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You can take a dog or cat on a ferry from the Turkish coast to a Greek island, but only if the paperwork was started months in advance. Turkey is not on the EU’s list of approved countries for pet travel, so an animal arriving from Turkey needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination, a passed rabies antibody (titre) test from an EU-approved laboratory, a wait of at least 90 days after the blood sample, and an EU animal health certificate. It may only enter through a port designated for pet checks. A spur-of-the-moment day trip to an island with a pet that lives in Turkey is, in practice, not possible.
The one big exception: if your pet lives in the EU and had its titre test done before it left the EU, re-entry is much simpler. The UK-specific situation is covered below.
Short answer
- Turkey is not a listed country: pets coming from Turkey face the EU’s strictest rules, including a titre test and an EU health certificate.
- Order of steps: microchip, then rabies vaccine (pet at least 12 weeks old), blood sample at least 30 days after the vaccine, certificate at least 90 days after the sample.
- Pets living in the EU: if the passed titre test was done and recorded in the EU pet passport before leaving the EU, the 90-day wait does not apply on return.
- Ports: only designated entry points. The list the Commission publishes for Greece includes Lesvos, Chios, Samos, Kos, Rhodes, Kalymnos and Lemnos, but not Kastellorizo.
- Young animals: puppies and kittens cannot enter the EU from a non-EU country.
- Numbers: at most 5 pets into the EU; at most 2 per traveller into Turkey.
The EU rules changed in 2026
The old EU pet travel regulation, 576/2013, no longer applies. Since 22 April 2026 the rules are in Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, and the country lists are in Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636. Many online guides still quote the old numbers. The core requirements are largely the same, but some details changed: for example, a health certificate checked on entry is now valid for onward travel within the EU for 6 months. Documents issued on the old models before 22 April 2026 remain valid, as does identification carried out under the old rules.
Turkey appears in neither Annex I nor Annex II of the current Commission list, so the easier passport-only route and the titre-test exemption do not apply to animals coming from Turkey.
Pets coming from Turkey: step by step
This section matters most for pets that live in Turkey, or for pets from outside the EU that have been in Turkey without a prior titre test.
| Step | Requirement | Earliest |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Microchip | ISO 11784/11785 compatible; implanted before or on the day of the vaccine | Any time |
| 2. Rabies vaccine | Pet at least 12 weeks old on the day of vaccination | 12 weeks of age |
| 3. Blood sample | At least 30 days after the vaccine; result of at least 0.5 IU/ml at an EU-approved lab | Vaccine + 30 days |
| 4. Waiting period | At least 90 days from sample to certificate | Sample + 90 days |
| 5. EU animal health certificate | Issued by an official vet; valid for 10 days until the entry check | Up to 10 days before travel |
| 6. Entry check | Document and identity check at a designated port | On arrival |
For a pet with no prior vaccination this means at least four months from the first jab to the ferry. A puppy or kitten from Turkey would therefore be about 7 months old at the earliest (12 weeks plus 30 days plus 90 days; this calculation is ours).
The only EU-approved titre laboratory in Turkey is the Veterinary Control Central Research Institute in Etlik, Ankara. For pets in Turkey, the health certificate is issued by the official vet at the provincial or district Directorate of Agriculture and Forestry. According to the Turkish Ministry, sending a blood sample abroad for testing requires permission; the titre result stays valid as long as rabies boosters are given on time, and a late booster counts as a new first vaccination. Some Turkish breeds (Kangal, Akbaş, Kars, Çatalburun and Zağar dogs, Ankara and Van cats) need prior permission to leave Turkey.
If you are not travelling with the pet, a person you authorise may take it within 5 days before or after your own journey, with a written declaration. We found no general exemption for assistance dogs on the Commission’s pages.
Which Greek island ports can you use?
The European Commission links to an undated PDF listing Greece’s points of entry for pets. Of the islands served by ferry from Turkey, it includes:
| Island | On the list | Ferry from Turkey |
|---|---|---|
| Lesvos (Mytilene) | Port and airport | Ayvalık–Lesvos, Dikili–Lesvos |
| Chios | Port and airport | Çeşme–Chios |
| Samos | “Samos port” and airport | Kuşadası–Samos |
| Kos | Port and airport | Bodrum–Kos |
| Rhodes | Port and airport | Marmaris–Rhodes, Fethiye–Rhodes |
| Kalymnos | Port | Turgutreis–Kalymnos |
| Lemnos (Myrina) | Port | Çanakkale–Lemnos |
| Kastellorizo | Not listed | Kaş–Kastellorizo |
Three caveats. First, the list is old: it refers to 2004, and the EU decision it is based on has not been in force since 2019, yet the Commission still publishes it as Greece’s list and we could not find a newer one. Second, it only says “Samos port”, and we could not verify whether that means Vathy or Pythagorio. Third, Kastellorizo is not on the list, but Meis Express publishes pet requirements on its own website. We could not verify whether pets can legally enter Kastellorizo from Turkey; ask the operator and the Greek veterinary authority (Rhodes region) in writing. We also did not see Leros or Patmos on the list.
What the ferry operators ask for
| Operator | Route | Published rule |
|---|---|---|
| Ertürk | Çeşme–Chios | Pet passport, titre result from the Ankara lab, vaccination and chip records must be sent 2 days before travel. The booking is not confirmed until the Chios veterinary authority approves. |
| Jalem Tur | Ayvalık–Lesvos | Vaccination card, microchip, passport and titre test required. Pets are allowed in the passenger lounge only in a bag or carrier, otherwise on deck. |
| Meis Express | Kaş–Kastellorizo | Health document, chip, valid rabies vaccine, blood test and notification to customs at least 1 day ahead. The port issue above remains unresolved. |
| Turyol, Yeşil Marmaris, İDO and the Bodrum–Kos operators | Various | We found no pet rules on their websites; ask directly. |
Ertürk specifically mentions a titre result “approved by Ankara”. We have not verified whether it accepts a result from an EU laboratory for a pet coming from the EU; clarify this before booking. None of the operators’ own sites state a pet fare or a muzzle or crate requirement; ask about these before booking.
Returning to Turkey
Entry into Turkey is governed by a 2011 Turkish regulation on non-commercial pet movements: microchip, rabies vaccination, passport, titre test and a health certificate issued by the veterinary service of the country of origin. A pet of Turkish origin that had a passed titre test before leaving Turkey does not have to wait 3 months on return. Turkish customs allow at most 2 pets per traveller, and the animals are checked by a vet.
Two points we could not verify. We could not establish whether a pet returning after a few days on a Greek island needs a new certificate issued in Greece. Nor could we find a list showing whether Ayvalık, Çeşme, Kuşadası, Bodrum, Marmaris and Kaş are designated pet entry points into Turkey. Ask the Turkish veterinary border post at your return port before you travel. For other allowances see our customs guide.
If your pet lives in the EU
A pet living in the EU with an EU pet passport has an easier route. According to the Commission, you may use the EU pet passport to re-enter the EU after a short stay in a non-EU country, provided the passport shows that the rabies vaccination and, where needed, the titre test were done before leaving the EU. The 90-day wait does not apply to a pet that normally lives in the EU if its passed test was done before it left. The test itself is still required; only the waiting period falls away. If you travelled to Turkey without the titre test, the island crossing needs a test in Turkey, a 3-month wait and an EU health certificate. The designated-port rule applies to you too, so the Kastellorizo question above is relevant.
If you come from Germany, see also our page on travelling from Germany to the Greek islands.
UK residents: Great Britain is listed in Annex II, but a pet arriving in Greece from Turkey is coming from an unlisted country. We could not verify how a British pet that has been in Turkey is treated; ask your vet and the Greek authorities before you travel.
On the island with a pet: stay, car, data
When choosing a hotel, use the “Pets allowed” filter on Booking.com and get the hotel’s acceptance in writing; some charge an extra fee.
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Frequently asked questions
Can I take my dog on a day trip from Çeşme to Chios?
Only with months of preparation, unless your pet lives in the EU and had its titre test before leaving. Otherwise you need the chip, rabies jab, titre test, at least 90 days’ wait and a 10-day EU certificate. Ertürk also wants the documents 2 days ahead and waits for approval from the Chios veterinary authority.
Can I bring a puppy or kitten?
No. Young dogs, cats and ferrets cannot be brought into the EU from a non-EU country. Given the time limits, a young animal from Turkey can enter at around 7 months at the earliest.
Do I need a new titre test for every trip?
According to the Turkish Ministry, the result stays valid as long as rabies boosters are not missed. We did not find the EU text stating this directly ourselves; the Turkish document and Commission pages point the same way.
Can I take my dog to Kastellorizo?
We could not verify this. Kastellorizo is not on the Greek entry-point list published by the Commission, while Meis Express publishes pet requirements. Get written confirmation from the operator and the Greek veterinary authority before buying a ticket.
How many pets can I bring?
Up to 5 into the EU; up to 2 per traveller when entering Turkey.
Rules change, and the officials at the border have the final word; check with an official vet and the ferry operator before travelling. For route options see the ferry map, and for visas see visa on arrival for the Greek islands.
Sources
- European Commission – Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Non-commercial movement from non-EU countries (legislation) (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Listing of territories and non-EU countries (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Young animals (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – FAQs (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Designated titre laboratories in non-EU countries (accessed October 2026)
- European Commission – Travellers’ points of entry and Greece list (PDF) (accessed October 2026)
- Council of the EU – Delegated Regulation 2026/131 text (ST-5586-2026) and EUR-Lex 2026/131 (accessed October 2026)
- EUR-Lex – Implementing Regulation 2026/636 (accessed October 2026)
- Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry – Taking cats and dogs abroad (PDF, Turkish) (accessed October 2026)
- Turkish Official Gazette – Pet movement regulation (5 December 2011, no. 28133) (accessed October 2026)
- Turkish veterinary border post İpsala – Pets travelling with passengers and Atatürk Airport – Cat and dog travel (Turkish, accessed October 2026)
- Turkish Ministry of Trade – Animals brought by passengers (FAQ, 2019) (Turkish, accessed October 2026)
- Ertürk – FAQ and General rules (accessed October 2026)
- Jalem Tur – FAQ (accessed October 2026)
- Meis Express – Pets (accessed October 2026)
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