Bringing your dog, cat
or ferret to Spain
Moving with a pet takes careful planning: identification, vaccination, health certificates and, depending on where you're coming from, laboratory tests all have strict minimum timeframes that cannot be shortened. This guide walks through the official Spanish requirements step by step, so you can plan your pet's journey with confidence.
The three basics, whatever your route
Regardless of where you're travelling from, every dog, cat or ferret entering Spain must meet three baseline requirements. Spain grants no exceptions for unvaccinated animals.
Spain does not authorize the entry of dogs, cats or ferrets that are unvaccinated against rabies or under the minimum vaccination age. Plan your pet's vaccination schedule well in advance of your travel date.
Coming from the EU vs. from a third country
The requirements differ significantly depending on where your pet is travelling from. This is the single most important distinction to get right early on.
| Origin | What's required |
|---|---|
| EU member state | Microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport are generally sufficient. No additional laboratory testing is required. |
| Listed "equivalent" countries | Norway, Northern Ireland, and Annex I countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City) are treated the same as intra-EU movement. |
| Listed third countries (Annex II) | Microchip, valid rabies vaccination and an official EU health certificate (Annex IV model) issued by an official vet, in Spanish or accompanied by a Spanish translation. |
| Non-listed third countries | All of the above, plus a rabies antibody titration (serology) test carried out in an EU-approved laboratory after the vaccination, followed by a minimum waiting period before travel. |
The exact list of countries and required tests can change, and requirements are sometimes stricter depending on the country of origin. Always verify your specific case using MAPA's official country search tool (CEXGAN) before booking travel.
Documents you'll need
Depending on your pet's origin, you will need some combination of the following documents. Click each one for details.
A standardized document issued by an authorized veterinarian, recording your pet's microchip number, rabies vaccination history and, where relevant, other treatments. It remains valid for the pet's lifetime as long as vaccinations are kept up to date.
Known as the Annex IV certificate under EU Implementing Regulation 577/2013, this must be issued and signed by an official veterinarian in the country of origin, and must be presented at least in Spanish (a bilingual model is available). It has a limited validity window, so timing matters — request it as close as possible to your travel date.
A signed declaration, following the official EU model, confirming that the movement of the animal is non-commercial, that there is no transfer of ownership, and that the pet is travelling with its owner or an authorized person.
A blood sample is taken at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination and analyzed at an EU-approved laboratory. The sample must be taken at least 3 months before the animal travels — the waiting period counts from the date the blood sample was taken, not from the date of the result (EU Regulation 576/2013). Confirm the details for your case via CEXGAN, as this is one of the most frequent sources of denied entry when miscalculated.
Unlike Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway, Spain does not currently require antiparasitic treatment against tapeworm for dogs entering the country. Always double-check this if your onward journey includes one of those destinations.
Have your veterinarian confirm they are officially registered to issue export/health certificates in your country's equivalent system (in Spain, this is the CEXGAN registry). A certificate issued by a non-registered vet may be rejected on arrival.
Arrival and authorized entry points
Pets arriving from a third country cannot enter through just any Spanish border crossing — the process is stricter than for regular luggage.
A movement is considered non-commercial travel — rather than a commercial import requiring separate procedures — when it involves five animals or fewer, has no commercial purpose or transfer of ownership, and the pet travels with its owner (or within 5 days of the owner's own travel). Moving more than five pets, or travelling separately by more than 5 days, requires additional formalities.
Other species and special cases
Not every pet move fits the standard dog/cat/ferret process. A few situations are worth flagging separately.
If your pet will later travel onward to a non-EU country, check that destination's specific requirements directly with its embassy, consulate, or relevant ministry — they are independent of Spain's entry rules and can be considerably stricter.
Pet relocation checklist
Use this interactive list to keep track of every step on the way to bringing your pet to Spain.
Official links
Always confirm your pet's specific requirements directly with these official Spanish government sources before travelling — requirements can change and vary by country of origin.
If in doubt about your specific country's requirements, MAPA's animal health veterinarians at your departure or arrival airport can also be contacted directly — reach out well before your travel date, since some steps (like the rabies serology test) cannot be rushed.