Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) classifies countries as either:

EU Member States or

Listed Third Countries and Territories or

Unlisted Third Countries.

The requirements to import a dog, cat or ferret to Spain will depend on the classification of the origination country, and whether your pet has visited an Unlisted Third Country within the past 4 months.

Importers and pet owners should always check their country's classification before reviewing these regulations.

Pet Microchip

The first step to prepare your dog, cat or ferret to enter Spain from any country is to have your pet microchipped with an ISO 11784/11785 compliant 15-digit pet microchip.

If your pet currently has a microchip that does not have 15 digits, then you can bring your own microchip scanner.

The microchip should be implanted by your veterinarian, veterinary hospital or trained nurse. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions how to register your pet's information in the manufacturer database.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible, your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and all rabies vaccinations have been administered before previous vaccinations have expired.

Rabies Vaccination

All dogs, cats and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering Spain must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered after a microchip was implanted.

If your pet is entering Spain from a Listed Third Country, the primary rabies vaccination must be administered no sooner than 21 days before entering Spain.

There is no waiting period after booster vaccinations as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the booster vaccination was administered before the previous vaccination had expired.

Spain does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster, not as a primary vaccination. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

If your pet is entering Spain from an Unlisted Third Country, it must wait for a minimum of 30 days after the rabies vaccination before receiving a rabies titer test (see step #3).

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Spain from an Unlisted Third Country, your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting a minimum of 30 days after the primary or booster vaccination, a rabies titer test (FAVN) must be administered. (Have your veterinarian scan your pet's microchip prior to the titer test.)

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter Spain no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Spain from an Unlisted Third Country.

Pet Health Certificate

The type of EU pet health certificate depends on whether or not your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport (all conditions must apply):

• The pet owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The transport does not involve the purchase, sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with five pets or less unless proof of participation in a show or competition is available for pets over 6 months of age.

Non-Commercial Transport to Spain from a Listed Third Country or Unlisted Third Country:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. If entering Spain from an Unlisted Third Country, step 4 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU pet health certificate for Spain. A government veterinarian representing the agency in the origination country which is responsible for the import and export of live animals must endorse the certificate within 10 days of arrival.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see item 8 if you are traveling with more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Non-Commercial Transport to Spain from an EU Member State or Territory:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Have your veterinarian issue and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Spain from another EU Member State unless your pet does not qualify for an EU Pet Passport (non-resident pet). In this case, an EU Health Certificate is required.

A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your carrier.

You or your representative must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that your pet's transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of your pet.

Commercial Transport (any condition can apply):

• The owner or legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet.
• The purpose of the transport involves a sale, adoption or transfer of ownership of the pet.
• The pet owner or legal representative of the pet owner is traveling with more than five pets and proof of participation in a show or competition is not available.

Commercial Transport to Spain from a Listed Third Country or Territory:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals. Official Pet Passports will be accepted from certain countries.

The EU pet health certificate is good for transports of 5 or less dogs, cats or ferrets. (see step 7 for transports of more than 5 pets). The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on it does not expire.

Your pet must enter Spain at an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in Linz or Vienna. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs must be vaccinated against distemper.

Commercial Transport to Spain from an Unlisted Third Country:

Dogs, cats and ferrets can only enter Spain from these Unlisted Third Countries. Pets must conform to all steps above and also have a rabies titer test according to step 3 above.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU pet health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel by a government veterinarian who represents the agency in the origination country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

Commercial Transport to Spain from an EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 2 and 3 apply. Step 4 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU Member State responsible for the import and export of animals.

Your veterinarian must obtain and update an EU Pet Passport for your pet.

Your pet's veterinarian must issue an Intratrade pet health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

TRACES

Regardless of whether your pet's transport is commercial or non-commercial, it must be entered into the TRACES system. This system tracks the import, export and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with 6 or more cats, dogs or ferrets, in order to transport them under non-commercial regulations, they must be 6 months or older and proof must be available for attendance in a competition, show or sporting event. If this is not the case, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #5)

Entering Spain from Malaysia & Australia

If your pet is entering Spain from peninsular Malaysia, the following conditions must be met:

1. Your pet has had no contact with pigs during at least the past 60 days prior to export.
2. Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
3. Your pet has been tested with negative a result to an IgG capture ELISA test carried out in a laboratory approved for testing for Nipah disease viruses within 10 days of export.

Cats may only enter Spain from Australia under the condition that they have not lived in areas where cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.

Entering Spain by Air

Accompanied pets entering Spain by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at international airports in Barcelona, Madrid, Malaga, Tenerife Sur or Valencia.

Ports approved for the import of pets are: Algeciras, Almeria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife.

Pets should enter Spain directly or transit through another EU Member State. If your pet transits through a high-rabies country, then a Transit Declaration will be required stating that your pet has had no contact with rabies-carrying animals and remained secured within the airplane or airport.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Spain. If your dog or cat is not in apparent good health, further examination by a licensed veterinarian may be required at your expense.

Pets may arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo.

Puppies and Kittens

Non-vaccinated puppies, kittens and ferrets are not permitted to enter Spain from any country or EU Member State.

Rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age and there is a 21 day wait for puppies and kittens arriving from EU Member States or rabies-controlled countries. The minimum age for entering Spain from high-rabies countries is 7 months of age.

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.

Exporting Pets Living in Spain

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 incidence 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 Animals

Rodents, rabbits, reptiles entering Spain from a rabies-controlled or rabies-free country must be examined by a licensed veterinarian within 5 days of transport and show no signs of disease or external parasites. They must be accompanied by their owner and less than 5 in number.

Birds entering Spain with their owners not for commercial reasons or change of ownership will require a health certificate in Spanish issued within 10 days of travel when entering Spain from another EU Member State.

Birds entering Spain with their owners from non EU Member States must complete a veterinary certificate in Spanish as well as a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport in addition to the requirements below.

• A health certificate and Owner's Declaration must accompany your bird.
• You are not importing more than 5 birds.
• You must enter Spain at an approved border inspection point.
• One of the following must occur:
  
  Your bird must have undergone isolation for 30 days prior to export
  OR
  Two vaccinations against avian influenza with the H5 vaccine between 60 days and 6 months of import
  OR
  10 days of isolation and undergone a test to detect the H5N1antigen or genome
  OR
  30 days of quarantine in a registered premesis in an approved quarantine facility in Spain
• All permits must accompany birds that are covered by CITES.
• Export permits may be required by the wildlife authority in the exporting country.

CITES

If your pet is not a dog, cat or ferret, and especially if it is a turtle or parrot, you should verify that it is not protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).  You will need to apply for additional permits if this is the case. Over 180 countries participate and enforce CITES regulations.

Need More Assistance?

To the best of our ability, we ensure that recommendations given on PetTravel.com reflect the current regulations. We cannot predict how a given country may enforce these regulations. Noncompliance may result in the need to make arrangements to put your pet into quarantine at your expense, return your pet to the country of origin, or euthanize your pet. We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following the rules of the country you are visiting.

Further detail on import permits, costs, tests and procedures are available at minimal cost at PetTravelStore.com. We also stock all the equipment and accessories you will need for traveling with your pet. Same day shipping Monday through Friday until 4:00 PM EST.

 

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