Bringing a pet to SpainArticle 11 of 12 · 2 min read
Puppies, kittens and more than five pets
Explains the age minimum and the animal limit that keep a pet move non-commercial. It is for anyone bringing a puppy, a kitten or several pets to Spain, including people travelling to a show or sporting event.
Key rules
- Age: Every animal must be over 6 months old and vaccinated against rabies before it travels.
- Event exception: More than five animals are allowed only for a competition, exhibition or sporting event, or training for one, with written proof of registration.
- Per traveller: The limit counts animals per traveller, so check how many you personally bring.
The short answer
You can bring up to five dogs, cats or ferrets as pets. Above that number, the move stops counting as a pet move, unless you are going to a specific event (see below). Every animal must also be over 6 months old and vaccinated against rabies.
Puppies and kittens
Check the age first. Rabies vaccination has a minimum age, so a very young animal cannot be vaccinated and cannot enter as a pet. Plan the trip around the animal's age, not around your move date. If your puppy or kitten is under 6 months, wait until it is older.
Limit of five per traveller
The limit is per traveller. Count every dog, cat and ferret you plan to bring. If the total is five or fewer, and each animal is over 6 months old and vaccinated against rabies, you are within the pet rules.
Bringing more than five
You can bring more than five only if all of these are true:
- The animals are going to a competition, exhibition or sporting event, or are training for one.
- You have written proof that you are registered for that event.
Keep the proof of registration with you when you travel, along with the animals' vaccination papers. If you cannot meet all three conditions, the extra animals count as a commercial movement and need a different process. Ask the animal health authority at your point of entry before you book.
What to do
Follow the timeline below to count your animals, collect the event proof if you need it, and check ages and vaccinations.
Timeline and deadlines
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Count your animals and keep to the limit of five dogs, cats or ferrets per traveller: before you book travel
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If you want to bring more than five, get written proof that you are registered for a competition, exhibition or sporting event (or training for one): before you travel
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Check that every animal is over 6 months old and vaccinated against rabies: before you travel, since this is required when you bring more than five
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 UK
- 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
- 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.