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Russia, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Pierre et Miquelon, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Singapore, Sint Maarten, Taiwan, Trinidad and Tobago, United Arab Emirates, United States of America (including Guam, American Samoa, Northern Marian Islands, Puerto Rico and US Virgin Islands), Vanuatu, Wallis and Futuna.

• Dogs, cats and ferrets accompanying their owner from Andorra, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland or Vatican City State are subject to the same health requirements as dogs, cats and ferrets travelling from a EU Member state.

For more information, go to the Ministry of Rural Development & Food.

Free to Import

When travelling within EU

There are no limits on the amount of alcohol and tobacco a traveller can bring in within the EU. The goods must be for personal use or as a gift and they must have had duty and tax paid in the EU country where they were acquired. Customs officials may require proof of intent if more than all the following is imported.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 800 cigarettes;
• 400 cigarillos (max 3g each);
• 200 cigars;
• 1kg smoking tobacco.

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 17 years and over)

• 10 litres of spirits over 22%;
• 20 litres of alcoholic beverages, other than either wine or beer, less than 22% volume;
• 90 litres of wine (with a maximum 60 litres of sparkling wine);
• 110 litres of beer.

When travelling from outside the EU

If entering the EU from outside, a passenger can bring with them goods free of VAT and excise duties for personal use within the limits set out below. The same applies if coming from the Canary Islands, the Channel Islands, Gibraltar or other territories where EU rules on VAT do not apply.

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over travelling by road or rail)

One of the following:

• 40 cigarettes;
• 20 cigarillos;
• 10 cigars;
• 50g of smoking tobacco; or
• A proportional combination of these goods (such as 20 cigarettes and 10 cigarillos).

Tobacco (restricted to travellers 17 years and over travelling by air or sea)

One of the following:

• 200 cigarettes;
• 100 cigarillos;
• 50 cigars;
• 250g of smoking tobacco; or
• A proportional combination of these goods (such as 100 cigarettes and 50 cigarillos).

Alcohol (restricted to travellers 18 years and over)

One of the following:

• 1 litre exceeding 22% alcohol volume; or
• 2 litres up to 22% alcohol volume.

In addition, both of the following:

• 4 litres of still wine; and
• 16 litres of beer.

Currency

• There are no restrictions on the importation of currency into the EU.
• Funds of more than €10,000 must be declared to the customs authorities.

Other Goods free from duty

• Medicines for personal use. Travellers may be asked to provide a prescription for certain medications.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €430 when travelling by air or sea.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €300 when travelling by land.
• Personal items of non-commercial nature worth up to €150 for travellers under 15 years of age.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be brought into the country.

• Counterfeit currency and goods.
• Hazardous chemicals.
• Firearms, ammunition and explosives.
• Narcotic drugs.
• Foods that do not meet EU health and safety standards.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to arrival.

• Medicines and medical equipment/devices.
• Certain plants, seeds and animal products may require a phytosanitary certificate.
• Items of cultural significance.
• Products made from endangered animals or plants require a permit from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

EXPORT REGULATIONS

Free to Export

• No restriction on the quantity and value of exported items when leaving for a country outside the EU.

Prohibited

The following are goods which cannot be taken out of the country.

• All items on the prohibited import list.

Restricted

These goods are strictly regulated, and in most cases require a permit to be obtained prior to departure.

• There are no restrictions on the export of currency if leaving for another EU country. Funds of more than €10,000 must be declared when leaving the EU.
• Protected species and products protected under CITES. A permit is required for export.

For further information, please visit Greek Customs.