Taking Your Pets to Spain: What Expats Need to Know in 2025

Moving to Spain with a dog or cat is perfectly possible — but you’ll need to follow the correct pet travel rules to avoid delays or quarantine at the border. Since the UK left the EU, British-issued pet passports are no longer valid for travel to Spain, and travellers must now use an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). For residents of the EU or Northern Ireland, the familiar EU Pet Passport remains the valid document for cross-border travel.

Who can travel with a pet to Spain?

Pet travel rules apply to dogs, cats and ferrets. You can bring up to five pets per traveller, and they must accompany their owner or a person authorised by the owner. Pets cannot be imported for commercial sale under these rules — commercial movements are treated differently under TRACES (the EU’s Trade Control and Expert System). All pets must enter through an approved travellers’ point of entry such as Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, or Barcelona airports. If you arrive by ferry, the most commonly used ports are Santander and Bilbao, both of which have customs veterinary inspection points.

Minimum age and microchipping rules

Your pet must be at least 15 weeks old to travel to Spain. Pets must be microchipped to ISO 11784/11785 standards before they receive their rabies vaccination. If your pet was tattooed before 3 July 2011, the tattoo is accepted provided it is clearly legible and applied before that date. The microchip number must appear exactly as it does on the vaccination record — a single typo can lead to refusal of entry.

Rabies vaccination requirements

Every pet entering Spain must be vaccinated against rabies. The vaccine must be administered after microchipping and at least 21 days before travel. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date according to the manufacturer’s schedule. Spain does not currently require a rabies blood test (titer test) for pets arriving from EU countries, Northern Ireland or Great Britain, but it is required if you are entering from an unlisted third country such as Turkey or Morocco. Always bring written proof of vaccination — verbal assurances from a vet are not enough at Spanish border control.

Documents you’ll need to enter Spain

If you are travelling from Great Britain, your pet needs an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an official veterinarian within 10 days of travel. This certificate covers entry to Spain and onward travel within the EU for up to four months, provided rabies vaccination remains valid. You must travel within the dates shown on the document. It’s wise to keep a printed copy of your AHC as well as a digital backup, as border officials may require you to show it at different points during your journey.

Travellers from the EU or Northern Ireland can use a valid EU Pet Passport issued by an authorised vet in an EU country. If you move permanently to Spain and visit a Spanish vet, they can issue a new EU Pet Passport once your pet is microchipped and vaccinated under the Spanish veterinary register.

Additional vaccines and health checks

Although not mandatory, many Spanish vets recommend extra vaccines for dogs against leptospirosis, parvovirus and distemper, especially if you’ll be living in rural areas. Cats should also be protected against feline leukemia and enteritis. Tick-borne diseases such as ehrlichiosis and leishmaniasis are present in Spain — your vet can prescribe spot-on or collar-based preventatives that work against the local mosquito and sandfly populations.

Tapeworm treatment for dogs

Dogs entering Spain do not need tapeworm treatment. However, dogs returning to the UK, Ireland, Finland, Malta or Norway must receive praziquantel treatment 24 to 120 hours before re-entry. Most vets in Spain can record this in the EU Pet Passport or issue a simple veterinary certificate for British travellers using an AHC.

Travelling by ferry or air

If you’re arriving by ferry from the UK, check that the route accepts pets in vehicles or onboard kennels. Brittany Ferries and P&O both operate pet-friendly services from Portsmouth, Plymouth and Poole to Spanish ports. Most airlines allow small pets to fly in the cabin (up to around 8 kg including carrier), while larger animals travel in the pressurised cargo hold. Always book well in advance — airlines have strict quotas for animal transport and require IATA-approved pet carriers.

On arrival in Spain, customs officials may inspect your documents and scan your pet’s microchip. This is usually a quick process at the veterinary inspection point. Make sure your documents are accessible and that your pet’s microchip scanner number matches the certificate.

Registering your pet once in Spain

If you’re planning to live in Spain permanently, your pet will need to be registered with a local vet. Most municipalities (ayuntamientos) have a pet census or registry, especially for dogs. You’ll need your NIE, passport, proof of residence, and your pet’s microchip and vaccination records. Annual rabies vaccination is mandatory in nearly all regions except Galicia, Basque Country and parts of Catalonia, where it’s strongly recommended but not compulsory.

Potentially Dangerous Dog (PPP) breeds

Spain has specific rules for certain breeds classified as Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos (PPP). These include the Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu and Staffordshire Bull Terrier, along with any crossbreeds showing similar traits. Owners of these breeds must obtain a special licence from their local town hall, pass a psychological and physical aptitude test, and take out third-party liability insurance of at least €120,000. Dogs in this category must always be walked on a short leash and wear a muzzle in public areas.

Bringing multiple pets or relocating long-term

If you’re relocating permanently and plan to bring more than five pets, you’ll fall under the commercial movement category and must use the TRACES NT system, which requires veterinary certificates from both countries and prior notification to Spanish authorities. Pet relocation companies in the UK and EU can manage this process for you.

What about assistance and emotional-support animals?

Certified assistance dogs (for example guide dogs or medical alert dogs) can travel under the same pet travel rules and are permitted in aircraft cabins, restaurants and public transport across Spain. Emotional-support animals are not officially recognised under EU law and are treated as standard pets for airline and entry purposes, though many landlords and airlines are becoming more flexible if proper documentation is presented.

Vet registration and local care in Spain

Once settled, register with a trusted local vet (veterinario). Spain’s veterinary clinics vary from small neighbourhood surgeries to 24-hour hospitals with diagnostic imaging and emergency care. Most offer bilingual service in popular expat areas. Keep digital copies of your vaccination and microchip records in case you change vets or travel within Spain.

Before you travel

Always double-check the latest rules with your vet and the Spanish authorities before you travel. Regulations can change with little notice during disease outbreaks such as rabies or avian flu. You can find the official guidance here:

GOV.UK – Taking your pet abroad
MAPA – Travelling with pets to Spain
European Commission – Pet movement legislation

Planning a move? Get your residency or visa insurance sorted first

If you’re relocating to Spain with your pets, you’ll also need visa-compliant health insurance for yourself. HealthPlan Spain offers Residency and Visa Health Insurance plans accepted by Spanish consulates and immigration offices nationwide. These policies meet all visa and residencia requirements and include full medical and hospital cover across Spain.

Sources
GOV.UK – Taking your pet abroad
MAPA – Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Spain)
European Commission – Pet Travel Rules
Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (UK)