For many people moving to Spain, they’d no more leave their family dog or cat behind than they’d leave one of their kids. Luckily, taking a pet to Spain isn’t actually that difficult – not if you follow all the rules and regulations to the letter. Here’s what you need to know.
1) No Teeny Tiny Babies – First of all, be aware you cannot import a dog or cat into Spain that’s less than three months old. So, if you have a puppy or a kitten, you’ll have to wait to move until he’s a bit older, or have someone else ship him to you.
2) EU Vet Health Certificate (Form EC#: 998) – You must have a health certificate from an Official Vet showing your dog or cat is in good health. The certificate must be no more than 15 days old when your pet arrives in Spain, so you’ll need to do it no earlier than 10 days before you leave. If it is, he will be quarantined.
3) International Health Certificate – APHIS Form 7001 – Similar to the EU Vet Health Certificate, this one too must be completed by your vet with a date no later than 15 days before you arrive in Spain.
4) Certificate of Vaccination Against Rabies – You must also have your dog or cat vaccinated against rabies and have the certificate to prove it. The vaccination should have been done no earlier than a month before you leave, and no later than 12 months.
5) Microchip or Tattoo – Your dog or cat must be identified with a microchip or a tattoo. Make sure you get this done at your vet’s before you leave. It’s quick to do and relatively painless. If a microchip, the number of microchip and date of insertion must be listed on the health certificate. Microchips must comply with ISO Standard 11784 or Annex A to ISO standard 11785.
6) Moving From America – USDA Endorsement – If you’re bringing a dog or cat from America you’ll need to send these to the USDA to be certified:
Microchip Implantation Record
Rabies Certificate
EU Vet Health Certificate
7) No More Than Five Pets – Unfortunately, if you have a lot of animals, you won’t be able to take them all to Spain with you. Under Spanish law, you’re only allowed to import up to five. More than that and you need a commercial license.
For more information, check the Spanish Embassy website, where you can also print off all the necessary forms.
Also, be aware, some dogs in Spain are classified as Potentially Dangerous Dogs. Check the list to see if yours is on it. If so, you’ll have a few extra hoops to jump through.