Moving to Spain With a Dog: 2026 Route Rules

Moving to Spain with a dog depends on the country or territory the dog is travelling from (EU; European Commission). A dog must have a microchip before its valid rabies vaccination (EU). A legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 is the stated alternative (EU). Eligible trips use a valid European pet passport (European Commission). Other arrivals from a non-EU country or territory use an animal health certificate (European Commission). The rabies antibody titration test applies when the country or territory of departure is absent from the Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission). Third-country arrivals must use a designated travellers' point of entry in Spain (MAPA).

Pick the route that applies

Route	Documents and checks
EU passport route	Carry a valid European pet passport recording the dog's identity and rabies vaccination (EU).
Commission passport-eligible territory route	A dog travelling from a passport-eligible territory can use that valid pet passport instead of an animal health certificate (European Commission).
Commission-listed no-titer third-country route	Carry an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the third country (MAPA). It must be presented at least in Spanish (MAPA). Carry the non-commercial declaration in the EU model (MAPA). Also carry a certified copy of the dog's identification and vaccination data (MAPA). A dog travelling from a country or territory on the Commission's current no-titer list does not need the test (European Commission).
Unlisted titer route	Use the same three-part MAPA document set described in the no-titer row (MAPA). If the country or territory of departure is absent from the Commission's current no-titer list, add a rabies antibody titration test from an authorised laboratory (European Commission; MAPA). Follow the required sample and travel waiting periods (EU).
Direct United States departure	The United States is on the Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission). A dog travelling directly from the United States does not need the rabies antibody titration test for EU entry (European Commission). Follow the Commission-listed no-titer third-country route above (MAPA). Use a designated travellers' point of entry in Spain (MAPA).
Great Britain departure	Great Britain is covered by the United Kingdom entry on the Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission). A direct departure does not require the rabies antibody titration test (European Commission). Follow the no-titer third-country route above (MAPA). GOV.UK requires an animal health certificate and entry through a travellers' point of entry (GOV.UK).

What are Spain's current dog entry rules?

Spain applies the EU pet-travel rules to non-commercial movements with no sale or change of ownership (EU). Spain does not authorise entry for dogs under 15 weeks (MAPA).

For the standard route, check these requirements:

Identify the dog with a microchip before the rabies vaccination, or use a legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011 (EU).
Vaccinate the dog against rabies after identification (EU).
For a primary rabies vaccination, the dog must be at least 12 weeks old and must wait at least 21 days before travel (EU).
From a non-EU country or territory without an accepted pet passport, obtain an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the third country (MAPA). It must be presented at least in Spanish (MAPA). The certificate is valid for EU entry for 10 days from the date of issue (European Commission).
Include the non-commercial declaration in the EU model (MAPA).
Include a certified copy of the dog's identification and vaccination data (MAPA).

Can I bring a dog from the US to Spain?

Yes. The United States is on the Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission). A dog travelling directly from the United States does not need the rabies antibody titration test for EU entry (European Commission). The dog must have a microchip before its valid rabies vaccination (EU). For Spain's non-EU document route, carry an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the third country (MAPA). It must be presented at least in Spanish (MAPA). Carry the non-commercial declaration in the EU model (MAPA). Also carry a certified copy of the dog's identification and vaccination data (MAPA). Enter through a designated travellers' point of entry (MAPA). Declare the pet to the Guardia Civil Tax Office and present the pet's documents (MAPA).

Use our US health certificate guide as supporting content. Confirm the current export-side process directly with USDA APHIS before travel.

What changes for travel from Great Britain?

Get the dog microchipped before, or at the same time as, its rabies vaccination (GOV.UK). If the dog was vaccinated before it was microchipped, it must be vaccinated again (GOV.UK). After the first rabies vaccination, wait at least 21 full days before travel (GOV.UK).

For travel from Great Britain to an EU country, obtain an animal health certificate from a vet (GOV.UK). The certificate is valid for entry into the EU for 10 days from its date of issue (GOV.UK). Travellers arriving in an EU country from Great Britain must use a travellers' point of entry (GOV.UK).

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When does Spain require a rabies titer test?

The rabies antibody titration test applies when the dog travels from a country or territory absent from the European Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission). The test must be performed in an authorised laboratory (MAPA). MAPA sets a satisfactory result at 0.5 IU/ml or higher (MAPA). Attach the result to the animal health certificate (European Commission).

For a primary vaccination, take the blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination (MAPA). Wait three months from the sample date before travel after a successful test (EU). MAPA sets the minimum age at seven months for entry from those countries (MAPA).

The test does not need to be repeated after a satisfactory result if each rabies revaccination occurs within the previous vaccine's validity period (EU). For EU re-entry after a short non-EU stay, the three-month wait does not apply only under three further conditions (EU). The dog must have a valid rabies vaccination before departure (EU). It must complete a successful titration before departure (EU). The veterinarian must record the vaccination and test in the EU pet passport (EU).

Where can my dog enter Spain?

Travellers arriving with a pet from a third country must use a designated Punto de Entrada de Viajeros (MAPA). At the entry point, declare the pet to the Guardia Civil Tax Office and present the pet's documents (MAPA). The competent authorities check the documents and the dog's identity (EU).

Check the current list of travellers' points of entry on MAPA's pet-travel area.

How much does it cost to bring a dog to Spain?

The required cost categories depend on the route (EU). Ask each provider for a current quote.

Microchip implantation, if the dog does not already have qualifying identification before the rabies vaccination (EU).
Rabies vaccination that is valid for travel (EU).
EU animal health certificate for the non-EU route (EU).
Rabies antibody titration test from an authorised laboratory when the dog travels from a country or territory absent from the Commission's current no-titer list (European Commission; MAPA).

What happens if my dog fails Spain's entry checks?

If a pet fails the entry checks, the authorities may return it to the country of departure or quarantine it until it meets EU health rules (EU). If neither option is possible, the authorities may euthanise the animal (EU).

Checklist before moving to Spain with a dog

Make the document decision from the country or territory the dog is travelling from (EU; European Commission). An eligible EU movement uses a valid European pet passport (EU). The passport records the dog's identity and rabies vaccination (EU). For a non-EU arrival without an accepted pet passport, carry an animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the third country (MAPA). It must be presented at least in Spanish (MAPA). Carry the non-commercial declaration in the EU model (MAPA). Also carry a certified copy of the dog's identification and vaccination data (MAPA). If the country or territory of departure is absent from the Commission's current no-titer list, add the rabies antibody titration result (European Commission). Complete the waiting periods that apply (EU). A third-country arrival must then use a designated travellers' point of entry in Spain (MAPA).

Confirm that the movement is non-commercial and involves no sale or change of ownership (EU).
Match the route to the country or territory the dog is travelling from and the document route in the table above (EU; European Commission).
Check that the microchip predates the valid rabies vaccination (EU).
If the country or territory of departure is absent from the Commission's current no-titer list, complete the required rabies antibody titration test and waiting periods (European Commission; EU).
Carry the valid pet passport accepted for the route or MAPA's three-part document set (European Commission; MAPA). The set includes the animal health certificate signed by an official veterinarian of the third country (MAPA). Present it at least in Spanish (MAPA). It also includes the non-commercial declaration in the EU model and a certified copy of the dog's identification and vaccination data (MAPA).
For a third-country arrival, choose a designated travellers' point of entry in Spain (MAPA).
Do not plan entry into Spain for a dog under 15 weeks (MAPA).

Frequently asked questions

Is there quarantine for dogs entering Spain?

Quarantine is a possible outcome when a dog fails the EU entry checks (EU). The authorities may instead return the dog to the country of departure, and euthanasia is possible if return or quarantine cannot be arranged (EU).

How old does my dog have to be to enter Spain?

Spain does not authorise entry for dogs under 15 weeks (MAPA). For entry from a country subject to the rabies antibody titration route, MAPA sets the minimum age at seven months (MAPA).

Can I use an EU pet passport if I live in the US?

An EU pet passport is issued only to a pet owner who resides in the EU (EU). For the general non-EU route, an official state vet in the departure country must issue an EU animal health certificate no more than 10 days before the dog arrives in the EU (EU).

How many dogs can I bring to Spain under the pet-travel rules?

You can travel with up to five pets under the standard EU pet-travel rules (EU). For more than five dogs, cats, or ferrets, you must show that they are older than six months and will attend a competition, exhibition, or sporting event (EU).

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Written by the FG Team, the Furry Guardian editorial team, who keeps these border rules current.