If you are planning to Move to Spain with Pets, it is important to be aware of Spanish regulations and allow sufficient time to organise the necessary paperwork, vaccinations and other requirements.
Regulations to move to Spain with pets vary depending on the type of animal. In this article we will run through the main requirements for dogs, cats, ferrets, rodents, rabbits, reptiles, and birds when moving to Spain.
Moving to Spain with Dogs, cats, and ferrets
The most important things to keep in mind are the ones here below.
Microchip
A microchip must be inserted before any vaccinations.
Vaccinations
At least 21 days (but not more than one year) before travelling, pets must be vaccinated for rabies and various other diseases. If you move to Spain with pets from a country with high instances of rabies, your pet must have a rabies Titer Test at least 30 days after the first vaccination.
Titer Tests gauge whether antibodies are still being produced in the animal from a prior vaccination. Minimum pet age for rabies vaccinations is 12 weeks of age unless the pet is coming from a country with high instances of rabies where it is seven months.
Pet Passport
An official health certificate listing details such as the owner’s name and address, microchip number, animal description, and vaccination dates is required and will need to be endorsed by the government import and export of animals department and completed by a licensed vet.
Travel containers
Special travelling containers are required which allow sufficient space for the animal to move and lie down. On short journeys many airlines allow pets into the cabin, with a maximum of two pets in the cabin. Usually pets will be checked in as air cargo or baggage.
Arriving by air
If you plan to move to Spain with pets by air, you must organise to land in either Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Tenerife Sur or Valencia airports as these have official border inspection posts.
Arriving by sea
If an accompanied pet enters Spain by sea it should dock in either Algeciras, Almeria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife ports which are approved for the import of pets.
Muzzles
To pass Spanish security certain dog breeds will be required to wear a muzzle. These are: Pit Bull Terriers, Staffordshire Bull Terriers, American Staffordshire Terriers, Rottweilers, Dogo Argentinos, Fila Brasilieros, Tosa Inus and Akita Inus.
Moving to Spain with Rodents, rabbits, reptiles
A maximum number of five rodents, rabbits or reptiles per owner are permitted to enter Spain. It is required that they are examined by a licensed vet within 5 days of travelling to Spain and are free of external parasites and show no signs of any diseases.
Moving to Spain with Birds
A health certificate is required and the maximum number of birds per owner is five. Birds must have undergone isolation for thirty days before travelling or been vaccinated against Avian Influenza between sixty days and six months of travelling or been tested for the Avian Influenza antibody.
If these procedures have not been organised, the bird will need to spend 30 days in quarantine in Spain.
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
All animals apart from dogs, cats and ferrets are protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). If your move to Spain with pets involves an animal other than a dog, cat or ferret, you will need to verify that it is not protected under CITES.
