Bringing a pet to Spain

• Microchip your pet (ISO 11784/11785)Must be implanted before the rabies vaccination, or the vaccine is not recognised.
• Rabies vaccinationPet must be at least 12 weeks old. Valid 21 days after the primary dose.
• Rabies antibody (titer) test — required from some origin countriesFAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.
• Official health certificate (EU Animal Health Certificate (new Reg 2026/705 format from 2026-10-01))Endorsed by Competent authority of the country of departure (USDA APHIS for the United States). Enter within 10 days of endorsement.
• Check breed restrictionsSome breeds are banned or restricted — see the breed rules section.
• Travel through an approved point of entryEntry must be through one of Spain's designated Travellers' Points of Entry (Puntos de Entrada de Viajeros, PEV)

1. 1
   Before vaccination
   Microchip

   Implant the ISO microchip first — the rabies vaccine only counts once the pet is chipped.

2. 2
   Day 0
   Rabies vaccination

   Pet must be at least 12 weeks old.

3. 3
   After 21 days
   Rabies vaccine becomes valid

   Earliest eligible entry date for listed / low-risk origin countries.

4. 4
   Unlisted origins only
   Rabies antibody titer test + waiting period

   FAVN/RNATT rabies antibody test; the result must be ≥ 0.5 IU/ml. Blood must be drawn at least 30 days after vaccination; the sample must be taken not less than 90 days before the date of issue of the health certificate (the certificate is issued before entry, so counting to entry is the stricter reading). Testing is limited to EU-approved laboratories.

5. 5
   ≤ 10 days before entry
   Health certificate issued and endorsed

   Endorsed by Competent authority of the country of departure (USDA APHIS for the United States).

6. 6
   Arrival
   Entry checks at an approved point

   No routine quarantine when all requirements are met.

No entry fee for non-commercial movement on the Spain side (listed countries). A separate USDA endorsement fee applies on the US side (amount to be confirmed). Domestic registration: microchip is mandatory; dogs must be registered in the animal-identification registry of the relevant autonomous community (registros autonómicos de identificación animal, e.g. RIAC/RIVIA); Ley 7/2023 additionally plans a national registration system integrating the existing regional registers.

Restricted: Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu

⚠Pending official confirmationUnder Ley 50/1999 + Real Decreto 287/2002 (Anexo I), the 8 breeds listed above and their crosses are 'potentially dangerous dogs' (perros potencialmente peligrosos, PPP); dogs matching certain physical characteristics may also be classified as such. Obligations: (1) apply to the local town hall for an administrative licence (licencia); (2) hold civil liability insurance (seguro de responsabilidad civil) — RD 287/2002 Art. 3.1.e sets a national statutory minimum cover of not less than €120,000 (verbatim 'cobertura no inferior a ciento veinte mil euros (120.000 €)'); autonomous communities may impose stricter terms but the floor is set nationally; (3) microchip identification; (4) in public places the dog must wear an approved muzzle (bozal homologado) and be kept on a non-retractable lead or chain shorter than 2 metres. The owner must be at least 18 years old and have no relevant criminal record. Autonomous communities may extend the breed list (e.g. Bullmastiff, Presa Canario, Dogo de Burdeos). In 2023, animal-welfare law Ley 7/2023 extended the civil-liability-insurance obligation to all dogs (not only PPP); whether the PPP classification will move to case-by-case assessment awaits enabling legislation in each autonomous community, and the 1999/2002 breed-based system remains in force for now.