🇪🇸Taking a dog or cat to Spain: entry rules and flights

✓ Rules checked: August 15, 2026Official sources only

Preparing from scratch takes 3 weeks to 4 months, depending on where you fly from.

Spain follows the common rules of the European Union. From any country your pet needs microchip, rabies vaccination and import declaration. Everything else depends on where you fly from: the EU sorts departure countries into groups, and the group decides whether you need an EU pet passport or a health certificate, and whether a rabies titre test is required.

The titre test is what makes the timing. Blood is drawn no earlier than 30 days after the vaccination, and entry is allowed no earlier than 90 days after the draw. So from Turkey and China, starting from zero today, the earliest departure is January 23, 2027; from United Kingdom, France, United Arab Emirates and United States no titre test is needed.

Check your own route

Free, no signup: timings, documents and airlines for your pet

🐕 🐈 Same rules for dogs and cats

Airlines with direct flights

97 airlines in our directory fly direct to and from Spain. Their conditions differ — the cabin weight limit, whether they carry pets in the hold, the fee and breed restrictions — so it is worth choosing the carrier before buying the ticket.

Airline	Cabin	Hold	Cabin fee	Direct flights
Iberia no snub-nosed breeds in the hold · banned breeds: 9	✓ up to 8 kg	✓ up to 45 kg	40 EUR per flight	from 104 cities in 46 countries
Vueling	✓ up to 10 kg	no pets	—	from 72 cities in 29 countries
Air Europa no snub-nosed breeds in the hold	✓ up to 10 kg	✓ up to 50 kg	52 EUR per flight	from 47 cities in 30 countries
Eurowings banned breeds: 6	✓ up to 8 kg	no pets	—	from 24 cities in 5 countries
Volotea no snub-nosed breeds in the hold	✓ up to 10 kg	no pets	39 EUR per flight	from 24 cities in 4 countries
TUI Airways no snub-nosed breeds in the cabin	no pets	✓	—	from 21 cities in 2 countries
Norwegian	✓ up to 8 kg	✓ up to 14 kg	75 EUR per flight	from 20 cities in 6 countries
AlbaStar no snub-nosed breeds in the hold	✓ up to 8 kg	no pets	—	from 18 cities in 10 countries
Iberojet	no pets	✓	—	from 16 cities in 15 countries
British Airways	no pets	✓	—	from 15 cities in 7 countries

Showing the 10 carriers serving the most cities out of 97 with direct flights. Schedules: AeroDataBox, AirLabs, Travelpayouts; pet conditions come from our airline directory.

Restrictions

The limits people find out about last: how many animals one person may bring, the minimum age and which breeds are turned away at the border.

Quarantine Not stated in the rules

Banned breeds No bans +

These are the country's rules. Airlines refuse some breeds on their own — their limits are in the carrier table above.

Pets per person up to 5 +

No more than five animals per owner or authorised person in a single movement. More than five is allowed only for a competition, show or sporting event or training for one: written proof of registration is required and the animals must be over six months old. Otherwise the movement counts as commercial, and different rules apply.

Minimum age 4 months+ +

This point is only about puppies and kittens under 16 weeks; it does not concern adult animals.

A puppy or kitten under 12 weeks with no vaccination, and an animal aged 12 to 16 weeks whose 21 days since vaccination have not elapsed, may travel within the Union — but not everyone admits them. Ten countries authorise it: Bulgaria, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Finland, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia. The other member states, along with Norway and Northern Ireland, do not. The list is maintained by the European Commission itself; check it before travelling — it changes.

Points of entry 38 airports +

Entry into the Union is only through a DESIGNATED travellers' point of entry. Not every airport qualifies: each Member State designates and publishes its own list. Documentary and identity checks take place there. The only exceptions are Annex I countries (Andorra, Switzerland, Iceland and so on) and service dogs under a separate permit. Check the point of entry before buying tickets — at an airport without one the pet cannot be cleared.

What you need to enter Spain

The full list of documents and procedures for entering Spain. Every item carries its official source and last-checked date, and is marked as always required or required only from some departure countries.

Identification

Microchipalways+

An ISO-standard microchip implanted by a veterinarian. A tattoo qualifies only if applied before 3 July 2011 and legible. If the chip does not meet the technical requirements, the owner must provide the reading device at the check. The chip goes in BEFORE the rabies vaccination: a vaccination given before microchipping does not count.

«Article 7(1). For the purposes of the non-commercial movements from one Member State into another Member State, pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets shall be individually identified, as required by Article 247, point (a), of Regulation (EU) 2016/429, as follows: (a) by an injectable transponder implanted in accordance with Article 70 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035 and complying with the requi»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

Vaccination

Rabies vaccinationalways+

A complete primary course of rabies vaccination finished at least 21 days before travel, or a valid booster. The vaccination is given no earlier than 12 weeks of age. The 21 days run from the last dose of the primary course; a booster given on time needs no waiting, but a lapsed vaccination returns the animal to first-vaccination status — and to the 21-day wait.

Puppies and kittens under 16 weeks are a separate case, shown as a condition at the top of the answer.

«Article 8(a). They have received a complete primary course of anti-rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to the date of movement, or have been re-vaccinated against rabies, in accordance with the validity requirements set out in Part 1 of Annex VII to Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2020/688.»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

Tests and treatments

Rabies antibody titre testdepends on origin+

Not required from every departure country — checking your own route gives the exact answer.

A rabies antibody blood test — required only for countries listed in neither Annex I nor Annex II to Implementing Regulation 2026/636 (Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Georgia, China, India and others). Blood is drawn no earlier than 30 days after vaccination, and three months must pass between sampling and entry. The result must be at least 0.5 IU/ml from a Commission-approved laboratory. As long as boosters stay on schedule, the titre need not be repeated.

CAVEAT: the numbers themselves come from Annex XXI to Delegated Regulation 2020/692, referenced by Article 14(c); the annex text could not be opened on EUR-Lex, so the figures are carried over from the previous version of our data.

«Article 14. For the purposes of the non-commercial movements into the Union, pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets shall fulfil the following prevention and risk-mitigation measures: (a) they show no obvious signs of disease and are fit for the non-commercial movement; (b) they have received a complete primary course of anti-rabies vaccination at least 21 days prior to the date of movement, or have be»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

Documents

Pet passportdepends on origin+

An alternative to “Veterinary health certificate”: you need one of the two, and which one depends on the departure country.

Not required from every departure country — checking your own route gives the exact answer.

The EU pet passport is the only document needed for movement between Member States. It is signed by the owner and must have been issued in the Union country where the owner habitually resides. No separate health certificate is required, and nothing needs re-issuing for each trip. Where the records do not fit, the animal may travel with more than one passport.

«Article 11(1). Pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets shall be accompanied by an identification document in the form of the passport referred to in Article 71 of Delegated Regulation (EU) 2019/2035. Such passport shall comply with the following conditions: (a) it must be signed by the pet owner; and (b) it must have been duly completed and issued in a Member State where the pet owner resides habitually»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

Import declarationalways+

A written declaration by the owner that the movement is NON-commercial — that is, the pet is not being sold or transferred to another owner. It is attached to the certificate. If the pet travels with an authorised person rather than the owner, a written authorisation is attached and the trip must take place within FIVE days of the owner's own journey. No more than five animals per movement; more are allowed only for a show or competition, with written proof of registration and for animals over six months old.

«Article 18(3). A written declaration, signed by the pet owner or the authorised person, confirming that the movement of the pet animal into the Union is a non-commercial movement shall be attached to the animal health certificate referred to in paragraph 1. Article 245(2) of Regulation (EU) 2016/429. Where the non-commercial movement of a pet animal is carried out by an authorised person, it may o»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

Veterinary health certificatedepends on origin+

An alternative to “Pet passport”: you need one of the two, and which one depends on the departure country.

Not required from every departure country — checking your own route gives the exact answer.

An animal health certificate on the single EU model. It is issued by an official veterinarian of the country of departure, or by an authorised veterinarian and then endorsed by the competent authority — no more than 10 days before entry (for sea transport the period is extended by the duration of the voyage).

Important and useful: after the border check the certificate remains valid for a further six months — or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first. During that time you may travel around the Union without re-issuing anything. Certified copies of the vaccination details and, where a titre is required, the laboratory report are attached to it.

«Article 18(1). Pet dogs, pet cats or pet ferrets shall be accompanied by an identification document in the form of the animal health certificate set out in Annex III to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/705. The animal health certificate shall be valid for a total period of six months from the date of the documentary and identity checks carried out at the travellers' point of entry into»

Source ↗Rules checked: August 15, 2026government

The order of preparation

The order matters more than the list: a step done too early has to be repeated. The intervals come from the same rule fields the engine uses for the earliest departure date.

Microchip

before the rabies vaccination
Rabies vaccination

pet at least 12 weeks oldvalid after 21 days
Rabies antibody titre test depends on origin

no earlier than 30 days after the vaccinationentry 90 days after the blood draw
Veterinary health certificate depends on origin

no earlier than 10 days before entry
Pet passport depends on origin
Import declaration

Steps marked “depends on origin” are not needed by everyone — see the table above or check your own route.

Compared by departure country

Lapaport's engine on six examples, counted from zero: a dog of no particular breed with nothing done yet — no microchip, no vaccination, no tests — starting preparation today. Columns marked “always” are required from anywhere.

From	Microchipalways	Rabies jabalways	Titre test	Border document	Declarationalways	Earliest departurepreparing from scratch
🇬🇧 United Kingdom	✓	✓	—	Health certificate	✓	October 15, 2026	Plan →
🇫🇷 France	✓	✓	—	EU pet passport	✓	October 15, 2026	Plan →
🇹🇷 Turkey	✓	✓	✓	Health certificate	✓	January 23, 2027	Plan →
🇦🇪 United Arab Emirates	✓	✓	—	Health certificate	✓	October 15, 2026	Plan →
🇨🇳 China	✓	✓	✓	Health certificate	✓	January 23, 2027	Plan →
🇺🇸 United States	✓	✓	—	Health certificate	✓	October 15, 2026	Plan →

If the microchip and vaccination are already done, the wait is shorter: the clock runs from the vaccination date, not from today. Breed, weight and connections change the answer too — check your own route with the form above.

Arrival airports

Pets may not enter through just any airport. Below: where direct flights go and whether animals are accepted.

On the list of entry points12

MADMadrid PMIPalma de Mallorca BCNBarcelona AGPMálaga ALCAlicante TFSTenerife LPAGran Canaria Island IBZIbiza (Eivissa) VLCValencia FUEEl Matorral ACESan Bartolomé MAHMahón (Maó)

Leaving Spain

How to take a pet out of Spain: what is arranged at home before the flight.

How to take a dog or cat out of an EU country when the owner travels with the pet (non-commercial movement). The procedure is the same in all 27 EU countries — it is harmonised by Regulation (EU) No 2026/131, so the requirements match regardless of the country of departure. Only the details differ: the specific competent authority, the document language and how you book an official vet depend on y

1. Microchip (ISO 11784/11785)+

An ISO 11784/11785 microchip is mandatory in the EU for all dogs and cats (Reg. (EU) No 2026/131). The key ordering rule: the rabies vaccination date must NOT precede the microchip date — i.e. implant the chip BEFORE the first rabies vaccine (or at the same time). If the animal was vaccinated before being chipped, the vaccination must be repeated after the chip is implanted. If the chip is unreadable or not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, the owner must provide a reader.

2. Rabies vaccination+

Mandatory in the EU for all dogs and cats. The primary vaccination is given to an animal at least 12 weeks old. The period of validity starts not less than 21 days after completion of the primary vaccination protocol — the pet may not be moved before that. A booster given within the validity period of the previous vaccination (no gap) needs no further 21-day wait. The vaccine is administered by an authorised veterinarian and recorded in the EU passport.

3. Rabies antibody titer (serology test)+

For movement BETWEEN EU countries a rabies antibody titer is NOT required — Regulation (EU) No 2026/131 does not call for it. The test is needed only when the DESTINATION country requires it (i.e. when you take the pet out of the EU to a third country — e.g. UAE, Japan, USA, etc.). In that case the blood is drawn by an authorised veterinarian and the analysis is performed by an EU-approved laboratory; the required level and timing are set by the destination country.

4. EU pet passport+

The single EU pet passport is the key document for moving a dog or cat within the European Union. It is completed and issued by an authorised veterinarian in your EU country, who records the microchip code, the rabies vaccination details and, where applicable, the tapeworm (Echinococcus) treatment. The EU passport is valid for life as long as the rabies vaccination record stays valid. For movements BETWEEN EU countries this passport is sufficient — no separate certificate is needed. A written owner declaration confirming the non-commercial nature of the trip also accompanies the pet. IMPORTANT: the EU pet passport is issued only to EU residents (at the owner’s place of usual residence in the EU). If the owner is NOT an EU resident (e.g. from Russia), a passport cannot be issued — an EU veterinary certificate is used instead (see the next step).

5. Export veterinary certificate (for third countries)+

A fork by destination. If you fly WITHIN the EU, no separate certificate is needed — the EU passport is enough (see the previous step). If you take the pet OUTSIDE the EU to a third country, you need an export veterinary health certificate, issued by an official state veterinarian of the competent authority of your EU country according to the destination country's requirements (often via TRACES NT). The certificate is issued in advance by the official vet (usually no more than 10 days before departure) — EU airports have no day-of-departure vet-control exchange as in Russia. The exact set of requirements (vaccinations, titer, treatments, certificate form) depends on the destination country. Under the new Regulation 2026/131 the EU veterinary certificate is valid for 6 months from the date of the document checks on entry (previously 4 months).

Source ↗

More detail

The order always matters: microchip first, then the rabies vaccination — otherwise the vaccination does not count. The health certificate is issued no earlier than 10 days before entry, so it cannot be done early.

The same rules apply in

This country belongs to a common import regime: the same requirements across 27 countries. Flying within the regime is usually simpler — the paperwork is done once.

FAQ

What documents do I need to enter Spain?+

From any country: microchip, rabies vaccination, import declaration. Depends on the departure country: rabies antibody titre test, pet passport, veterinary health certificate.

Is a rabies titre test required for Spain?+

It depends on the departure country. From Turkey, for example, it is required; from United Kingdom it is not. The form above gives the exact answer for your route.

How many pets can one person bring?+

No more than 5.

How old must the pet be?+

At least 4 months old on the day of entry.

Which breeds are banned from entry?+

The country's rules list no breed bans. Individual airlines have their own restrictions — see the carrier table.

Which airlines take pets in the cabin?+

For example: Iberia, Vueling, Air Europa, Eurowings, Volotea, Norwegian. The full list with conditions is in the table above.

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