Bringing Pets into Spain

If you are going to Spain, and especially if you are planning to move there permanently, you don’t want to have to leave your beloved pet behind. But luckily there is no need to. Taking your pet with you to Spain is not complicated at all, and if you start planning early enough then you should find the whole process relatively straightforward.

Taking Your Pet From Inside The EU

The main concern for you when taking your pet to live with you in Spain will be the legal issues involved. Although it is quite a straightforward process, you still have to follow the correct procedure, which often means planning well in advance.

If you live in the EU, you will require a pet passport. This regulation came into force in 2004 and replaced the previous need for a PETS certificate for the pet and other regulations.

The most important steps to take before your pet is able to get a pet passport are to make sure that it has a microchip inserted, to carry out a blood test and to get it a rabies vaccination. However, the application procedure is lengthy, and you should really begin the process at least six months to a year before you intend to take your pet to Spain with you.

Also, although up until 2012 the Spanish authorities will accept either a microchip or a tattoo that confirms your pet’s identity, we advise you that after 2012 only a microchip will be accepted.

Once you have a pet passport you will be able to travel with your pet, and this will also prevent the need for it to be placed into quarantine on its return if you take it back to your home country, at least in the case of UK residents.

Taking Your Pet From Outside The EU

If you do not live in the EU then you will not be able to benefit from the pet passport scheme. Instead, you will require a health certificate that must be issued by an authorized vet in your country, and it also has to be issued within 15 days of your intended trip to Spain. You will also be required to get a certificate showing vaccination against rabies which has to take place between one and 12 months before moving to Spain.

On top of this, you will also be required to get a certificate from the agriculture ministry in your country stating that the area in which you keep your pet is free from diseases. These all need to be authorized and stamped by the Spanish authorities in your own country, and there will be a fee for the process.

Age Of Pets

If you are traveling from within the EU, you will be allowed to take pets of any age with you. However, if they are under three months old then they will be considered dependents and will have to travel with their mother. However, if you are coming from outside the EU then you will not be able to take pets that are under three-months old.

Traveling With Your Pet

For many people, the big worry about traveling with their pet is how it will cope with the long journey because traveling long-distance can be quite traumatic for animals.

If your pet is very small, you may be able to keep it in a cage on board a flight. However, many pets will not be small enough and will therefore have to travel in the hold. Your airline will be able to provide you with their own rules and recommendations about carrying pets, as well as providing you with information about the type of cage that they will be transported in.

Some people decide to give their pets tranquilizers for the journey to reduce their level of stress. If you are considering this then we would advise you to take careful advice from your vet before doing so.

Dangers For Pets In Spain

Although you may be able to take your pet into Spain, there are certain precautions that you should take when you arrive. There are a number of diseases for pets in Spain that may not be found in your home country, and you should ask your vet before you go which vaccinations they will require. These are likely to include:

- kennel cough, hepatitis, distemper and parvovirus (for dogs)
- feline enteritis and typhus (for cats)

Other dangers that are present within the country include:

- leeches
- ticks
- heartworm
- feline leukaemia

The best thing you can do besides getting advice from your own vet is find out the details of a Spanish vet in the area where you will be staying before you leave your own country, who you can then visit as soon as you arrive.

Regulations For Dangerous Dogs

You should be especially careful if you are bringing in a dog that is considered a dangerous breed by the Spanish authorities. This will lead to far more restrictions, including the need for a special license and the need for an identity document for your pet. Dogs that are considered dangerous include, amongst others:

- Rottweilers
- Staffordshire Bull Terriers
- Pit Bulls
- American Staffordshire Terriers

Make sure you check with the authorities whether your dog is a dangerous breed and ask them for all the latest regulations before you leave.

Robert writes for Alanda Homes who specialize in apartments for sale in the Costa del Sol. Please visit the Alanda Homes website for further information on moving to Spain or to view their current property portfolio.