Where and how your pet is checked on arrival in Spain

Key rules

• Entry point: Pets from non-EU countries must enter through a designated travellers' point of entry.
• Best choice: Madrid and Barcelona are the most practical airports for a pet arrival.
• EU arrivals: Pets coming from another EU country skip these border checks.
• Limit: You can bring up to five pets for non-commercial travel.

Where can your pet enter Spain?

If you arrive from a non-EU country, your pet must come in through a designated travellers' point of entry. Officials from Sanidad Exterior carry out the checks there. These points include the main international airports, plus some ports and land borders. Airports on the list include Madrid-Barajas, Barcelona-El Prat, Málaga, Alicante, Palma de Mallorca, Valencia, Sevilla, Bilbao, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.

If you arrive from another EU country, your pet does not go through these checks.

Which entry point is practical?

Choose Madrid or Barcelona if you can. They have the most experience with pets and the best flight connections. Other airports may offer the pet inspection only at limited hours. Confirm the hours with your airline or Sanidad Exterior before you book.

What happens when you land

1. Take your pet to the Sanidad Exterior desk (the Veterinary Border Inspection) at the point of entry.
2. Officials check that your documents match your animal.
3. They scan the microchip with a standard reader.
4. They check the rabies vaccination.

Your pet is not normally examined clinically unless something worries the officials.

What to present

Bring your pet's passport or official health certificate, proof of the microchip, the rabies vaccination record and your own ID. Keep them together in one folder. If your country of origin requires a rabies antibody blood test, bring the results too. The documents list below gives the details.

Good to know

• Up to five pets per traveller are allowed for non-commercial travel.
• Dogs arriving from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway may need tapeworm treatment.
• The rules depend on your origin country's rabies status, so confirm them with the Spanish authorities before you travel.

Documents you need

• Pet passport or official health certificate (the EU model certificate for pets from non-EU countries), signed by an official vet.

• Proof of your pet's microchip, which must be readable by a standard ISO 11784/11785 scanner.

• Rabies vaccination record showing a valid vaccination, with the primary vaccination at least 21 days old.

• Rabies antibody blood test results, only if your country of origin requires them.

• Your own ID, to match you to the pet's documents.

Checklist

• Choose a designated travellers' point of entry, such as Madrid-Barajas or Barcelona-El Prat, if your pet is coming from a non-EU country.

• Gather your pet's passport or health certificate, microchip proof, rabies record and your ID in one folder you can reach on arrival.

• Go to the Sanidad Exterior (Veterinary Border Inspection) desk with your pet after you land.

• Let the officials scan the microchip and compare your documents with your pet.

• Ask about tapeworm treatment for your dog if you arrive from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway.

Frequently asked questions

Does my pet go through inspection if I arrive from another EU country?

No, pets arriving from other EU countries do not go through the Sanidad Exterior checks at the point of entry. These checks apply only to pets travelling from non-EU countries.

Will the officials examine my pet clinically on arrival?

No, your pet is not normally examined clinically at the border unless officials have a concern. They check that your documents match the animal, scan the microchip and look at the rabies vaccination.

Does my dog need tapeworm treatment before entering Spain?

Only if your dog arrives from Finland, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Malta or Norway. Dogs from other countries do not need it for this reason.

Which airport should I choose if I want the smoothest arrival with a pet?

Madrid-Barajas and Barcelona-El Prat are the practical choices, because they have the most experience and the best connections. Smaller airports may have limited hours for pet inspection, so confirm them before you book.