Moving to Spain With a Dog: 2026 EU Entry Rules & Steps

Moving to Spain with a dog in 2026 means meeting EU pet rules for a private journey with no sale or ownership change (EU). Your dog needs a microchip (or legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011) and a valid rabies vaccine (EU). From a non-EU country, it must also be certified fit to travel by an official vet and have a valid EU animal health certificate (EU).

Some non-EU routes also need a rabies antibody titration test (EU). Spain does not authorise entry for dogs under 15 weeks (MAPA). Use a designated travellers' point of entry and present papers for checks (EU; MAPA).

Is it easy to move to Spain with a dog?

Spain follows the EU rules on travelling with pets (EU). Those rules cover private journeys with no ownership change or sale (EU).

With a few exceptions, your pet can travel from a non-EU country to an EU country if it has (EU):

been microchipped (Annex IV EU pet traceability rules) or has a clearly readable tattoo from before 3 July 2011 (EU).
been vaccinated against rabies (EU).
undergone a rabies antibody titration test from a non-EU country (where required) (EU).
been certified fit to travel by an official vet (non-EU only) (EU).
a valid EU animal health certificate when travelling from a non-EU country (EU).

Tapeworm treatment against Echinococcus multilocularis applies only for Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland; Spain is not listed (EU). The treatment is not required for dogs travelling directly between Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland (EU).

What are Spain's entry requirements for a dog?

Requirement	What the source says	Source
Microchip or tattoo	Microchip, or tattoo if applied before 03/07/2011 and still legible	MAPA
Rabies vaccination	Min. 12 weeks old before first/primary vaccination; then wait ≥21 days before travel	EU
EU animal health certificate	Issued by an official State vet in the country of departure not more than 10 days before your pet arrives in the EU	EU
Written declaration	Non-commercial move; if another person takes the pet, your journey must be within 5 days of theirs	EU
Travellers' point of entry	From a third country, use a Punto de Entrada de Viajeros	MAPA

Dogs without a valid European pet passport from third countries (other than Norway, Northern Ireland and Annex I) must travel with three documents (MAPA):

a zoosanitary certificate signed by an official vet of the third country, presented at least in Spanish (MAPA).
a declaration, both in line with the EU models (MAPA).
a certified copy of the animal's identification and vaccination data (MAPA).

A rabies vaccine valid at travel is required (MAPA). More detail on this certificate: our EU animal health certificate guide.

Can I take my dog from the US to Spain?

Yes, if you follow USDA APHIS steps from the US to Spain (APHIS). APHIS cites rabies vaccine rules per EU 576/2013 Annex III (APHIS).

Your pet must have a working microchip before its EU rabies vaccination, and your vet must always scan it before that vaccine (APHIS).
ISO-compliant chips are usually 15 digits (ISO 11784 and ISO 11785) (APHIS). If the chip works but is not ISO compliant, bring your own scanner or implant a second ISO-compliant chip (APHIS).
Rabies vaccines must be given by an authorized veterinarian (APHIS). All pets must wait at least 21 days, or the vaccine maker's set time, before port-of-entry travel (APHIS).
The first rabies shot after microchip implant or any lapse is a "primary" under EU rules; for US-vaccinated pets it is valid for 1 year only (APHIS). If the next shot is within 1 year of a primary, that booster can run 1-3 years per the vaccine maker (APHIS).
Vaccinations do not count under EU rules if given before microchip implant, or without first scanning the chip (APHIS).
Use the "non-commercial" health certificate if you or a designated person travels within 5 days of your pet(s), with 5 or fewer pets (APHIS). It is valid for 30 days after the Accredited Veterinarian issues it (APHIS).
USDA must endorse it within ten days of EU arrival; pets must arrive within 10 days of endorsement (APHIS).
The final page is a Declaration the owner or designated person must sign before travel; it must go with the pet and certificate to the EU (APHIS). APHIS states it is the responsibility of the veterinarian to make sure the pet has met all health requirements of the destination country before issuing a health certificate (APHIS).
Use the commercial certificate if you or a designated person cannot travel within 5 days of your pet, or you travel with 6+ pets (APHIS). An Accredited Veterinarian must issue it and USDA must endorse it within 48 hours of U.S. departure with your pet (APHIS).
Though uncommon, you can also use the 'non-commercial' for 6 or more pets traveling to the EU for specific events like competitions, exhibitions, or sporting events (APHIS).
USDA-accredited vets can issue certificates in VEHCS for endorsement; USDA must ink-sign and emboss the certificate (APHIS).
New non-commercial certificates take effect on October 1, 2026; current ones can be endorsed on or before September 30, 2026 (APHIS).

See our US health certificate guide.

Can I take my dog from the UK to Spain?

You must get your pet microchipped before, or at the same time as, their rabies vaccination (GOV.UK). If you do not, they'll need to be vaccinated again (GOV.UK). Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies before it can travel (GOV.UK). Your vet needs proof that your pet is at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating them (GOV.UK). This will be at least 21 full days after the first vaccination (or the last of the first course of vaccinations) (GOV.UK). You do not need to wait to travel after a booster vaccination if there has been no break in the vaccine cover (GOV.UK). Get an animal health certificate from your vet if you're going to an EU country (GOV.UK). That certificate is valid after the date of issue for 10 days for entry into the EU (GOV.UK). It then covers 6 months for onward travel within the EU after you enter the EU, and 6 months for re-entry to Great Britain (GOV.UK). If you live in England, Scotland or Wales you should not use a pet passport, even if it was issued in the EU (GOV.UK). If you use a pet passport, your pet may be refused entry into the EU (GOV.UK). You'll need to go through a travellers' point of entry when you arrive in an EU country (GOV.UK). GOV.UK also states you must check for any additional rules or requirements for the country you're travelling to (GOV.UK). For Spain entry points, see the "Where can my dog enter Spain?" section below.

Do I need a rabies titer test to bring my dog to Spain?

If the animal comes from a country not listed in Annexes I and II of Regulation (EU) 2026/636, it needs a rabies serological test in an authorised lab (MAPA). MAPA's serology section sets the level at equal to or greater than 0.5 IU/ml (MAPA). The results of the rabies anti-body test must be attached to your pet's EU health certificate (EU).

Take the blood sample at least 30 days after the rabies vaccination in the case of a primary vaccination (MAPA). If your pet has already been vaccinated against rabies and the vaccination is still valid, the rabies antibody titration test can be carried out immediately (EU). Entry is only authorised 90 days after the blood sample date (MAPA). EU Your Europe states that after a successful primary-route blood test you must wait 3 months from the sample date before travel (EU). For that reason, minimum age from a rabies-risk country is 7 months (MAPA).

The test need not be repeated after a satisfactory result if your pet is revaccinated within the previous vaccine's validity period (EU).

The 3-month wait is not required for EU re-entry after a short non-EU stay (EU). The condition: before leaving the EU, your pet was rabies-vaccinated, had a successful titration test, and your vet recorded it in the EU passport (EU). MAPA states the 90-day period does not apply if the test had a favourable result before the animal left the EU (MAPA).

The APHIS US-to-Spain page sets out three steps (APHIS):

meet the EU's microchip and rabies vaccination requirements (APHIS).
have an Accredited or Military Veterinarian issue the EU health certificate (APHIS).
have the USDA endorse it (APHIS). From other countries, check the EU tool and MAPA for Annexes I and II of Regulation (EU) 2026/636 (MAPA).

Where can my dog enter Spain?

You can only enter the EU with your pet through a designated travellers' point of entry in the destination country (EU). Travellers bringing a pet from a third country must use a Punto de Entrada de Viajeros (MAPA).

Pet dogs, cats and ferrets must enter through an authorised Punto de Entrada de Viajeros (MAPA). At the airport, find the control point (MAPA). Declare to Guardia Civil Resguardo Fiscal or authorised customs staff that you travel with a pet (MAPA). Present the papers for document and identity checks; they will read the chip (MAPA).

See our Spain travel page.

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

APHIS states: "The USDA Endorsement Office will be able to provide specific information about the process and fees associated with the endorsement of the EU health certificate." (APHIS).

What the rules require you to arrange:

a microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination (EU; APHIS)
a rabies vaccination given by an authorised veterinarian (EU; APHIS)
a rabies serological test in an authorised laboratory, only if the dog comes from a country not listed in Annexes I and II of Regulation (EU) 2026/636 (MAPA)
an EU animal health certificate issued before travel (EU; APHIS)
USDA endorsement of that certificate for US departures (APHIS)

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What happens if my dog fails the checks at the Spanish border?

If your pet fails these compliance checks, it may be returned to the country of departure, placed in quarantine until it meets EU health rules, or if neither option is possible, euthanised (EU).

Spain is on the EU list that blocks young pets not vaccinated against rabies, or vaccinated but not yet fully immune (EU). No exceptions are granted; entry into Spain is not authorised for dogs, cats and ferrets under 15 weeks, which therefore cannot hold a valid rabies vaccine (MAPA).

Your pre-move checklist

Confirm a private journey with no change of ownership or sale (EU).
Fit a working microchip before the travel rabies shot and have the vet scan it first (EU; APHIS).
First rabies vaccine only at 12+ weeks, then wait at least 21 days (EU).
Keep boosters before expiry so the next shot is not treated as a primary with a new 21-day wait (EU).
From a country not listed in Annexes I and II of Regulation (EU) 2026/636, arrange the rabies serological test (MAPA). Follow the MAPA and EU sample and entry timing (MAPA; EU).
Get an EU animal health certificate from an official State vet ≤10 days before EU arrival, plus the written non-commercial declaration (EU).
No valid EU pet passport, from a third country outside Norway, Northern Ireland and Annex I? Carry the zoosanitary certificate, the declaration, and a certified copy of the animal's identification and vaccination data (MAPA).
From the US: non-commercial certificate when travel is within 5 days with ≤5 pets; USDA endorsement with arrival within 10 days of endorsement (APHIS).
Enter only via an authorised Punto de Entrada de Viajeros and declare the pet for document and chip checks (MAPA; MAPA).
Do not plan entry for a dog under 15 weeks; Spain grants no exception (MAPA).

FAQ

Is there quarantine for dogs entering Spain?

Quarantine is one possible outcome if your pet fails entry checks (EU). The pet may be returned to the country of departure, held in quarantine until it meets EU health rules, or if neither is possible, euthanised (EU).

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

Entry into Spain is not authorised for dogs under 15 weeks (MAPA). From a country with rabies risk, the minimum age is 7 months (MAPA).

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

The European pet passport is only issued to pet owners resident in the EU (EU). From 1 January 2021, EU pet passports issued to a pet owner resident in Great Britain are no longer valid from Great Britain to an EU country or Northern Ireland (EU). From a non-EU country, your pet needs an EU animal health certificate from an official State vet not more than 10 days before EU arrival (EU).

Does my dog need a tapeworm treatment for Spain?

If you travel with your dog to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland, treat it against Echinococcus multilocularis 24 to 120 hours (1-5 days) before travel (EU). Spain is not on that list (EU). The treatment is not required for dogs travelling directly between Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland (EU).

How many dogs can I bring to Spain?

You can travel with up to five pets (EU). If there are more than five pets (dogs, cats or ferrets), prove competition, exhibition or sporting-event entry and ages over 6 months (EU).

Before you fly, recheck APHIS Spain, MAPA, and EU Your Europe for 2026. Compare expat pet insurance