Pet import requirements for Spain
What Spain asks for before a dog or cat can enter — the microchip, the rabies work, the permit and the paperwork — and how far ahead you need to start. We handle all of it on a move we arrange.
Import rules change, and they change without notice. Last verified 2025-10-14 by the country-profile service Furry Freight uses; profile last updated 2025-10-14. Confirm every requirement with the authority named below, or with us on (424) 421-1650, before you book a flight or start any vet work.
Spain at a glance
| Requirement | For Spain |
|---|---|
| Microchip Required | Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be in dividually identified by an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip before vaccinations |
| Rabies | At least 12 weeks old and must wait 21 days after vaccination to travel |
| Rabies antibody test | Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 “List of countries exempt from rabies antibody serology to enter Spain” |
| Import permit | Import Permit |
| Quarantine | Depending on type of animal |
| Minimum age to travel | 3 months and 21 days |
| EU rules that also apply | This destination is grouped with the European Union; confirm whether EU pet-movement rules apply |
| Customs clearance | Strongly advised |
| Agent at destination | Strongly advised |
Where this fits in the timeline. The order matters more than the effort: a rabies vaccination given before the microchip was implanted does not count in most regimes, and a titer test drawn too early restarts a waiting period. On a move we handle, we check your pet's existing dates against these rules on the free consultation before anything is booked.
The detail
Highly Recommended. Highly Recommended. Spain, or the Kingdom of Spain, is a country located in Southwestern Europe, with parts of its territory in the Atlantic Ocean, the Mediterranean Sea and Africa. Have the HAWB issued to AGP, MAD, ALC, MJV, BCN, VLC, and 7 other listed airports unless the airline assigns a different live-animal station.
Import requirements
3 months and 21 days
Microchip has to be implanted before the latest rabies certificate has been done. Rabies certificate has to be valid upon the entry in to Spain.
SPAIN ENTRY REQUIREMENTS DOGS, CATS AND FERRETS Requirements from EU-countries:
Pet passport
- Identification (ISO compatible)
- Valid rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to entry into Spain
- Health certificate issued within 5 days
Requirements from low risk rabies countries:
- Identification
- Microchip (ISO compatible)
- Must be implanted on the same day or prior to the rabies vaccination.
- EU health certificate
- Government endorsed – valid for four months
- Valid rabies vaccination
- At least 21 days prior to entry into Spain
- Health certificate
- Issued within 5 days of travel
Additional requirements from counties with urban rabies:
- Rabies blood test
At least 30 days after rabies vaccination. At least three months must elapse between the blood test and entry into the country.
Maximum 5 Pets
The “commercial” health certificate is:
- For pets (any number) who are traveling more than 5 days before or after the owner or designated person.
OR
For 6 or more privately owned pets traveling at the same time (even if their owner or designated person is traveling to the EU at the same time or within 5 days before or after the pet).
OR
For pet animals changing ownership or in tended for resale when arriving in the EU.
- Valid for 48 hours after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian issues (completes and signs) it. The health certificate must be issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed (counter-signed and embossed/stamped) by APHIS within 48 hours of departing the U.S.
- APHIS endorsement is not required if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian*.
Always contact local authorities to check additional requirements.
Identification and microchip
- Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be in dividually identified by an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip before vaccinations.
- ISO compliant microchips are 15 digits long. The pet’s microchip ISO compatibility can be confirmed with the microchip manufacturer.
- If the pet does not have an ISO compliant microchip:
- The pet will need to travel with a microchip reader that can read the microchip OR contact the Veterinary Officials at the in tended port of arrival to verify that they have a reader capable of reading the pet’s microchip.
OR
- If a non-ISO compatible microchip was previously implanted and can still be read, then the Veterinarian can implant an ISO-compatible microchip in addition to the non-ISO one the pet currently has.
- The number and the date of implantation of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate.
Rabies and vaccinations
At least 12 weeks old and must wait 21 days after vaccination to travel.
Tests and treatments
Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 “List of countries exempt from rabies antibody serology to enter Spain”.
The unlisted countries must to be done 90 days before travel
Health certificate and permits
The EU has two different health certificates for pets. The health certificate used will depend on the number of animals traveling, whether or not the pet is traveling within 5 days before or after the owner or designated person, and whether the pet will change ownership or is in tended for resale in the EU.
- The “non-commercial” health certificate is:
- For 5 or less pets traveling to the EU within 5 days of the owner or designated person.
OR
For 6 or more privately owned pets that are more than 6 months old and traveling in a group to the EU to participate in competitions, exhibitions, sporting events, or in training for events, within 5 days of the owner or designated person.
- Valid for 10 days after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian issues (completes and signs) it. The health certificate must be issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed (counter-signed and embossed/stamped) by APHIS within 10 days prior to entering the EU.
- APHIS endorsement is not required if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian*.
- The final page of the EU Health Certificate contains a Declaration which must be completed and signed by the owner or designated person before the pet travels to the EU. The Declaration must accompany the pet and health certificate to the EU.
For the commercial Health certificate see the commercial moves below.
Quarantine
Restrictions and banned breeds
The following breeds are not banned from entering Spain, but they must be registered within 3 months of entry and must wear a muzzle to pass security in Spain: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu.
Customs, agents, and airports
Highly Recommended.
Best Airports: AGP / MAD / BCN
Airports listed on this destination file: AGP, MAD, ALC, MJV, BCN, VLC, PMI, IBZ, MAH, SVQ, LEI, GRO, LPA.
Depending on which airport the pet is either entering or departing from there maybe a slight difference in the local authority procedures, although the overall requirements are the same.
The website address shown throughout this country in formation will allow the user to find all the current in formation on the Export and Import of all animals.
Export notes
All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Spain for another EU Member State must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Spain. If you are planning to take your pet on a trip to a country with a high in cidence of rabies, your veterinarian should do a rabies titer test before you leave Spain if you intend to return.
All animals leaving Spain for non-EU countries that do not have specific health certificates must obtain a health certificate in accordance to their destination country requirements prior to an export permit that will be issued by agencies in the origin province responsible for the issuance of export permits.
Other pets / CITES / extra rules
If the breed is in CITES list
April-16-2018 - Spain - Regional Meeting Presentation
Official contacts
Ministry of Agriculture
Paseo
de la Infanta Isabel, 1
28014
Tel: +34 91 347-5068
Email: entradaspalaciodefomento@magrama.es
Chef des Services VeterinairesDepartment de l'Agriculture
62-64 Prat de la Ceu Andorra la Vella Andorra
Tel: +376 829 345
Fax: +376 828 906
E-mail: agricultura@and orra.ad
Health Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Dr Lucio Ignacio Carbajo Goñi
Vice-president of the OIE Regional Commission for Europe
Assistant Director-General
Calle Almagro 33
PC 28010
Madrid, Spain
Current as of October 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 2025-10-14.
Next: measure your dog, find the kennel size, then get a free travel quote. Moving on military orders? PCS moves. Going to Hawaiʻi instead? Hawaiʻi has its own regime.
Other destinations: Albania · Andorra · Austria · all destinations
Official sources for Spain
- Depending on breed of animal mapa.gob.es
Questions about moving a pet to Spain
Does my dog or cat need a microchip for Spain?
Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be in dividually identified by an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip before vaccinations
From the country profile, last verified 2025-10-14.
What rabies vaccination does Spain require?
At least 12 weeks old and must wait 21 days after vaccination to travel
Is a rabies antibody (titer) test needed for Spain?
Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 “List of countries exempt from rabies antibody serology to enter Spain”
A titer test is the single most common reason a move takes months rather than weeks, because the waiting period runs from the blood draw.
Do I need an import permit to bring a pet into Spain?
Import Permit
Will my pet be quarantined on arrival in Spain?
Depending on type of animal