We have included this page as many travellers transit through France on their way to Spain. So it is absolutely essential to be aware of current regulations.

Any mistakes will involve your pet in inconvenience as well as yourself.

You will need to ensure that the papers are correct not only for Spain but for all countries which you may pass through en-route.

The information contained here is correct and currently up to date but you must ensure that this is the case because your pet can be placed in danger if you make a mistake. Spain is one of the countries that have taken up the Pet Travel Scheme and this includes the Spanish islands but not Ceuta and Melilla.

The conditions of the scheme require that all cats and dogs must be implanted with a microchip which meets an ISO specification enabling it to be read by a standard microchip reader and that the animal be vaccinated against rabies with approved vaccines and have booster vaccinations as recommended.

Pets must be at least 3 months old and be already "chipped" before they can be vaccinated. They have to be blood tested about 30 days after vaccination and if your pet fails the blood test it will have to be vaccinated and tested again. Following a successful blood test result a wait of at least 6 months is necessary before being allowed entry or re-entry into the UK (unless your pet was resident in the UK and micro chipped, vaccinated and blood tested before 28th February 2000).

When it comes to importing pets into Spain the following conditions need to be met:

A certificate (with Spanish translation attached) stating that the pets have been under the owner's supervision for three months prior to importation. The certificate should include a declaration that the pets are not intended for trade and that the owners accept presenting their pets for medical checks to recognised Veterinary Officers in accordance with legislation.

Click here to obtain the certificate form in PDF format.

(In order to print the certificate, you will need to install   , available for free at Adobe's web site).

There are specific rules for different kinds of pets (dogs and cats, birds, monkeys and other kinds). In general all pets will need a certificate of origin and health which is valid for ten days only and will need to show that they have valid anti-rabies inoculation (last twelve months or six in some cases) except for pets under three months of age. Additionally for birds, monkeys and other species a certificate stating that there has been no local outbreak of disease that would affect that species for the last 60 days.

Complete advice can be obtained from your local Spanish Consul. Owners who are intending to make their stay temporary should bear in mind the strict importation controls, which are still current in the U.K.

It is good policy to as soon as possible following your arrival, to find a vet to look after your pets. An even better policy would be to have found one prior to their arrival in case of journey problems. Either way he can give them a medical and thorough check up and advise you of those things you need to know and be aware of. You may like to discuss with him or her, the advantages of insuring your pets against illness although veterinarian fees in Spain are modest to say the least.

If you decide to take Roger or Felix with you when you go to Spain, you'll want to know what is available by way of veterinarian care. The news on this front is not good - It's positively excellent. Veterinarian practices in Spain are excellent. We have never seen anything in the U.K. to equal some of the practices available in Spain.

Modern, well equipped and with stocks of everything imaginable, your pet could not be in better hands.

Take extreme care when walking your dog in Spain. Many have died eating poisoned food laid as traps for foxes, wolves and lynx. In some urbanisations, poisons are laid down to keep down the feral cat population. Animals have also been poisoned by neighbours simply because they have been upset in one-way or another by them.

If for some reason you have to go away, say to return to the UK for a week or so, there are many veterinary practices, which offer accommodation for both cats and dogs. Prices are around €4.50 per day for a cat and from €5 - 12 for a dog. To put your pet into kennels will require that it be vaccinated against all diseases.

There has been much criticism of the Spanish attitude towards animals and the fact that it is the only country in the European Union, which has no specific legislation dealing with cruelty towards them.

Many Spaniards keep large dogs in preference to buying burglar alarms the latter of which in the main are ignored should they sound.

Beware - It is not unusual for property owners to discriminate against pets when offering their property for leasing. It is also quite usual for community statutes to prohibit the owning or keeping of an animal on a particular urbanisation. If you intend to rent property for a while following your arrival in Spain you would be well advised to ascertain the situation in regard to animals if you intend to bring a pet with you.


In response to several killings and maiming by dogs in Spain, the government introduced extensive legislation for dangerous dogs with strict regulations regarding ownership of such dogs. Under the legislation there are eight breeds defined as ‘dangerous’: Akita, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Japanese Tosa, Pit Bull, Rottweiler and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. ‘Dangerous’ breeds also include dogs that have all or most of the following characteristics: a strong and powerful appearance; a strong character; short hair; shoulder height between 50 and 70 cm and a weight of over 20kg (44lb); square and robust head with large jaws; wide and short neck; broad and deep chest; robust fore legs and muscular hind legs.

If you aren’t sure whether your dog has most of these characteristics, you should consult your vet. If your dog is ‘dangerous’ you need a special licence. In order to obtain the licence (available from local councils). the owner must be over 18, have no criminal record, undergo psychological and physical tests and have compulsory third party insurance for €120,000. A ‘dangerous’ dog must be muzzled and on a lead no longer than two metres in public areas. In private areas, if the dog isn’t securely enclosed, it must be muzzled.

Although your dog may be chipped, it is still advisable for it to wear a collar with an identity disk or similar device attached to it. The word “Recompensa”, which translates to reward will greatly assist your pet being returned should it stray. If the reward is too generous, you may find children are kidnapping your dog on a regular basis.


Dogs have a good life in Spain and your pets are the source of conversation while you are on the street with your pet. Lots of people want to know more about your pet and many strangers are happy to rub behind the ears of any good-natured dog.

The Spanish have an unmatched love for pets and it shows in the way they take care of their pets. So your pet will certainly enjoy the attention he will get in this country. We can tell you that Spain has a lot of 24 hour clinics and it’s very easy to find a vet to take care of your pets.

Finally, the law regarding animals in Spain is constantly changing. As a foreigner you may not get away with quite as much as a Spaniard can. This being the case: ensure that you are kept informed as to current animal legislation.