Pet Travel and Moving with Animals to Spain

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Pet Travel and Moving with Animals to Spain

Relocating to Spain with animals can be relatively easy if you’re moving pets within the European Union. If pets are being relocated to Spain from the UK or Ireland, or from a country outside the European Union such as the US or Australia, it can seem expensive and more complicated. However if all the paperwork is in order things should go smoothly.

Pets in Spain are known as animales domésticos or animal de compania or mascota.

• The European Pet Passport (EU Pet Passport) allows for qualifying domestic animals (dogs, cats and ferrets) to freely cross borders in Europe
• The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS) provides for qualifying domestic pets to travel to and from the UK without undergoing quarantine

Moving Pets within the European Union

Pet travel laws can be affected by exceptional outbreaks of diseases. Recent examples are Avian Influenza (the H5N1 strain of bird flu) and Foot and Mouth disease.

European Pet Passport

The EU Pet Passport is a booklet, identical for all European countries, which contains obligatory information concerning an individual animal: identification number, proof of valid vaccine against the rabies virus. It may contain other non-obligatory information and is valid for the lifetime of the pet. Each passport is numbered for identification purposes.

Animals travelling within any European Union country need to be accompanied by a Pet Passport. For Ireland, Sweden, Malta and United Kingdom, further rules apply. When crossing the Finnish border animals must, in addition to the passport, also have proof of tapeworm (echinococcosis) treatment. All vets should have the relevant information and be able to prepare a pet for travel.

• For more information about the Pet Passport: Click here

The EU Pet Passport can also be used when travelling between Europe and the following non-mainland European areas: Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira.

It may also be used when travelling between EU and other countries with the same rabies status. Included are: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State.

• See the EUROPA website

Getting an EU Pet Passport

The passport may only be issued by a licenced vet and it, and vaccinations, should be kept current by the vet.

Before issuing it, the vet will confirm that the animal:

• is identified by a micro chip in the neck (tattoos are only accepted in the EU until 3 July 2011 and are no longer valid for travel to the UK, Ireland or Malta)
• has valid vaccines against rabies
• has had a blood test to confirm the vaccine is in the system

Following these steps the vet can issue a certificate of health - the Pet Passport.

Arriving in Spain

A non-commercial importer may bring up to five pets into Spain.

Pet owners must carry a valid EU Pet Passport for each pet when travelling with their animals to Spain.

If the rabies vaccination was the animal's first vaccine then it must wait for 21 days before entering the country. There is no time delay with booster injections, providing there is proof that the booster was administered before the last vaccine had expired.

An animal must be over three months old to enter Spanish territory.

Rabbits and rodents may travel without a passport but should be declared at the border.

Moving Pets from the UK or Ireland

Dogs, cats and ferrets may travel between UK and Ireland, and Europe without quarantine, provided some (stringent) requirements are met. The system allowing travel is called the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS).

DEFRA, the UK Department for Environment Food and Rural affairs, has comprehensive and up-to-date information on the website. It can also can provide an information pack on request.

• DEFRA website: Pet Travel Scheme (PETS)
• Pet Travel Scheme
  Tel: +44 870 241 1710
  e-mail
  Open: Mondays to Fridays 08:00-18:00 UK time

Entering the UK, Ireland, Malta or Sweden

As of 1 January 2012, the rules regarding moving pet animals to the United Kingdom, Ireland, Sweden and Malta have been harmonised with the rest of the EU. A blood test after the rabies vaccination is no longer necessary and the waiting time before entry is shortened from six months to 21 days. Tick treatment is not obligatory.

Dogs must be treated against tapeworm no less than 24 hours and not more than 120 hours (five days) before arriving in the UK. This treatment must be recorded in the pet passport by a veterinary surgeon. Dogs arriving from Malta, Ireland or Finland do not need to be treated against tapeworm.

• For more information about tapeworm treatment: Click here

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) has comprehensive information on the new policy:

• For more information from DEFRA regarding the new rules: Click here
• For the leaflet Bringing pets into the UK after 1 January 2012: Click here (PDF)

For information from Sweden and Ireland’s governments:

• For information on the rules that apply for Ireland: Click here
• For information on the rules that apply for Sweden: Click here

Moving Pets from Outside the EU

If taking the pet to a country outside the EU consult the Embassy or consulate to check the local regulations.

An animal entering Spain or an EU Country from a non-EU country that has the same rabies controls need merely prove that the anti-rabies booster vaccinations are valid and up-to-date.

• See EUROPA website

Animals from countries not included on the list need to have complete anti-rabies treatment. The Spanish Embassy in the home country should be consulted.

Moving Pets to Spain from the United States or Canada

Animals from the USA and Canada may enter Spain if they have:

• a valid Veterinary Certificate (stating owners details, a description of the animal, details of identification and vaccinations)
• valid rabies vaccines
• a tattoo (only accepted in the EU until 3 July 2011) or a microchip (compatible with standard ISO 11784 or annex A ISO standard 11785)

The cage or carrier must be labelled with the owners name, and their (or a nominated person's) address and contact numbers in Spain.

Once in Spain, a Spanish vet can issue an EU Pet Passport allowing travel within Europe.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency website has further information: Click here

Pet Carriers To and From Spain

It is essential to ensure that your pet is eligible to travel, not only to or from Spain, but also any other countries it may pass through.

The animal will have to travel in an approved container. It must be big enough for the animal to stand, sit and turn during the journey. The container must allow adequate ventilation.

If the journey is longer than a few hours, food and drink may need to be supplied.

Several train companies, sea ferries and airlines carry caged animals across borders (normally a pet travelling by air will be in the hold). Consult the carrier for details.

Carriers- Spain and the UK

Animals must be transported via approved routes. Euro Tunnel is pet friendly allowing pets to travel in the car.

• The website has information and check-in procedures: Click here
• DEFRA provide a list of approved carriers and routes Click here

Travelling with Guide Dogs

Guide dogs for the blind entering Spain must adhere to the same requirements as other domestic pets above.

Once in Spain the service dog has free access to all public buildings and may travel unrestricted on all public transport. The dog should be registered and licensed with the Spanish National Organization of the Blind (Organización Nacional de Ciegos de España, ONCE).

• ONCE Website (in English)
• AEPA, Associación Español de Perros de Assistencia, The Spanish association for assistance dogs: Click here

The UK based Guide Dogs for the Blind association has a set of guidelines for those travelling with the assistance of guide dogs.

• Guide Dogs information on the Pet Travel Scheme: Click here

Further Information

• European Union information on Moving Pets & Animals