Skip to main content

U.S. flag An official website of the United States government

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture
USDA FAQ's and resources about coronavirus (COVID-19).  LEARN MORE

Pet Travel from the U.S. to Spain

Last Modified: Jul 2, 2021
Print

This country allows USDA Accredited Veterinarians to use USDA’s online Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) to complete health certificates.

Save Time and Money!
USDA Accredited Veterinarian Signature Electronic Signature Accepted
USDA APHIS Veterinary Medical Officer Signature Digital Endorsement NOT Accepted
The health certificate bears the original ink signature and embossed seal
Before going to VEHCS: Scroll below this banner to view animal-specific requirements.

To process some health certificates, VEHCS may need the USDA Accredited Veterinarian to upload the completed fillable PDF version found below. Either save a copy of the PDF below, or return to this page for the health certificate, if prompted by VEHCS.
USDA Accredited Veterinarians, log in here if you wish to use VEHCS.
USDA Accredited Veterinarians, help with using VEHCS is available on the VEHCS Help Page. To walk yourself through issuing a health certificate in VEHCS, click here.
NOTE:The printed paper endorsed health certificate must accompany each shipment. You can arrange to have your endorsed health certificate returned via pick-up or by mail (a pre-paid, pre-addressed return label must be provided during certificate submission).

View a list of European Union countries. 

Does the pet have an EU Pet Passport?

  • YES, the pet has an EU Pet Passport.  Please view the following webpage for more information on the EU Pet Passport and to determine if the pet’s EU Passport is still valid.
  • NO, the pet DOES NOT have an EU Pet Passport.  Please follow the requirements listed in the steps below.
  • 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.

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.

*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.


The EU health certificate is valid for travel within the EU for up to 4 months from the date it is issued by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian as long as the rabies vaccine documented on it does not expire.

After entering the EU, dogs subsequently traveling to Ireland, Finland, Malta, or Norway will need to be treated for tapeworms by an EU veterinarian within 1-5 days before entering those countries. The EU veterinarian will add the tapeworm treatment information to the EU health certificate issued in the United States. It is your responsibility to ensure your pet meets the import requirements of each country you visit.

  • The pet rabbit must travel accompanied by its owner or the owner’s representative.
  • The pet rabbit must have been examined and the health certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 5 days of leaving the United States.
  • Only one pet rabbit may be listed on each health certificate.
  • USDA endorsement (counter-sign and emboss/stamp) of the health certificate is required after it has been issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian.

International Health Certificate

  • The pet reptile must travel accompanied by its owner or the owner’s representative.
  • The pet reptile must have been examined and the health certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 5 days of leaving the United States.
  • Only one pet reptile may be listed on each health certificate. 
  • USDA endorsement (counter-sign and emboss/stamp) of the health certificate is required after it has been issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian.

International Health Certificate

Please make sure you read all requirements for taking pet birds to the European Union (EU). 

The following applies to pet birds traveling to the EU in a group of five or less. 

  • Identification of the pet birds
    • Pet birds must have an identification number such as a clip, leg band, microchip (transponder), or tag; or
    • If the pet birds will be moved to an approved quarantine establishment (Option 3 below), a description of the birds is sufficient. In this case however, the pet birds must be sealed by APHIS in their container, and the seal number recorded on the health certificate.
  • The 4 options for preparation of pet birds for export to the EU are listed below.  Select the applicable option to obtain a relevant health certificate.
  • For all 4 options, pet birds must be examined, and an EU health certificate issued by a USDA Accredited Veterinarian within 48 hours of travel or the last working day prior to the date of departure to the EU. After your USDA Accredited Veterinarian issues the certificate, it must be endorsed by the USDA APHIS.
  • Note: If the pet birds will eventually return to the United States, some requirements for the return may need to be met before export to the EU.

The pet bird was isolated from other birds under the USDA Accredited Veterinarian’s supervision for at least 30 days prior to leaving the United States.

Veterinary Health Certificate for Pet Birds Option 1 - CLICK HERE 

The pet bird was isolated from other birds for at least 14 days prior to leaving the United States AND tested for Avian Influenza H5 and H7 antigens or genomes with a virus isolation or RT-PCR test. Regardless of test type used, both a cloacal swab and an oropharyngeal swab must be taken by the USDA Accredited Veterinarian at least 7 days after the 14-day isolation starts.  Testing must occur at a National Animal Health Laboratory Network (NAHLN) approved laboratory for Avian Influenza.

NOTE: the day isolation begins is considered DAY 0.

Veterinary Health Certificate for Pet Birds Option 2 - CLICK HERE 

To use OPTION 3, the owner must:

  • Make arrangements in advance for the pet bird to be quarantined for at least 30 days at an approved quarantine establishment upon arrival in the EU;
  • Provide documentary evidence that such arrangements have been made.
Veterinary Health Certificate for Pet Birds Option 3 - CLICK HERE 

To use OPTION 4, the owner must:

  • Request and be granted permission to deviate from the standard requirements described by the options above;
    • Note: This permission comes from the government of the destination country, NOT the USDA.
  • Provide documentary evidence that this permission/derogation has been granted.
Veterinary Health Certificate for Pet Birds Option 4 - CLICK HERE 

Do you plan to bring your birds back to the U.S. after your visit to the EU? 

View requirements for pet birds returning to the U.S.

For pet travel requirements not listed, APHIS has not been officially informed by the foreign country about the requirements for your pet’s travel. We recommended that you contact a government official of the country you are traveling to for more information.

Country of destination contact information:  


Considerations for airline travel:

Airlines may have separate and additional requirements. Check with your airline to determine what requirements they may have, if any. 

Additional information for pet owners, airlines, and others about APHIS endorsement of international health certificates.

View requirements for returning to the US with your pet


Complementary Content
${loading}