A Yorkie's Guide to Traveling to Spain with a Dog (2023)

WOOF, thinking of traveling to Spain with your dog from the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.? Keep on sniffing – this Yorkie Boss has you covered.

Traveling to Spain with a Dog from the U.S., Canada, & the U.K.

Posted 6/23/22

As a former Catalan Yorkie, I’m always wagging my stylish rat tail to bark about dog travel in Spain. ARF-ter all, I’ve only called Barcelona home for nearly a year. Sí, that’s right – I’ve lived off of crunchy bocadillos and spicy bravas while practicing my Catalan and Spanish barks. GRR, gotta make sure I leave my TOP DOG mark everywhere besides Barcelona, from flamenco-dancing Seville to patio-showcasing Córdoba to landlocked capital Madrid. Even though it may sound like a far-fetched dream to many dog pawrents, traveling to Spain with a dog isn’t as complicated as it sounds (so no need to lower that tail of yours). Keep that tail upright and perk up your hairy ears to my alpha barks now.

International dog travel is a process. Don’t skip a step because you (or your dog) could end up paying for it later.

*Traveling to Spain with a DOG from the U.S. & Canada**: Requirements*

STEP #1: Get your dog chipped with the ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip – The rabies vaccination must be administered AFTER your dog is microchipped, NOT before. The good news is that the vaccination can be given on the same day as the microchip. Any accredited veterinarian can microchip your dog, including low-cost vet clinics like Vetco.

STEP #2: Get your dog vaccinated against rabies (or have proof of vaccination after microchip implantation) – Vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entry, and your dog must be at least 15 weeks old.

If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁

STEP #3: Have a USDA accredited veterinarian complete the E.U. Health Certificate (non-commercial) – Print out the health certificate and bring it to the veterinarian to fill out. Make sure it’s non-commercial transport, not commercial. Put your furry paws on the U.S. or Canada forms. This form is valid for 30 days after the USDA accredited veterinarian completes and signs it.

STEP #4: Have an accredited veterinarian examine your dog’s overall health – Don’t forget to get a routine check-up or examination for your dog at the veterinarian to make sure he or she is healthy enough to fly.

STEP #5: Get the completed E.U. Health Certificate endorsed – Once your veterinarian completes the E.U. Health Certificate, you have to get the paperwork endorsed by your local APHIS Veterinary Services Office (U.S.) for $38 or Canadian Food Inspection Agency (Canada) for $20. Upon endorsement by the USDA (U.S.) or CFIA Accredited (Canada) Veterinarian, your dog must arrive in Spain or the E.U. within 10 days from the date. Be sure to present your dog’s rabies certificate, copy of flight reservation, and the E.U. Health Certificate to the office. Do NOT skip this step! The good news is that you only have to do this once.

Again, bear in mind the strict 10-day mark when your dog must arrive in Spain after APHIS endorses the paperwork.

Once stamped, the E.U. Health Certificate doesn’t expire until 4 months from the date OR until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever is first. WOOF-HOO!

OPTIONAL STEP: If you are planning to travel to Spain or within the E.U. with your dog more than once, then it’s a pawsome idea to swap the E.U. Health Certificate for an E.U. Pet Passport, which is required for travel between E.U. countries for animals. Upon arrival in Spain or anywhere in the E.U., take your dog to a veterinarian who has the authority to issue pet passports (call to make sure before scheduling an appointment. With an expiration date of 10 years (or as long as you keep up with the rabies vaccination, the Pet Passport is the KEY to dog travel in Europe. No more vet health certificates or APHIS endorsements!

As long as all requirements are met, quarantine is not required for your dog!

Returning to the U.S. & Canada from Spain with a Dog

Generally barking, a valid rabies vaccination certificate is all you need to return to the U.S.from Spain (being that Spain is NOT categorized as high-risk for rabies, screwworms, or foot and mouth disease). However, there may be additional dog import requirements depending on the state of arrival. For instance, California requirements state that all dogs must be healthy, over four months of age, and have documentation proving current rabies vaccination. Put a furry paw here for more info.

As for entry to Canada, a valid rabies vaccination certificate is also sufficient for entry. The E.U. Pet Passport is an acceptable alternative under these circumstances:

be written in English or French
be issued and signed by a licensed veterinarian
identify the animal (age, breed, sex, colour/markings, weight, and microchip/tattoo number if applicable)
state that the animal is vaccinated against rabies
indicate the date of vaccination
indicate the trade name and the serial number of the licensed vaccine
specify the duration of immunity (otherwise, it will be considered valid for 1 year from the date of vaccination)
have the name and signature of the licensed veterinarian that issued the certificate and the date it was signed

For more info returning to Canada with a dog, put a furry paw HERE.

Watch me survive the first 5 days of Covid Lockdown in Spain:

*Traveling to Spain with a DOG from the U.K.**: Requirements*

With Brexit in effect, dogs entering the U.K. for the very first time must have an animal health certificate rather than a pet passport issued in Great Britain. If you have a pet passport issued in an E.U. country, then, of course, it is still valid for travel. This new requirement is effective January 2021. The process is similar to dogs coming from the U.S. and Canada.

If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁

STEP #3: Have an accredited veterinarian complete the Animal Health Certificate (non-commercial) – You must find an “official veterinarian” in the U.K. who can issue and sign the certificate. Upon endorsement, the paperwork is valid for 4 months (or until the rabies vaccination expires, whichever comes first). This certificate must be completed within 10 days of the departure date.

OPTIONAL STEP: If you are planning to travel to Spain or within the E.U. with your dog more than once, then it’s a pawsome idea to swap the E.U. Health Certificate for an E.U. Pet Passport, which is required for travel between E.U. countries for animals. Upon arrival in Spain or anywhere in the E.U., take your dog to a veterinarian who has the authority to issue pet passports (call to make sure before scheduling an appointment. With an expiration date of 10 years (or as long as you keep up with the rabies vaccination, the Pet Passport is the KEY to dog travel in Europe. Sniff out more about the E.U. Pet Passport here.

As long as all requirements are met, quarantine is not required for your dog!

Returning to the U.K. from Spain with a Dog

Your dog must be microchipped, have a pet passport or health certificate, proof of rabies vaccination, tapeworm treatment, and enter through an approved route. Otherwise, your dog is subject to quarantine. Sniff out the step-by-step import process here.

Traveling to Spain with a DOG from another E.U. Country: Requirements

For E.U. travelers, all you need is an E.U. Pet Passport, and you’re all set on taking your dog to Spain!

E.U. Pet Passport Requirements:

STEP #1: Get your dog chipped with the ISO-compliant 15-digit microchip – The rabies vaccination must be administered AFTER your dog is microchipped, NOT before. The good news is that the vaccination can be given on the same day as the microchip.

STEP #2: Get your dog vaccinated against rabies (or have proof of vaccination after microchip implantation) – Vaccination must be administered at least 21 days before entry, and your dog must be at least 15 weeks old.

If your dog was previously vaccinated for rabies but not microchipped, then the rabies vaccination must be administered AGAIN after being microchipped. This was my case, unfortunately. GRRR. 🙁

STEP #3: Have an accredited veterinarian examine your dog’s overall health – Again, don’t forget to get a routine check-up or examination for your dog at the veterinarian to make sure he or she is healthy enough to fly.

As long as all requirements are met, quarantine is not required for your dog!

Returning to another E.U. country from Spain with a Dog

A valid E.U. Pet Passport is all you need to travel within the 27 E.U. countries include Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

What’s the dog culture like in Spain?

ARRRFFF, I’d be lying if I barked that Spain is not dog-friendly! However, in the world of dog travel, dog-friendliness is truly relative depending on the local people’s attitudes towards animals along with access to food and drink establishments and public transportation. Overall, Spain is a dog-friendly country where many residents have dogs and treat them like family. It’s not uncommon to see pet supply stores, doggie salons, and dog parks in major cities like Barcelona and Madrid. This certainly makes traveling to Spain with a dog is worthwhile. 🙂

Are restaurants or food/drink establishments in Spain dog-friendly? Yes and No.

As for restaurants and bars, dogs are almost always allowed outside the terrace or sidewalk seating, but usually not inside (it’s a hit or miss depending on the establishment, so be sure to look for any NO DOG signs at the door. GRRR). Sr. Perro is also a great resource for finding dog-friendly places to go. What the heck is Sr. Perro? WOOF, it’s a pawsome website that provides dog pawrents (who love taking their dogs out and about) with dog-friendly restaurants, bars, hotels, and shops in Spanish cities.

When I lived in Barcelona, I loved the doggie meet-ups on Friday and Saturday evenings at my neighborhood parks (there were several large parks in addition to the famous Parc Güell within walking distance from my home in Gràcia). The best part about Spain is arguably its nightlife, which doesn’t have limitations on age. A doggie meetup at the park in the evening may mean mingling with gray-haired Catalan women in their 70s sippin’ on Estrellass (while Jack Russells and Yorkies are trying to jump onto the dog stroller to get a sniff of the senior Maltese who doesn’t want to be bothered).

With that barked, I’ve also witnessed numerous instances of dog abuse (e.g. kicking and slapping publicly as if such disgusting, cowardly acts are acceptable in society), with the perpetrators ranging from young children to senior citizens. My humans and I are always ready to stand up for abused dogs (and cats) wherever we go – let’s not be silent bystanders!

Can dogs ride on public transportation in Spain? For the most part, Sí! ARF, I mean YES! Taking your dog on trains is the easiest (and most scenic) way to explore different parts of the country with your dog. Sniff out my furry buttocks to find out everything you need to know about taking your dog on public transport in Spain.

Get your wet nose sniffing out more info on dog-friendly Spain HERE, from dog-friendly accommodations to flying with your dog.

WOOF, hope you enjoy traveling to Spain with a dog from the U.S., Canada, or the U.K.! Be sure to share your furry Spanish escapades with me. BARK AT ME.

Markin’ it up,

Roger Wellington a.k.a. The Doob