Pet import requirements for Gibraltar

Gibraltar at a glance

The detail

Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and headland, on Spain's south coast. Because Gibraltar is in Europe, transit countries on the way can impose extra live-animal rules even when the destination file looks straightforward. The earliest a pet can enter is approximately 15 weeks old (12 weeks for vaccination + 21 days for immunity).

Import requirements

The earliest a pet can enter is approximately 15 weeks old (12 weeks for vaccination + 21 days for immunity).

Importation of Dogs and Cats Notice

A 'pet animal' is defined as an animal listed below which accompanies its owner or a natural person responsible for such animal on behalf of its owner during the movement and is not in tended to be sold or transferred to another owner. The following are classified as pet animals:

Dogs, cats, ferrets, in vertebrates (except bees and crustaceans), ornamental tropical fish, amphibia, reptiles, all species of birds (except poultry), rodents and domestic rabbits.

Identification and microchip

Animals must be identifiable by use of a Microchip - Animals must be vaccinated for rabies after they are microchipped.

Rabies and vaccinations

Required - Animals must be vaccinated for rabies after they are microchipped even if the rabies is up to date, this must be done at least 21 days before entering Gibraltar.

Anti-rabies vaccination

Tests and treatments

Rabies Antibody Titer Test (FAVN)

• Required for:
• Pets coming from non-EU listed countries (high‑risk rabies countries)
• Dogs, cats, and ferrets
• Purpose:

• Confirms that the pet has developed sufficient immunity to rabies after vaccination
• Timing:

• Pet must be vaccinated against rabies first (minimum 12 weeks old)
• Blood sample is taken at least 30 days after vaccination
• Test must be performed at an EU-approved laboratory
• Validity / Expiry:

• Test results are valid for the life of the vaccine (depending on vaccine type, usually 1–3 years)
• Pet cannot enter until 21 days after the first valid rabies vaccination, even if the FAVN test is already done

Dogs (tapeworm / Echinococcus treatment)

• Administered by: Certified veterinarian
• Timing: 24–120 hours (1–5 days) before entry for dogs from countries where treatment is required
• Documentation:
• Must be recorded on the of ficial health certificate with:

• Product used
• Dosage
• Date and time of administration
• Veterinarian signature and stamp

Note: Not required for cats and ferrets unless specified by Gibraltar veterinary authority.

Health certificate and permits

EU Countries- Animals must be accompanied by a Pet Passport* issued by a veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or revaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the manufacturing laboratory, carried out on the animals in question with an in activated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard. In the case of pets traveling from the UK, in light of the changes since Brexit, a Health Certificate detailing the animal’s up to date vaccinations will suffice.

NON-EU Countries-

Dogs, cats and ferrets moved for non-commercial purposes into a Member State from a territory or a third country listed in accordance with Article 13(1) and (2) of Regulation (EU) No 577/2013 are allowed to derogate from the rabies antibody titration test:

Territories and third countries which have made an application in which they demonstrate that they apply rules the content and effect of which are the same as those laid in Section 1 of Chapter II, Section 1 of Chapter III and Section 2 of Chapter IV of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 are listed in Part 1 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.

ISO code

Territory or third country

ISO code

Territory or third country

CH

Switzerland

FO

Faroe Islands

GI

Gibraltar

GL

Greenland

IS

Iceland

LI

Liechtenstein

MC

Monaco

NO

Norway

SM

San Marino

VA

Vatican City State

AD

Andorra

List of territories and third countries referred to in Article 13(1) of Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 - Part 2 of Annex II to Implementing Regulation (EU) No 577/2013.

ISO code

Territory or third country

ISO code

Territory or third country

AC

Ascension Island

AE

United Arab Emirates

AG

Antigua and Barbuda

AR

Argentina

AU

Australia

AW

Aruba

BA

Bosnia and Herzegovina

BB

Barbados

BH

Bahrain

BM

Bermuda

BQ

Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba (the BES Islands)

BY

Belarus

CA

Canada

CL

Chile

CW

Curaçao

FJ

Fiji

FK

Falkland Islands

HK

Hong Kong

JM

Jamaica

JP

Japan

KN

Saint Kitts and Nevis

KY

Cayman Islands

LC

Saint Lucia

MS

Montserrat

MK

The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia

MU

Mauritius

MX

Mexico

MY

Malaysia

NC

New Caledonia

NZ

New Zealand

PF

French Polynesia

PM

Saint Pierre and Miquelon

RU

Russia

SG

Singapore

SH

Saint Helena

SX

Sint Maarten

TT

Trinidad and Tobago

TW

Taiwan

US

United States of America

VC

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

VG

British Virgin Islands

VU

Vanuatu

WF

Wallis and Futuna

YT

Mayotte (*)

AS

American Samoa

GU

Guam

MP

Northern Mariana Islands

PR

Puerto Rico

VI

US Virgin Islands

*(*) Only applicable until this territory becomes an outermost region of the Union within the meaning of Article 349 TFEU.*

Animals re-entering Gibraltar from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Pet Passport issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an in activated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard OR

• Animals entering Gibraltar from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Certificate conforming with the model established by Commission Regulation 577/2013 issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an in activated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.

Movement consisting of the entering or re-entering any European Community Member States from any other third country not in cluded in the table above:

• Animals re-entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Pet Passport issued by a veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an in activated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard OR
• Animals entering the community from any of these territories must be accompanied by a Certificate conforming with the model established by Commission Decision 2004/824/EC issued by a Veterinarian authorized by the Competent Authority certifying valid anti-rabies vaccination or re-vaccination if applicable in accordance with the recommendations of the Manufacturing Laboratory carried out on the animal in question with an in activated vaccine of at least one antigenic unit per dose (WHO) standard.

The animals must have a blood test confirming a neutralizing rabies antibody titration at least equal to 0.5 iu/ml carried out on a sample taken by an authorized veterinarian and three months before being moved.

PLEASE NOTE THAT A BLOOD TEST HAS TO BE CARRIED OUT BY AN EU APPROVED LABORATORY.

An up to date list of approved laboratories can be found in the EU site: Approved rabies serology laboratories (europa.eu)

The blood test need not be renewed on a pet animal which has been revaccinated in accordance with the recommendations of the laboratory manufacturing the vaccine. The three month period shall not apply to the re-entry of a pet animal whose passport certifies that the rabies antibody titration was carried out, with a positive result, before the animal left the territory of the community.

*Pet Passport – means a passport that complies with the model set out in Commission Regulations 576/2013 and 577/2013.

Restrictions and banned breeds

Prohibited Breeds - Pitbull Terriers, American Staffordshire, Japanese Tosa, Dogo Argentino, or Fila Braziliero or dogs appearing to be a cross breed of or substantially of one of these types.

Customs, agents, and airports

Highly Recommended

Airports:

• Gibraltar International Airport (North Front Airport), Gibraltar (IATA: GIB, ICAO: LXGB)

Official contacts

Chief Environmental Health Officer

Environmental Health Department

Health Centre

37 Town Range

Gibraltar

Tel: +350 2007-0620

Fax: +350 2007-4119

Email: admin@eag.gi

Website

Current as of Sept. 2024

Disclaimer

Import rules change without much warning. Confirm every vaccine date, test, permit, and crate routing with the destination veterinary authority before you travel. This page is a planning brief for Furry Freight customers, last checked against the IPATA country profile dated 2026-03-10.

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