Spain follows EU pet travel regulations requiring an ISO microchip, rabies vaccination with a 21-day waiting period, and an EU-format health certificate endorsed by the official veterinary authority. Pets from non-EU countries need a government-endorsed veterinary health certificate. No quarantine is required, and pets must enter through approved points of entry.
Companies Listed
8
Quarantine
Not Required
Common Pets
dogs, cats
Requirements
8 documented
Key Import Requirements
ISO 11784/11785 microchip required (implanted before rabies vaccination)
2025 EU commercial health certificate required (2024 version expired January 2026)
Health certificate signed by government-approved veterinarian within 10 days of travel
Pets under 15 weeks old not permitted entry
No rabies titer test required for pets from EU-listed countries (including USA)
Entry only through approved Travellers' Points of Entry
Maximum 5 pets per person for non-commercial travel
Import requirements by pet type
Requirements for relocating a pet to Spain vary significantly by species. Below are the rules for birds, horses, and exotic pets — dogs and cats are covered in the key requirements above.
Birds
Import permitted
Yes, you can bring a pet bird to Spain. As an EU member state it allows up to five pet birds with an official health certificate and declaration. Spain's MAPA lists four avian-influenza pathways: 30-day pre-export isolation in an approved country, 30-day post-arrival quarantine in an approved Spanish facility, vaccination, or 14-day isolation plus H5/H7 testing. CITES permits apply to parrots and other protected species.
Animal health certificate signed by an official vet of the third country (APHIS-endorsed for US origin), presented in Spanish, with the EU-model non-commercial declaration
Meet one of the avian-influenza options listed by MAPA: at least 30-day pre-export isolation in an approved country; 30-day post-arrival quarantine at an approved Spanish facility (with proof of acceptance); complete vaccination within 6 months and not later than 60 days before dispatch; or at least 14-day isolation plus H5/H7 antigen/genome test on a sample taken no earlier than the seventh day
Written declaration that the movement is non-commercial (no more than five birds, no change of ownership)
Identification matching the certificate (leg-ring or microchip where applicable)
CITES export and import permits for protected species such as most parrots
Enter Spain at an authorized traveller point of entry for inspection and declaration to tax authorities
Spain's competent authority is the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA). MAPA's page presents four AI pathways (including an in-Spain quarantine option); the EU-harmonized Delegated Regulation (EU) 2021/1933 lists three (the post-arrival quarantine derives from the older Decision 2007/25/EC). MAPA's page covers sanitary rules only and explicitly does not address CITES or invasive-species rules; verify those separately. Confirm the chosen AI option and facility lists with MAPA/APHIS before booking.
Horses
Import permitted
Yes, you can import a horse to Spain. As an EU member state it accepts equines from listed third countries on the model EQUI-X health certificate, requiring negative disease testing (including equine infectious anaemia), a pre-dispatch residency period, and no contact with diseased equines before departure. The APHIS-endorsed certificate is cleared at an EU border control post via TRACES.
Model EQUI-X animal health certificate, completed by an accredited vet and endorsed by USDA APHIS; the third country must be listed in Annex IV to Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/404
Negative test for Equine Infectious Anaemia (EIA/Coggins) before export, plus any additional disease tests required for the country's sanitary group
Residency in the country of dispatch for at least 40 days before dispatch (or since birth, or since entry from the EU)
No contact with equines suffering transmissible diseases during the 15 days before departure
Equine Viral Arteritis (EVA) testing for uncastrated males as required by the certificate/sanitary group
Clearance at an EU Border Control Post via TRACES; horse microchipped/identified per the certificate
Requirements vary by the third country's sanitary group and the horse's category (registered, breeding, slaughter), and may add further disease testing or quarantine. The official EU rule sets a 40-day residency and a 15-day no-contact window before departure; transport, inspection and any quarantine fees are not fixed flat amounts. Confirm with APHIS and Spain's MAPA veterinary authority before shipping.
Reptiles
Import permitted
Yes, you can bring a reptile to Spain, subject to conditions. You need a veterinary health certificate and a non-commercial declaration, and for CITES-listed species (many tortoises, turtles, snakes and lizards) valid CITES export and import permits. Some species are restricted or banned under EU invasive-species rules, so confirm each animal's status with Spanish authorities before travel.
Veterinary health certificate from an official/accredited vet covering species, identification and fitness to travel
Written non-commercial companion-animal declaration
CITES export permit (origin country) and CITES import permit/document for species listed in CITES Appendices or EU Annexes
Enter Spain at an authorized traveller point of entry for Customs/veterinary inspection and declaration to tax authorities
Confirm the species is not prohibited under EU Invasive Alien Species rules or Spanish restrictions
Verify CITES/protected status with MAPA and Spain's CITES management authority before travel
Marked 'allowed' because reptiles are not categorically banned, but admissibility is species-dependent: CITES Appendix I species are effectively non-importable as pets, and EU invasive-species and Spanish national rules can bar others. There is no harmonized EU pet health certificate specific to reptiles, so a general veterinary certificate plus CITES documentation applies. MAPA's pet pages cover sanitary rules only and direct travellers to verify CITES and invasive-species rules separately. No standardized fee or permit-number list exists; confirm each animal's CITES/Annex status before any plans.
Pet-type requirements researched and last updated June 2026. Always confirm current rules with the destination’s government authority before booking — regulations change frequently.
How much does it cost to ship a pet to Spain?
A full-service move to Spain typically costs $2,170–$5,110 for a medium dog, covering the airline cargo fee, IATA crate, vet and USDA documents, import permit, customs clearance. Typical process time: 5–7 days.
