Traveling with pets to Spain. We tell you everything you need to know!

What would be of us without those little animals that live with us, pets?

For many, pets are as loved as another member of the family.

Live with Pets brings many health benefits.

It has been proven that the simple act of pet a pet reduces stress and provides well-being. 

Additionally, pets can encourage physical activity and social interaction. 

Its presence can alleviate the feeling of sadness, especially for people who live alone or who are going through bad times.  

En Hispania, escuela de españolWe love animals and it is a very common topic of conversation with our students during classes.

By the way, if you want to learn Spanish with us, we have face-to-face Spanish courses y online Spanish courses suitable for you.

What level do you have? A1? A2? B1?

Have you never studied any Spanish before?

Don't worry, we have classes of all levels that will adapt perfectly to your situation. Never be afraid to learn something new, it's the most beautiful thing there is!

Let's go back to the pets.

For those of us who have pets, we know how important they are in our lives, and we all have the great dilemma of what to do with them when we go on vacation.

Imagine that, for example, you are going to Spain on your next vacation and you have pets. Some of these questions probably come to mind:

"What do I do with my pet?" 

«Should I leave her alone at home for weeks and have someone come and feed her?».

"May l traveling with a dog by plane to Spain? '.

"May l travel with my pet by train?

If your next trip is going to be for Spain and you don't know what to do with your pet, you're in luck.

Spain is a country very accessible to travel with pets and it is possible to travel with animals on plane and other transportation.

In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about how to travel with pets to Spain, whatever country you are from.

Prepare the carrier for your furry friend, we're going on a trip.

¡pet on board!

Can you take trips with a pet to Spain?

Of course yes! 

We Spaniards love animals, many people have dogs, cats or other animals. Have pets in Spain It is something very common and they are totally integrated into our lives.

Fly with dogs or cats on a plane is something that can be done in our country.

Now there is some rules to follow to traveling with pets by plane to Spain. But don't worry because they are very simple.

Do you want to know what are the requirements to bring a cat to Spain and other pets? We tell you!

Animal export and import rules

Si vas a traveling with pets to Spain, you must know the specific rules for the import and export of animals.

Some of these standards are related to the required documentation, microchips o mandatory vaccinations.

We will see them in more detail later.

Customs requirements

When you arrive to Spain by boat, train or plane, you will have to go with your cats or dogs at the airport, for the controls of customs. 

Yes, dogs are allowed in airports, as long as they are on a leash, muzzled if necessary and are supervised by their owners.

Here you will have to comply with a series of simple requirements for your beloved pet to begin its holidays in Spain.

At customs control, the documentation of your animal and an inspection of the food you bring for it, if applicable.

There is also the possibility of having a inspection to check the status of your health.

Some species of exotic animals are subject to stricter regulations and may require special permits for import.

If you would like to traveling with dogs in Spain or with other pets, you absolutely need to go through these customs controls.

Airline requirements

If you do flights with pets, each airline may have its own requirements, although there are some general ones that they all share:

Size and weight: Airlines usually have restrictions on the size and weight of pets to travel in the cabin.

In general, small dogs and cats that can be accommodated in a carrier under the seat, weighing less than 8 kg.

En este sentido, traveling with cats by plane don't usually have problems, since it is very rare for a cat to weigh more than 8 kg.

Instead, fly with dog in cabin It is not always possible, since there are many who easily exceed that weight.

Suitable carrier: You must have a dog carrier on the plane or cat airline approved that meets established safety and size standards. 

Documentation: The airline can request the necessary documentation, such as a pet passport, vaccination certificates and a health certificate issued by a veterinarian.

Reservations and availability: It is important to carry out a advance reservation for travel with your pet, since airlines have limited capacity to carry pets on plane inside the cabin or in the hold.

Additional costs: Airlines typically charge additional fees for fly with pets.

Birds. Avian flu vaccination

Are you going to take your parrot on vacation to Spain? 

You will surely be fascinated by it! 

There are some requirements for travel with birds specifics you should know.

Your documentation and vaccination record are also requested; your bird must be vaccinated against bird flu.

Si tu bird belongs to protected species by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), you will need to obtain a CITES certificate to travel with her.

As for the way to transport them, it is not the same as with cats or dogs.

Birds must be transported in suitable cages that meet animal welfare standards. These must provide sufficient space, ventilation and protection.

Requirements to travel to Spain with pets 

Broadly speaking, we have seen some things that you should keep in mind when traveling to Spain with a dog and other pets, whether we travel with them by plane or if we go with animals on the train.

Now let's go into detail on the requirements to travel with pets to Spain What are they going to ask you for?

These requirements may vary if you come from a country in the European Union or a country outside the European Union.

So no matter which country you come from, don't worry because we will tell you everything you need to know. 😉

From a country in the European Union

Excellent! The flight is about to take off and the time has finally come to traveling with our pets on the plane.

But first… check that everything is in order!

The requirements to be met pet transport to Spain from an EU member country are the following:

Identification microchip

All pets must have a identification microchip placed before traveling.

The microchip must meet the standard ISO 11784 or ISO 11785.

Rabies vaccine

Pets must have a rabies vaccine valid before entering Spain. The vaccine must have been administered at least 21 days before tasks in the travel with pet.

European pet passport

Pets must have a animal passport, also known as Pet Passport. 

Each animal will have its own passport: canine passport, cat passport, etc.

This is a very animal passport must be issued by a veterinarian and contains information on the identification of the animal, vaccines and antiparasitic treatments.

Minimum pet age

In general, pets should have at least 15 weeks old for travel to Spain from another country in the European Union. 

This is because the rabies vaccine It is generally administered at 12 weeks old and an additional waiting period is required.

Maximum number of animals allowed

There is no specific limit regarding the maximum number of animals allowed to travel to Spain from a country in the European Union. 

You can traveling with dogs on the plane, even if there are many.

However, it is important consult with the airline or means of transportation used, as they may have individual restrictions on this.

From a country outside the European Union

you are going to do a long journey to get to Spain.

You notice how your pet gets excited as the big day approaches.

But wait... Have you checked that all the requirements for traveling with animals from outside the EU are they fulfilled?

In case you have questions about these requirements, we will tell you what to do and how to travel with pets by plane. 🙌🏻

Zoosanitary certificate

El animal health certificate endorses compliance with the required health requirements by the country you are traveling to, which in this case is Spain.

However, this certificate is not always required to be shown if you pass by one of the Designated Traveler Entry Points and you declare to the Fiscal Shelter of the Civil Guard that you are traveling with a pet.

If you do not have this documentation, then you must show the zoosanitary certificate.

Vaccination record and identification data

It is necessary to bring a updated vaccination record of your pet 

This card must include information about the vaccines received and identification data, such as the name of the animal and your contact information.

Identification microchip

All pets must have a identification microchip placed before traveling. 

As with pets of EU members, the microchip must meet standards ISO 11784 or ISO 11785.

Current rabies vaccine

To make a correct pet transportation in Spain, it is mandatory that pets have a valid rabies vaccine.

The vaccine must have been administered at least 21 days before of the trip and must be within its validity period.

Airlines that allow dogs to travel in the cabin 

We come to the last point of this article: the airlines that allow traveling with a pet by plane.

On many airlines you can travel with cats and dogs on plane In cabin, as long as it is a small animal, no more than 8 or 10 kg, and fits in a carrier under the seat.

Not all of them give you the option of traveling with animals, we recommend that you check before purchasing the tickets.

As for the airlines that allow traveling with pets to Spain under the seat, what happens if you go to traveling with dogs weighing more than 10 kg by plane? 

Under the seat, a large dog will not fit. 

In that case, you dog travels by plane, but within the wine cellar, and not in the cabin with you. This warehouse has a compartment suitable for transporting animals.

Now you know how dogs travel by plane.

Each company has its own rules regarding the sizes of pets allowed and the carriers that should be used. 

So, to avoid bad surprises, act with foresight and find out well before purchasing the flight.

If you plan to put your large dog with you inside the cabin, we already tell you that it is impossible. 

No airlines that allow traveling with large dogs in the cabin in Spain.

In addition, there are also dog breeds that cannot travel because they can get aggressive. Some of these breeds are Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, American Staffodshire Terrier or Rottweiler.

You may wonder how much does it cost to take a dog on a plane.

El pet transportation price It may vary depending on the airline, but usually costs between 25 and 150 euros. The amount also changes if they are regional or international flights.

Has all this information been helpful to you? Sometimes it is not easy to find all these requirements clearly. 

We have tried to make the best compilation possible. Now you know how to bring your mascot to Spain.

Remember that if you come to Spain and want to learn Spanish, you can come to the Valencia city and pass by Hispania, escuela de español.

You will make your vacation even more unforgettable by learning Spanish with colleagues from all over the world and enjoying the wonders that Valencia offers.

At the moment we do not have Spanish classes for dogs or cats.

But who knows, maybe in the future... we won't close ourselves to anything! 😝

Valencia is also a ideal city for pets, is full of large parks where you can walk your dogs. 

We also have dog beaches in Valencia and its surrounding towns. 

I'm sure they would have a lot of fun here, running and splashing in the water.

What would be the first thing you would do with your pet if you came to Valencia?

Tell us in the Comments.

¡Nos vemos!

Article written by Carlos Martínez for Hispania, escuela de español.