Pet Microchip

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

If your pet currently has a microchip that is not ISO 11784/11785 compliant, then you have 3 choices:

• You can bring your own microchip scanner.
• You can contact the officials at the Border Inspection Post where you will enter the EU and inquire as to whether they have scanners that can read your pet's chip.
• If your pet's current microchip can still be read, your veterinarian can implant compliant chip. The number and implant dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate (see step #5).

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification as long as it was given prior to July 3, 2011, is clearly visible and your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied.

Rabies Vaccination

If your pet is entering Tenerife from a rabies-free (click here) or rabies-controlled country (click here), it will need proof of a current rabies vaccination that was administered after the microchip was implanted.

If this is your pet's first vaccination after microchipping, it will need to wait for 21 days before traveling. There is no waiting period after boosters as long as:

• the previous vaccination was administered after a microchip was implanted AND
• the previous vaccination had not expired when the booster was given.

Tenerife does honor the 3 year rabies vaccination for dogs, cats and ferrets; however, it should only be administered as a booster unless specified by the manufacturer. You can speak to your veterinarian about this.

Once your pet has entered Tenerife, a 21 day waiting period is not required for subsequent visits, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date, and the other entry requirements are met.

Cats from Australia should be accompanied by an official veterinary certification that the animals have not been resident on holdings where during the past 60 days cases of Hendra disease have been confirmed.

Dogs and cats from Peninsular Malaysia should have a declaration stating they were not exposed to pigs within 60 days of import. They will also need to prove they originate from an area where no cases of Nipah have been reported. Your pet will also need to be tested for the antibody for Nipah disease within 10 days of import.

Rabies Titer Test

If your pet is entering Tenerife from a high-rabies country (click here), your pet must be microchipped, then vaccinated for rabies (in that order). After waiting 30 days, 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 Tenerife no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn and avoid quarantine. This step is not required unless entering Tenerife from a high-rabies country.

Tapeworm Treatment - Dogs Only

A tapeworm treatment is not required when entering Tenerife from any country.

Health Certificate

The type of health certificate required for your pet depends on whether or not your pet's transport is accompanied OR it involves a purchase, sale or transfer of ownership. Choose from two options below.

Non-Commercial Transport: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is traveling with or within 5 days of the pet AND the transport does not involve purchase, sale or transfer of ownership.

Non-Commercial Transport to Tenerife from a country outside of the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply. If entering Tenerife from a high-rabies country, step 3 applies as well.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the non-commercial EU health certificate for Tenerife. Endorsement by a government veterinarian must occur within 10 days of arrival.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less animals. (see item 5 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.

Non-Commercial Transport to Tenerife from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

Have your veterinarian update an EU Pet Passport for your pet. An EU health certificate is not required for pets traveling to Tenerife from another EU Member State unless a rabies booster was administered by a veterinarian outside of the EU at any time after your pet received its microchip.

No matter what country you are entering Tenerife from, 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: the owner or a legal representative of the owner is not traveling with or within 5 days of the pet OR the purpose of the transport involves a sale or transfer of ownership OR more than 5 animals are traveling with or without their owner.

Commercial Transport to Tenerife from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled country outside the EU:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

A licensed veterinarian in the originating country must complete the commercial EU health certificate. The certificate must be issued and endorsed within 48 hours of travel.

This form is good for transports of 5 or less animals. (see item 6 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 Tenerife at an approved Border Inspection Post (BIP) at an international airport in Linz and Vienna. Notice must be given 24 hours prior to arrival.

All dogs, cats and ferrets may enter Tenerife commercially from a rabies-free or rabies-controlled countries. Dogs, cats and ferrets may only enter Tenerife commercially from these high-rabies countries and must have a titer test according to step #3 above.

Commercial Transport to Tenerife from another EU Member State:

Regulations in steps 1 and 2 apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premises which is registered with the governing authority in your EU country 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 health certificate completed within 48 hours of entry.

Your pet's transport must be entered into the TRACES system.

Traveling with more than 5 pets

If you are traveling with more than 5 pets that are 6 months or older, unless you are going to a show or competition, your pets must meet the requirements for commercial transport. (see step #6)

Entering Tenerife by Air

Pets entering by air from non-EU countries must do so at Border Inspection Posts at Tenerife South Airport.

Pets should enter Tenerife directly or transit through another EU Member State if possible. 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 on the airplane or in the secured area of the airport.

All domestic dogs and cats must be free of evidence of disease communicable to humans when examined at the port of entry to Tenerife. 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

Microchips and rabies vaccinations must not be administered prior to 12 weeks of age and there is a 21 day wait for puppies and kittens over 3 months of age arriving from EU Member States or rabies-controlled countries. The minimum age for entering Tenerife from high-rabies countries is 7 months of age.

Banned Breeds

The following breeds are not banned from entering Tenerife, but they must be registered within 3 months of entry: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu.

Exporting Pets Living in Tenerife

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving Tenerife for another EU Member State must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait 21 days before leaving Tenerife.  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 Tenerife if you intend to return. Export permits may be required for non-accompanied transports.

Other Animals

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, mammals such as rodents and rabbits are not subject to requirements of rabies vaccination, but may have to meet other requirements and should have a health certificate to enter Tenerife from other EU Member States. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

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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