Bringing a pet to Spain

This topic is for anyone considering, planning or carrying out a move to Spain with a pet. It shows which documents and tests your pet needs from your country, in what order, how to travel, and what happens if the paperwork is wrong.

Start with "What your pet needs to enter Spain". It sets out the full list of requirements and the difference between a pet passport and a health certificate. From there, pick the guide for your starting point: another EU country, the UK, the US or Canada, or another country where a rabies blood test (titre) is needed. Then read "Microchip first: the order and timing of pet preparation" to plan your dates.

Registering your pet in Spain, finding pet-friendly temporary housing and ongoing vet care are not covered here.

Key rules

• Certificate window: A health certificate for a pet from a non-EU country must be issued or endorsed no more than 10 days before arrival.
• Rabies wait: Your pet can enter Spain once the primary rabies vaccination is 21 days complete, and only if it was given after the microchip and at 12 weeks old or more.
• Titre test: Pets from unlisted countries need a blood test of at least 0.5 IU/ml taken at least 30 days after vaccination, then a wait of 3 months before entry.
• Pets per traveller: You can bring up to five dogs, cats or ferrets as pets.
• Chip before vaccine: The microchip goes in before the rabies vaccine or on the same day, otherwise the vaccination does not count.
• Origin decides the document: EU origin needs a pet passport; listed and unlisted third countries need an EU-model health certificate.

Bringing a pet to Spain: the whole process, step by step

• Find out which group your origin country is in (EU, listed or unlisted) and read the overview: As soon as you plan the move, and before any vet visit

• Get the microchip implanted, before the rabies shot or on the same day: First vet step, before or on the day of the rabies vaccination

• Give the primary rabies vaccination, once the pet is at least 12 weeks old: After the microchip, at 12 weeks old or more

• Wait for the vaccination to become valid: 21 days after the primary vaccination is complete; a booster given before the old one expires needs no new wait

• For unlisted countries only, take the rabies blood test (titre) and wait: Blood sample at least 30 days after vaccination, result of at least 0.5 IU/ml, then 3 months from the sample date before entry

• Decide whether the pet travels with you or separately, and sign a written authorisation if someone else carries it: Before booking; a pet travelling separately must move within five days before or after you to stay non-commercial

• Book the flight and check the airline's hold and summer heat rules: Well before travel; in summer, choose early morning or late evening flights

• Get the EU pet passport (EU origin) or the official health certificate (non-EU): For non-EU pets, issued or endorsed no more than 10 days before arrival

• Have the certificate endorsed by the government vet if you come from the US or Canada, or get a new UK certificate for each trip: Within the 10 days before arrival

• Arrive at a designated entry point and present documents for checks: On arrival; pets from non-EU countries go to the veterinary border inspection desk

• If the paperwork is wrong, contact the border veterinary office straight away and arrange a fix or return: On the day of arrival; a written appeal is normally possible within about 1 month

Documents you may need

Identity and residence

• EU pet passport
• Valid rabies vaccination recorded in the passport — Bringing a pet to Spain from another EU country

Other documents

• Official health certificate
• Proof of a valid rabies vaccination
• Proof of a compliant microchip — Bringing a pet to Spain from another EU country, Bringing a pet to Spain from the UK
• Proof of microchip for your pet — Rabies blood test (titre) for pets from other countries, Where and how your pet is checked on arrival in Spain
• Written authorisation — Rabies blood test (titre) for pets from other countries, Can your pet travel before or after you?
• Rabies antibody blood test results — Microchip first: the order and timing of pet preparation, Where and how your pet is checked on arrival in Spain
• From another EU country — What your pet needs to enter Spain
• From Great Britain — What your pet needs to enter Spain
• From the US or Canada — What your pet needs to enter Spain

Each article lists the other documents it asks for, where you need them.

Bringing a pet to Spain: questions that cross several articles

Can my pet enter Spain right after its rabies shot?

No, your pet can enter Spain only once the primary rabies vaccination is 21 days complete, and only if it was given after the microchip and at 12 weeks old or more.

Does my pet need a rabies blood test to enter Spain?

Only pets from unlisted countries need a rabies blood test; pets from EU countries and listed countries such as the UK, US and Canada do not. See Rabies blood test (titre) for pets from other countries.

Which documents do I need for my pet, depending on where I come from?

It depends on your origin group: EU pets need a passport, chip and valid rabies vaccination, while pets from listed non-EU countries need an official health certificate issued within 10 days of arrival. Start with "What your pet needs to enter Spain", then read the article for your country, such as "Bringing a pet to Spain from another EU country" or "Bringing a pet to Spain from the UK".

Can I bring more than five pets to Spain?

Usually no, because you can bring up to five dogs, cats or ferrets as pets. More are allowed only for a competition, exhibition or sporting event, with written proof of registration, and the animals must be over 6 months old and vaccinated against rabies. Read "Puppies, kittens and more than five pets".