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Moving Pets within the European Union
Properly identified and vaccinated pet animals may travel freely...
Pet travel laws can be affected by exceptional outbreaks of diseases. Recent examples are Avian Influenza (the H5N1 strain of bird flu) and Foot and Mouth disease.
European Pet Passport
The EU Pet Passport is a booklet, identical for all European countries, which contains obligatory information concerning an individual animal: identification number, proof of valid vaccine against the rabies virus. It may contain other non-obligatory information and is valid for the lifetime of the pet. Each passport is numbered for identification purposes.
Animals travelling within any European Union country need to be accompanied by a Pet Passport. For Ireland, Sweden, Malta and United Kingdom, further rules apply. When crossing the Finnish border animals must, in addition to the passport, also have proof of tapeworm (echinococcosis) treatment. All vets should have the relevant information and be able to prepare a pet for travel.
- For more information about the Pet Passport: Click here
The EU Pet Passport can also be used when travelling between Europe and the following non-mainland European areas: Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira.
It may also be used when travelling between EU and other countries with the same rabies status. Included are: Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Gibraltar, Monaco, Norway, San Marino, Switzerland and the Vatican City State.
- See the EUROPA website
Getting an EU Pet Passport
The passport may only be issued by a licenced vet and it, and vaccinations, should be kept current by the vet.
Before issuing it, the vet will confirm that the animal:
- is identified by a micro chip in the neck (tattoos are only accepted in the EU until 3 July 2011 and are no longer valid for travel to the UK, Ireland or Malta)
- has valid vaccines against rabies
- has had a blood test to confirm the vaccine is in the system
Following these steps the vet can issue a certificate of health - the Pet Passport.
Arriving in Spain
A non-commercial importer may bring up to five pets into Spain.
Pet owners must carry a valid EU Pet Passport for each pet when travelling with their animals to Spain.
If the rabies vaccination was the animal's first vaccine then it must wait for 21 days before entering the country. There is no time delay with booster injections, providing there is proof that the booster was administered before the last vaccine had expired.
An animal must be over three months old to enter Spanish territory.
Rabbits and rodents may travel without a passport but should be declared at the border.
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