The rules for bringing animals into Spain are different depending on which country you are coming from. In order for your dog, cat or ferret to be allowed to enter Spain from a European Union country, each pet must meet the following conditions:

• Have a microchip (or a tattoo if it was made before 07/03/2011) that identifies the animal;

• Have a valid rabies vaccination, information about which must be written in the European pet passport. Animals under 15 weeks of age without a rabies vaccine are not allowed to enter the country;

• In addition to the information about the rabies vaccine, the European pet passport must contain information about the owner, the issue of the passport, the microchip, and a description of the animal.

For animals entering Spain from EU countries, no other vaccinations or treatments are required.

If you are coming from the third countries, the entry requirements for Spain will be different. In this case, each pet must have:

• Veterinary certificate signed by a veterinarian from the country of export and presented in Spanish;

• Declaration, which, like the veterinary certificate, must comply with European Union regulations. You can find a sample certificate and declaration on the official website of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA);

• Certified copy of vaccination and pet identification data;

• Microchip (or tattoo, if it was made before 07/03/2011), which identifies the animal;

• Current rabies vaccination at the time of travel.

The above rules apply to countries with a low risk of developing rabies in animals. These include countries such as Australia, Belarus, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Russia, Switzerland, the USA, etc. You can see the full list here: https://www.mapa.gob.es/en/ganaderia/temas/comercio-exterior-ganadero/anexoiirue577_2013_tcm38-104902.pdf

If your country is not listed as a low-risk country for rabies, your pet will need to have a serological test for rabies in addition to all necessary paperwork. The test is carried out in one of the laboratories of your country approved by Spain.

Moreover, there is a limit on the number of pets imported into Spain. If you are transporting more than 5 animals within the EU or from third countries, commercial transport rules apply to the pets.

Failure to comply with the rules of the country of import may be a threat to citizens and other animals in Spain. Before the trip, make sure you have all the necessary documents. In case of non-compliance with the requirements, the pet may be quarantined, returned to the country of export or, as a last resort, euthanized at the expense of the owner.