Canary Islands Pet Import Requirements

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What is a Pet Passport?

We refer to a pet passport as a collection of documents that fulfill the Canary Islands pet import requirements for dogs or cats entering this country. This term is not to be confused with an official EU Pet Passport issued in the European Union for EU-resident pets. Your pet’s passport to enter the Canary Islands will include proof of microchip, current rabies vaccination, titer test results (some countries) and an EU Health Certificate issued by a licensed veterinarian in the origination country or EU Pet Passport issued by an EU-based veterinarian.

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

These rules apply to the transport of domestic dog and cats including assistance and service animals. Unless 5th generation removed from the pedigree, wolf hybrids, Savannah and Bengal cats cannot be imported under these regulations. Owners of other types of pets (amphibia, reptiles, birds, rabbits, rodents) covered by these regulations should refer to IMPORTING OTHER PET ANIMALS TO THE CANARY ISLANDS below.

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Before beginning any pet export procedure, make sure your veterinarian is approved by the governing veterinarian authority in your pet’s country of origin. Your veterinarian should work for or is licensed by the agency of the government that is responsible for the movement of live animals.

Quarantine for Pets Entering the Canary Islands

There will be no quarantine imposed on your pet when entering the Canary Islands if pet import regulations detailed here are met. If your pet does not conform to the regulations as stated below, it will be subject to quarantine if facilities are available, returned to the origination country, or euthanized. The importer will be responsible all costs involved.

Because the Canary Islands are a Spanish region and an archipelago of islands, they have adopted EU legislation for the import of pets.

All steps required to conform to Canary Islands pet import requirements must be completed in the origination country. Complete steps 1-7 in the order given.

Step 1: Country Classifications

The European Union (EU) does not recognize any countries as rabies-free. Dogs, cats, and ferrets from all countries are required to have proof of a current rabies vaccination according to their pet import regulations. The EU classifies countries as either:

The requirements to import a dog, cat, or ferret to the Canary Islands will depend on the classification of the origination country and whether your pet has entered an unlisted country within the past four months. Click on the links above to find your country’s classification.

Pet owners should identify the classification of their country of origin before reviewing import regulations for the Canary Islands.

Step 2: Type of Transport

The European Union classifies the movement of pets as non-commercial or commercial. These pet import requirements apply to both non-commercial and commercial transports. Review the conditions below to determine whether your pet’s transport will be classified as non-commercial or commercial as the requirements for each type of transport are different.

Conditions for Non-Commercial Transport

• All pets must enter the Canary Islands with or within five days of their owner*. Proof of travel will be required AND
• The transport applies to no more than five pets unless proof of participation in a competition or show is available, and pets are over six months of age AND
• The purpose of the transport must not be for adoption, sale, or exchange of ownership.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

All pet owners transporting their pets under non-commercial regulations must sign a Declaration of Non-Commercial Transport stating that their pet’s transport does not involve the sale or transfer of ownership of their pet.

Unless all of the above conditions are satisfied, your pet must travel under commercial regulations.

Conditions for Commercial Transport

The pet is not traveling with or within five days of the owner* OR
The transport is greater than five pets under one owner’s passport OR
The purpose of the transport involves any change of ownership, adoption or commercial sale.

*Some EU Member States will allow a representative assigned by the owner to travel with the pet under non-commercial regulations.

If any of the above conditions are met, then your pet must travel under commercial regulations. The importer must be registered in the origin country and have proof of the organization they represent. They also must have proof that this business or organization will be responsible for the import of the pet. The exporter must provide proof that they are registered in the exporting country.

Step 3: Pet Microchip

The third step to importing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Canary Islands is to have your pet identified with a non-encrypted, 15-digit, ISO 11784/11785-compliant pet microchip. If your pet’s microchip is not ISO compliant, you can either bring your own microchip scanner.

Your veterinarian, a veterinary hospital, or a trained nurse should implant the microchip. You should receive documentation as to the manufacturer of the microchip and instructions on how to register your pet’s information in the manufacturer’s or government’s database in your country.

A tattoo is an acceptable form of identification under the following conditions:

It was applied prior to July 3, 2011, and
The tattoo is clearly visible, and
Your pet was vaccinated for rabies after the tattoo was applied, and
All rabies vaccinations after the tattoo was applied were kept current. (No rabies vaccinations were allowed to expire before boosters were administered.)

Step 4: Vaccinations

All dogs, cats, and ferrets over 12 weeks of age entering the Canary Islands must have proof of a current rabies vaccination administered at the same time or after a microchip was implanted.

If entering the Canary Islands from another EU Member State, part 1 or part 2 listed country, pets must wait 21 days after rabies vaccination to travel unless a booster vaccination was administered. If entering the Canary Islands from an unlisted country, pets must wait for 30 days to have their veterinarian administer a rabies titer test (next step). In either case, do not count the day of the veterinary visit in the wait time.

Other Vaccinations

Pet owners should always consider healthy vaccinations against diseases such as:

canine distemper (also for ferrets)
canine hepatitis
canine leptospirosis
canine parvovirus
feline viral rhinotracheitis
feline panleukopenia
feline leukemia

Exception: Dogs must be vaccinated against distemper when being transported commercially.

Step 5: Rabies Titer (Serology) Test

For pets entering the Canary Islands from unlisted countries under the following conditions, a rabies titer test should be administered by a licensed veterinarian no sooner than 30 days after the rabies vaccination is administered. Do not count the day of the veterinary visit.

Pets originating in an unlisted country
Pets having entered unlisted countries within the past four months
Pets having transited an unlisted country

Samples must be processed at approved laboratories. Assuming test results are within acceptable limits, your pet can enter the Canary Islands no sooner than 3 calendar months after the date the blood was drawn for the test and avoid quarantine.

It is worth noting that some EU Member States require that serology levels be confirmed prior to leaving their country. It is always wise to have this test done prior to travel, if possible. The test is valid to enter any EU Member State for the life of your pet if boosters are administered prior to the expiration of the previous rabies vaccination.

Step 6: Parasite Treatments

Pet owners should always protect their pets from internal and external parasites to keep them healthy when traveling internationally; however, proof of these treatments is not required for pets imported to the Canary Islands.

Step 7: Health Certificate

Every country worldwide requires original health certificates in their pet import regulations, and the Canary Islands are no exception. The type of health certificate required will depend on the type of transport the pet is traveling under—non-commercial or commercial.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Canary Islands from an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply unless your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

Resident EU Pets: Have your veterinarian issue and update a government-issued Pet Passport for your pet. A health check prior to travel is recommended and may be required by your air carrier. Have your veterinarian record the health check in your pet’s Pet Passport.

An EU pet health certificate is not required for pets traveling to the Canary Islands with a current EU Pet Passport.

Non-Resident EU Pets (visitors): If your pet has not lived in an EU Member State or Part 1 Listed Country for 4 months or you do not have a permanent address in the origination country, then your pet will need a non-commercial bi-lingual EU Health Certificate for the Canary Islands.

Non-Commercial Transport to the Canary Islands from a Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 applies under the following conditions:

Your pet is originating from an unlisted country or
Your pet has entered an unlisted country within four months of travel.

A licensed veterinarian must issue a non-commercial health certificate. The certificate must then be endorsed by a government veterinarian representing the agency in your country that is responsible for the import and export of live animals.

The EU pet health certificate for the Canary Islands is good for transports of 5 or fewer dogs, cats, or ferrets. The form is good for 4 months of travel within the EU as long as the rabies vaccination documented on the certificate does not expire during that time.

Commercial Transport to the Canary Islands from an EU Member State

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must travel from a licensed premise 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 must be inspected, and an Intra trade Pet Health Certificate must be issued by a licensed veterinarian within 48 hours of entry.

The transport must be recorded in the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES) before travel. This system tracks the import, export, and intra trade of all live animals entering or leaving the EU.

Commercial Transport to the Canary Islands from a Part 1 and 2 Listed Third Country

Steps 3 and 4 apply. Step 5 does not apply.

Your pet must be inspected, and a commercial EU Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a licensed veterinarian and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES by an agent.

Commercial Transport to the Canary Islands from an Unlisted Country

Steps 3, 4 and 5 apply.

Note: Pets can only enter the Canary Islands from unlisted countries under commercial regulations from these countries.

Your pet must be inspected, and a commercial EU Health Certificate must be issued and endorsed by a government veterinarian within 48 hours of travel.

The transport must be recorded in advance in TRACES.

Importing Dogs and Cats to the Canary Islands from Malaysia and Australia

If your pet is entering the Canary Islands from Peninsular Malaysia, the following additional conditions must be met:

Your pet has had no contact with pigs for at least the past 60 days prior to export.
Your pet has not lived in a place where cases of Nipah disease have been confirmed during the past 60 days.
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 ten days of export.

Cats may only enter the Canary Islands 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.

Step 8: Import Permit

An import permit is not required when importing a dog, cat, or ferret to the Canary Islands.

Other Information

Importing Puppies and Kittens to the Canary Islands

Puppies, kittens, and ferrets under 12 weeks of age should not be vaccinated for rabies. Unvaccinated pets are not permitted entry to the Canary Islands. Owners should have their pets fully vaccinated for rabies according to their veterinarian’s guidance (12–16 weeks of age) and follow further regulations listed here prior to travel.

The minimum age a puppy or kitten can enter the Canary Islands from an EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country is 12 weeks and 22 days. The minimum age is seven months to import a pet to the Canary Islands from an unlisted country.

More information on transporting a puppy.

Breeds Banned by the Canary Islands

The following breeds are not banned from entering the Canary Islands, but they must be registered within three months of entry and must wear a muzzle to pass security in the Canary Islands: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasiliero, Tosa Inu and Akita Inu.

Entering the Canary Islands with a Pet

Accompanied pets entering the Canary Islands by air from non-EU countries must do so at Gran Canaria Airport.

Pets can arrive in the cabin, as checked baggage or as air cargo according to airline pet policies. In all cases, pets must travel in a crate or carrier in accordance with the International Air Transport Association.

Pets should enter the Canary Islands directly or transit through an EU Member State, or part 1 or 2 listed third country, if possible*. If your pet transits through an unlisted 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.

*Note: If your pet has a layover in an EU Member State in its itinerary, then additional requirements will apply.

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

Exporting Resident Pets

All dogs, cats and ferrets leaving the Canary Islands for another EU Member State or part 1 or 2 listed third country must be microchipped, vaccinated for rabies (in that order) and wait for at least 21 days* after primary vaccination before leaving the Canary Islands. *Note this time will change according to country requirements.

If your pet will visit or enter an unlisted country, a veterinarian in the the Canary Islands should administer a rabies titer test before leaving the country if your pet will be returning. Even if your pet is not entering an unlisted country, traveling internationally with the results of this test will ensure a smoother customs clearance in your destination country.

All animals leaving the Canary Islands 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 the issuance of an export permit. This permit will be issued by agencies in the origin province responsible for the issuance of export permits.

Importing Birds or Other Pet Animals to the Canary Islands

Birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibia, and 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 the Canary Islands. Pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority of their country and/or that of the country of destination.

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)

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

Related: Learn more about CITES

Need More Detailed Pet Import Requirements and Forms for the Canary Islands?

Visit PetTravelStore.com for further detail on permits, costs, tests and pet import regulations for the Canary Islands at minimal cost. Unlimited email supported for you and your veterinarian is included.

Have Questions About Importing Your Pet to the Canary Islands?

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Current Information

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 or
return your pet to the country of origin, or
euthanize your pet.

We suggest that you minimize the disruptions that may occur by following Canary Islands pet import requirements.

Canary Islands Pet Import Requirements

What is a Pet Passport?

Animals Eligible for These Pet Import Requirements

Find a Licensed Veterinarian

Quarantine for Pets Entering the Canary Islands