Moving to Spain with a dog or cat: what you need and what to do on arrival

By Chief of Sniff · Updated on October 22, 2026

Moving to Spain with a dog, cat or ferret follows the same EU rules as any other EU country: a microchip, a valid rabies vaccine and the right travel document. What changes is where you are coming from. Once you land, there is one more step that most guides skip: registering your pet with your town hall.

If you are coming from another EU country

Spain's Ministry of Agriculture lists the same requirements for every EU origin (Ministry note, Punto de Acceso General):

• Microchip. A readable tattoo is accepted only if it was done before 3 July 2011.
• Rabies vaccine valid on the day of travel and recorded in the passport. For a first vaccination, wait at least 21 days before travelling.
• EU pet passport, issued by an authorised vet.
• Minimum age. Vaccination is possible from 12 weeks, so no dog, cat or ferret under 15 weeks can enter. The Ministry states there are no exceptions.
• Up to 5 animals, travelling with you or within 5 days of you.

Passport models changed in 2026. The Ministry's note says passports issued from 22 April 2026 follow the new EU model. Passports issued under the previous model before 1 January 2028 are still accepted.

If you are coming from outside the EU

Rules depend on whether your country appears in Annexes I and II of Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so check the current version of the annexes on EUR-Lex. Andorra, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican are treated like the EU for pet movements, as are Norway and Northern Ireland. For other countries, the Ministry of Agriculture's current page (published 12 August 2026) sets out these requirements:

• Entry point. Pets must enter through an authorised travellers' entry point. You declare the animal to the Guardia Civil's fiscal service or to customs staff, who check the documents and read the microchip.
• Identification and rabies. A microchip (a readable tattoo is accepted only if it was done before 3 July 2011) and a valid rabies vaccine.
• Certificate. If you live in a third country and your pet has no valid EU pet passport, it needs an official health certificate signed by an official vet of that country, written at least in Spanish, plus a declaration. Both follow the EU models valid from 22 April 2026. You also need a certified copy of the identification and vaccination data.
• Blood test for countries not on the annexes. Your pet also needs a rabies antibody test at an EU-approved laboratory, with a result of at least 0.5 IU/ml. The sample is taken at least 30 days after the first rabies vaccination (the wait applies to first vaccinations only). Entry is allowed only 90 days after the sample date, so the minimum age is 7 months. If vaccinations are kept up, the test stays valid for life.

If something is missing on arrival, authorities can isolate, quarantine or refuse entry (Spanish consulate in Bogotá). Rules change, so read the Ministry of Agriculture's page again before you book your move.

What to do in your first month

1. Register your pet with your town hall. In Barcelona you must do it within 30 days of moving, after the microchip and the vet's health document. It is currently free (Barcelona City Council). Other municipalities set their own deadlines and fees, so ask yours.
2. Check that the microchip is in a Spanish registry. Microchip identification of dogs, cats and ferrets is compulsory in Barcelona, and the data goes to Catalonia's ANICOM registry. Spain's welfare law also requires every pet to be permanently identified (art. 24.2.f of the BOE text).
3. Find a local vet. Barcelona's city council recommends at least one visit a year.
4. Check the rules for your breed. Some breeds count as potentially dangerous dogs and need a municipal licence and insurance. The national minimum cover is €120,000 (Real Decreto 287/2002, art. 3), and some municipalities ask for more: Barcelona's page says €150,253. See our guide to Spain's animal welfare law for the national picture.

How Chief of Sniff helps after you land

Moving country means your pet's vaccines, treatments and vet bookings suddenly happen in another language and system. Chief of Sniff is a WhatsApp assistant that handles it for you: send a photo of your pet's vaccination card and Chief turns it into reminders, and when you need an appointment or a follow-up, Chief contacts the clinic in Spanish while you keep talking to Chief in your own language.

Start using Chief

FAQ

Do I need to quarantine my dog when moving to Spain? Not if you meet all the requirements. If something is missing, authorities can isolate, quarantine or refuse entry.

Can I bring a puppy? Not under 15 weeks old.

How many pets can I bring? Up to 5 dogs, cats or ferrets as non-commercial travel.

Do I need to register my pet in Spain? Yes. Dogs, cats and ferrets must be microchipped and registered with the town hall, and the deadline depends on the municipality.

This guide is for information only and does not replace advice from your vet.