Entry requirements and paperwork

Are you travelling with your pet?

There are three general rules: animals should be accompanied by their owners or representatives, must be duly identified and must have their accompanying animal health certificate, which should include a copy written in Spanish. Please take into account that all pets must be in possession of the correct veterinary certificate or passport, according to the species of animal.

If your pet is a dog, a cat or a ferret

Dogs, cats and ferrets that are less than 3 months old, and are therefore not vaccinated against rabies, are not allowed entry.
Before entering Spain, your pet must fulfil a series of sanitary and identification requirements, which may vary according to the country of origin. You can check them on the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment official website. (http://www.magrama.gob.es/es/ganaderia/legislacion/animales-compania-normativa-zoosanitaria.aspx).
In most cases, your pet must be identified with a legible tattoo or microchip, and the valid passport must prove that it was vaccinated against rabies. The animal must not travel within 21 days after its first vaccination.
 

If your pet is a bird

Birds coming from non-European Union member states should comply with a series of control requirements for safety reasons (against bird flu) which are included on the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment official website. In all cases the animal must have the veterinary certificate written at least in Spanish, issued within the past 10 days (for European Union member states), and signed and stamped by an official vet, with a declaration from the owner or their representative (for third countries). Poultry are not considered pets.
 

Other species

They must all have the corresponding veterinary certificate, written at least in Spanish, issued within 10 days before the trip.

Also, if you come from a country outside the European Union, on the following link from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment, you will find information regarding the entry of your pet into Spain, by type of pet and country of origin.

(http://cexgan.mapa.es/Modulos05/Publico/InformacionMercados.aspx?proc=6)
 

For the health certificate, please take into account that pets must be examined within 5 days before leaving the country of origin. On the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment website, as well as the regulations, you'll also find the corresponding certificate and passport models, written in Spanish and English.
 

A few useful tips…

Make sure you have a telephone number for emergency veterinary services in the place you are planning to visit with your pet.

In addition to fulfilling all the entry requirements, you should also bear in mind the following:

• Muzzles are obligatory in some Spanish regions. • Not all types of accommodation admit animals. • Most restaurants do not admit pets. • The municipal authorities determine the places, seasons and times when dogs are allowed to enter and stay on beaches.

Before you start your trip, it is advisable to check with your chosen accommodation and transport companies about their conditions for travelling with pets.