Pet Travel from the U.S. to Spain

• Dogs, cats, and ferrets must be individually identified by an ISO compliant (11784 and 11785) microchip.
• ISO compliant microchips are 15 digits long.  The pet’s microchip ISO compatibility can be confirmed with the microchip manufacturer.

• If the pet does not have an ISO compliant microchip:
• The pet will need to travel with a microchip reader that can read the microchip OR contact the Veterinary Officials at the intended port of arrival to verify that they have a reader capable of reading the pet’s microchip.
  OR
• If a non-ISO compatible microchip was previously implanted and can still be read, then the Veterinarian can implant an ISO-compatible microchip in addition to the non-ISO one the pet currently has.
• The number and the date of implantation of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate.
• • When recording the “Date of implantation and/or reading [dd/mm/yyyy]” of the microchip/transponder on the health certificate, IT MUST BE ON OR BEFORE THE DATE OF THE PRIMARY RABIES VACCINATION.
  

If the pet is less than 15 weeks old and has not been vaccinated for rabies more than 21 days before entry into the EU, this Member State DOES NOT ALLOW entry of the pet.

• Click here to check which EU Member States accept pets under 15 weeks of age.

For pets at least 15 weeks old and vaccinated for rabies more than 21 days before entry into the EU:

• Rabies vaccination must occur the same day as or AFTER microchip implantation. The rabies vaccination may be administered the same day as microchip implantation, but any rabies vaccination before a microchip is implanted is invalid.
  • If the pet had a non-ISO compatible microchip implanted at the same time as or before the pet’s most recent vaccination and it is still readable, the pet will not have to be revaccinated even if it had to be re-microchipped with an ISO compliant microchip to travel to the EU.
  • Remember, the number and implantation dates of both microchips must be documented on the EU Health Certificate and at least one of these microchips must have been implanted before the pet’s most recent rabies vaccine.
• Rabies vaccinations valid for 1, 2 or 3 years are acceptable as long as the rabies vaccination is current and has been administered according to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
  • The rabies vaccination must not expire before entering the EU.
• A copy of the rabies vaccination certificate should accompany the pet to the EU. 

• After a primary rabies vaccination, the pet must wait 21 days before it is eligible to enter the EU.
• A rabies vaccination is considered a primary vaccination by the EU when:
  • It is the first vaccination given after microchip implantation (this vaccination can be administered on the same day or any time after microchip implantation).
    OR
  • The previous rabies vaccination was expired when the latest vaccination was given.
    • If a rabies vaccination given after microchip implantation expires before another rabies vaccination can be given, the pet must wait 21 days after the new rabies vaccination before being eligible to enter the EU, as the new vaccination is now considered a primary vaccination.  If there has not been a lapse in the rabies vaccination of the pet, the pet does not have to wait 21 days to travel to the EU after the booster vaccination.
      

If the pet is more than 15 weeks old and the most recent rabies vaccine is a primary rabies vaccine, the pet must wait 21 days after the date of that primary rabies vaccine before it can enter the EU. 

NOTE: If the pet is less than 15 weeks old and has not been vaccinated for rabies more than 21 days before entry into the EU, see Step 2 to determine if the pet is eligible to enter the EU by checking which Member States allow these pets.

The EU has two different health certificates for pets. The health certificate used will depend on the number of animals traveling, whether or not the pet is traveling within 5 days before or after the owner or designated person**, and whether the pet will change ownership or is intended for resale in the EU. 

• The “non-commercial” health certificate is:
• For 5 or less pets traveling to the EU within 5 days of the owner or designated person**.
  OR
  For 6 or more privately owned pets that are more than 6 months old and traveling in a group to the EU to participate in competitions, exhibitions, sporting events, or in training for events, within 5 days of the owner or designated person**.
• Valid for 30 days after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian completes and signs it. However, the completed health certificate must be endorsed (counter-signed and embossed/stamped) by APHIS within 10 days of arriving in the EU.
  • APHIS endorsement is not required if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian, but the military veterinarian must issue it within 10 days of arrival in the EU*.
• The final page of the EU Health Certificate contains a Declaration which must be completed and signed by the owner or designated person** before the pet travels to the EU.  The Declaration must accompany the pet and health certificate to the EU.
• Once the health certificate is endorsed by APHIS, the owner or designated person** must enter the APHIS-assigned certificate number in the “Animal health certificate number” section of the Declaration.  See the instructions for completing the non-commercial health certificate on the Health Certificate page.
• ALERT: This health certificate is NOT for pets traveling to the EU more than 5 days before or after the owner or designated person**, or changing ownership or are intended for resale in the EU.  This type of movement falls under the “commercial” health certificate below.
  
  
• The “commercial” health certificate is:
• For pets (any number) who are traveling more than 5 days before or after the owner or designated person**.
  OR
  For 6 or more privately owned pets traveling at the same time (even if their owner or designated person** is traveling to the EU at the same time or within 5 days before or after the pet).
  OR
  For pet animals changing ownership or intended for resale when arriving in the EU.
• Valid for 48 hours after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian issues (completes and signs) it.  The health certificate must be issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian and endorsed (counter-signed and embossed/stamped) by APHIS within 48 hours of departing the U.S.
  • APHIS endorsement is not required if the health certificate is issued by a military veterinarian*.

*A Military Veterinarian is defined as a Veterinary Corps Officer or civilian GS-0701 series government veterinarian employed by the U.S. Army Veterinary Service working at military treatment facilities.  It does not apply to Army Veterinary Service non-appropriated fund or Department of Defense civilian contract veterinarians.

**Designated person: a family member, friend, or other person authorized by the owner to travel with the pet.

• After the pet’s USDA Accredited Veterinarian has completed and signed the EU Health Certificate, have the pet’s completed health certificate endorsed by your USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Endorsement Office. For “non-commercial” health certificates, this endorsement must occur within 10 days of your pet’s arrival in the EU. For “commercial” health certificates, this endorsement can happen any time after the USDA Accredited Veterinarian signs the certificate.
• Your local USDA APHIS Veterinary Services Endorsement Office will be able to provide specific information about the process and fees associated with endorsement of the EU Health Certificate.
  • You can also find more information about Endorsement Fees here.

*A Military Veterinarian is defined as a Veterinary Corps Officer or civilian GS-0701 series government veterinarian employed by the U.S. Army Veterinary Service working at military treatment facilities.  It does not apply to Army Veterinary Service non-appropriated fund or Department of Defense civilian contract veterinarians.