Bringing a pet to SpainArticle 3 of 12 · 4 min read
Bringing a pet to Spain from the UK
A pet passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales no longer works for entering Spain. This page is for people bringing a dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain, and explains the certificate you need instead and when to get it.
Key rules
- GB pet passport: A passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales cannot be used to enter the EU.
- Certificate timing: The Animal Health Certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before arrival.
- Rabies wait: Your pet can enter Spain once the primary rabies vaccination is 21 days complete.
- Each trip: Every new trip from Great Britain to the EU needs a new certificate.
What you need instead of a GB pet passport
From Great Britain, your pet needs an Animal Health Certificate. A pet passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales is not valid for entering the EU, and this has been the case since 1 January 2021. Northern Ireland passports are still accepted.
Get the certificate at the right time
The certificate must be issued no more than 10 days before your pet arrives. Book the vet appointment with that window in mind. Do not get it weeks ahead "to be safe", because it will have expired by the time you arrive.
The rabies timing is separate. 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. Do the vaccination first, then book the certificate appointment near your travel date.
Who issues it
Only an Official Veterinarian can issue it. This is a vet authorised by the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency. Ask your usual practice whether it has one. If not, ask for a nearby practice that does.
At the appointment, the vet:
- checks the microchip
- checks the rabies vaccination was valid and correctly given
- checks your identity and documents
- has you sign a declaration that the trip is non-commercial
- signs and stamps the certificate
What the certificate covers
- Entry into the EU: within 10 days of issue.
- Onward travel inside the EU: 4 months from issue.
- Re-entry to Great Britain: 4 months from issue.
Each new trip from Great Britain to the EU needs a new certificate. If your pet has a rabies booster within the validity period of the earlier vaccination, you do not wait another 21 days.
The documents list, timeline and questions below cover the rest.
Timeline and deadlines
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Finish the primary rabies vaccination and wait 21 days before your pet enters Spain: at least 21 days before entry
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Get the Animal Health Certificate from an Official Veterinarian: no more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU (earliest 10 days before entry date; latest on entry date)
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Enter the EU with the certificate: within 10 days of the certificate being issued
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Travel onward within the EU on the same certificate: within 4 months of the certificate being issued
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Get a new certificate for any further trip from Great Britain to the EU: before each new trip
Documents you need
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Animal Health Certificate, issued and signed and stamped by an Official Veterinarian (a vet authorised by the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency), no more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU.
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Proof of a valid rabies vaccination, which the Official Veterinarian checks was correctly given before signing the certificate.
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Proof of a compliant microchip, which the Official Veterinarian checks at the appointment.
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Your identity document and a signed declaration that the trip is non-commercial, both handled at the Official Veterinarian appointment.
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A pet passport issued in Northern Ireland is still accepted. A passport issued in England, Scotland or Wales is not valid for entering the EU.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use one Animal Health Certificate for several trips from Great Britain to the EU?
No, you need a new Animal Health Certificate for each trip from Great Britain to the EU. One certificate covers onward travel within the EU for 4 months from issue, and re-entry to Great Britain for 4 months.
Who can sign my pet's Animal Health Certificate?
Only an Official Veterinarian can issue the certificate, meaning a vet authorised by the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency. Ask your vet practice if they have one before you book. The vet checks the microchip, the rabies vaccination, your identity and documents, and has you sign a declaration of non-commercial travel.
Do I wait 21 days again if my pet has a rabies booster?
No, a booster given within the validity period of the earlier rabies vaccination does not start a new 21-day wait. The 21 days only count after the primary vaccination, from the date of the injection.
Can I still travel with a pet passport from Northern Ireland?
Yes, a passport issued in Northern Ireland is still accepted for entry, while passports issued in England, Scotland or Wales are not valid.
More in Bringing a pet to Spain
- What your pet needs to enter Spain
- Bringing a pet to Spain from another EU country
- Bringing a pet to Spain from the US or Canada
- Rabies blood test (titre) for pets from other countries
- Microchip first: the order and timing of pet preparation
- Can your pet travel before or after you?
- Flying a pet to Spain in the cabin, hold or cargo
- Where and how your pet is checked on arrival in Spain
- What happens if your pet's paperwork is wrong at the border
- Puppies, kittens and more than five pets
- Bringing birds, rabbits and other small pets to Spain
Need certainty before you act?
For important relocation decisions, speak with a qualified human specialist.
Always verify important information with the relevant official authority or a qualified adviser before acting. This website uses large language models together with various public data sources, official government documents and other established sources. Due to the amount of data on this website, some information might be wrong. Information may also be incomplete or outdated.