If you are going to move to Spain with your pet to study, work or just to live on the warm seashore, then all the details related to such a solution need to be carefully considered in advance. If you have a four-legged friend, then you probably already thought what the conditions are for its transportation into the country. Let’s figure it out together.
Can I bring my pet to Spain?
No doubts, Spain will welcome you and your pet on its territory! But be advised that you must follow certain rules for importing pets, otherwise you can both get an unpleasant experience. Your furry friend can be quarantined or even repatriated!
Dogs, cats, hamsters, rats and even reptiles can accompany you in your trip, if that’s not related to any commercial purposes. Although, this process is more stringent for birds, as they will have to stay quarantined and get vaccinated against Avian Flue. There are special conditions for guide dogs whose owners can bring them on the board at no extra charge.
What should I do to bring my pet to Spain?
Dogs, cats and ferrets are the most popular pets that can be met on the plane board. In our article, we are going to describe five basic things for successful trips with these beautiful creatures.
Visiting a veterinary clinic
Before to arrange your trip to Spain, your furry companion and you should visit a veterinary clinic. The vet should carefully look at the animal to assess its readiness to travel with you. One of the important things: its rabies vaccine must have effect minimum one year. Treatments from parasites should be duly carried out and highly recommended too.
Your vet should provide you with a medical certificate with all the data of your pet and some your personal data (name, address, etc.).
It is equally important that you put an identification microchip to your pet. This requirement is necessary not only for entry into Spain but into any other country of the European Union.
Registration a pet as hand luggage or luggage
Many airlines with regular connections to Spain offer also transportation services for pets. But don’t remember to notify the company about providing you with a boarding pass for your four-legged friend after buying your plane ticket. Please take into account that the number of pets on each flight is limited.
Sometimes, the flight to Spain can be an amazing adventure for pet owners, but it bring no fun for their pets. The thing is, that these tailed passengers can be very receptive to noises, smells and turbulence in an airplane. In addition, as they have to spend extensive periods of time in a special cage or a carrier, these conditions can be exhausting for them.
Obtaining an animal health certificate
The animal health certificate is a document that has to be prepared by the official animal authority. In most cases, this process of issuing the certificate can take about 10 days before your flight. Anyway, the animal health certificate is needed to enter Spain with pets – so, you should show responsibility in that regard.
Doing a flight with your pet
At last the long-waited-for hour had come! It is worthwhile to arrive at the airport in advance, three-four hours before your flight or seek help from the staff. Don’t remember that, in addition to the usual check-in, you must bring and register your pet in the office of health authorities.
As soon as you arrive at the boarding gate, make sure that you have met all the requirements of your airline for transporting animals by plane. Each company has its own restrictions, but there are some ground rules by transporting pets to Spain:
- Tariffs. They can vary depending on the company and the country of origin. They usually range from 70 euros for flights from Europe to 170 euros for flights from the USA.
- Pet carrier. It must be made of resistant material, ventilated and leak-proof, and marked with the owner’s name and flight number like your basic luggage.
- Pets in a cabin. Take into account that the weight of the carrier with the pet does not exceed 8 kg. The standard dimensions of the cage are 45 cm – length, 35 cm – width and 25 cm – depth.
- Animal travel bag. It looks like a suitcase that can be put under the seat. Most airlines accept them, and maybe it will be more comfortable for your friend.
- Pets in a luggage compartment. This option may be required if your pet and carrier exceed the weight (8 kg) and size limits.
- Dog breed. If your pet is a boxer, pug or any other breed with a flat nose, some airlines can not allow to bring it on the board. But if you will look hard enough, you can find those companies that offer this service.
When your pet makes a trip with you in the cabin, place it in the area specially designated for hand luggage. Under the main rules, the pet has to stay there during the journey. Try to calm your tailed friend so that it does not make noise and does not disturb other passengers.
Passing through the airport control on arrival
But now you have landed safely in Spain and your pet is ready to settle down in a new country. Do not rush to relax, there are still a few important and useful activities before you will plunge together into the world of sun and beaches.
Try to find out in advance which airports of Spain have special passes for travelers with pets. In this zone, you will be met by officers of the Civil Guard who will inspect your pet.
You must verify that you are the owner of this beautiful creature. Certainly, you must provide the necessary documents of your four-legged companion. After passing through customs, you and your faithful friend could finally start your new happy life in a new hospitable country.
Regulations for moving to Spain with pets
The regulations for the carriage of animals can have different characteristics. That will depend on whether you move from any other European country or from non-EU countries.
Arrival from a European Union country
As for citizens of the European Union, their trip with a pet to Spain will be regarded as a domestic flight, but anyway all documents must fulfill the certain conditions.
- Electronic identification microchip of the animal. Your pet must get an ISO 11784 compliant device that is compatible with HDX or FDX-B technology. It can be requested from your vet.
- Rabies vaccine. The pet should have an animal’s medical record confirming that the rabies vaccine has been put and it is currently valid.
- European passport for pets. This is a very informative document, which includes both your pet’s data and its owner’s one. All the necessary information about your pet can be obtained from a vet authorized to issue such passports.
- Minimum age. There are age limits: your pet must be minimum 15 weeks old. Do not bring into the country more than five animals simultaneously.
Arrival from a non-EU country
If you arrive at Spain from a non-EU country and your pet can’t boast with a European passport yet, you’ll need the following:
- To obtain the animal health certificate signed by the authorities of the country of origin and to present a declaration confirming that you are not going to sell your pet in Spain. Both documents must be written in Spanish and under the EU model. Certified copies of your pet’s vaccination and identification data are also needed.
- To obtain a microchip with the same characteristics as described above.
- To confirm that your pet has got a rabies vaccine and it is valid for this period. The relevant test should be carried out minimum 30 days after vaccination against rabies. Your little friend will be allowed to visit Spain three months after passing this procedure.
- There is also a restriction on entry into the country with more than five pets.
A few more tips for those who move to Spain with pets
Finally, we want to give you some more useful tips on how to move with pets to Spain. Please follow them to avoid additional costs and troubles by traveling, and make your trip more enjoyable and comfortable. Your quadruped companion will appreciate it.
- Keep in mind the validity of your pet’s last vaccinations. Observe the terms: minimum 21 days must elapse between the date of vaccination and the date of the trip.
- Prepare your tailed friend for the flight in advance. Experienced vets advise that the pet should be introduced to climb into its carrier/special bag and to spend patiently some time there.
- Make sure you have enough water for your companion. It would be nice to have a small bottle on hand so that the pet can quench its thirst at any moment. By transporting in the luggage compartment, add some pieces of ice in its bowl/container.
- Feed the pet with caution during the flight. Some pets can get nauseated due to sickness or stress, so it’s better give it some snacks, but only if you feel it is greatly needed.
- Keep documents in an easily accessible place. It is important that you always have them at hand during the trip. When you arrive at your destination, put them in a more safe place.
- Take your pet to the vet upon arrival in Spain. Make sure it didn’t get hurt or sick during the trip.
- Clarify with a vet if your pet is regarded as a potentially dangerous breed in the city or town, which you have chosen to live in. Because, if so, you will need to put your pet in the relevant list.
- Take into account whether your pet will be able to withstand moving to Spain, given their age and state of health or it might be better stay at home with other family members (if applicable).
So, if you’ve already made the right choice, and have learned what it takes for moving with your pet to Spain, you no longer have any reasons to put off your big joint adventure. Therefore, prepare all necessary documents and the pet itself, and go to the country of the perpetual sun and carelessness!
