Importing your Pets
Of course you can take your pets to Spain with you but this is what you need to do.
You need to obtain a health certificate which is issued by a veterinary who has been authorised by the appropriate ministry in your country. This certificate must be issued not more than 15 days before you plan to enter Spain with your pet.
In addition to this you will need a certificate of vaccination against rabies, also issued by an authorised veterinarian. Animals less than two months old though do not need this. Animals between two and three months of age must have been vaccinated not less than one month before they are imported. Animals of three months or older must have been vaccinated not less than one month and not more than 12 months before being imported. If the animal has no anti-rabies certificate, it may be quarantined for 20 days.
Finally you will need a certificate declaring that the area in which the animal was normally kept is free from animal diseases. This certificate usually comes from your agricultural ministry.
All these certificates must be stamped and legalised by the Spanish consulate, for which they charge a small fee.
Once you have arrived, you will want to fit your pet with a new microchip with your address in Spain.
You could try looking at the
defra website which explains what you have to do to bring your pet dog, cat or ferret into (or back into) the UK through the Pet Travel Scheme (or PETS for short) without putting it into quarantine.
Pet Passport Scheme Information
This scheme has been introduced to allow certain animals (mainly dogs and cats) to travel within the EU without the need for the animals to be placed in quarantine for 6 months. In order to qualify for the Pet Passport Scheme certain steps must be followed as outlined below. All the below must be done by a registered vet.
- Have your pet microchipped by your vet
- Have your pet blood test which will ensure that the rabies vaccine has the necessary level of protection against rabies.
- Get PETS documentation - your vet will organise this for you.
- The Passport becomes valid for re-entry into the UK 6 months after date of a successful blood test result.
- Before entering the UK your pet must be treated against ticks and tapeworm between 24-48 hours before being checked in with an approved transport company for the return journey to the UK.
Please note that if you are only planning for your pet to travel to Spain and not return to the UK then the process is slightly easier. We would suggest consulting the
DEFRA website for more information on this.
This information is designed only to give an insight in to the processes involved in obtaining a Pet Passport for dogs and cats. It is in no way comprehensive and for more information it is advisable to contact
DEFRA.
Pet Travel Scheme Helpline
Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 201
1a Page Street,
London
SW1P 4PQ
Telephone: +44 (0)870 241 1710
(Monday to Friday - 8.30am to 5pmUK time)
Fax: +44 (0)20 7904 6206
This site also tells you about quarantine in the UK for animals that don’t qualify for PETS.
EU Regulation on the movement of pet animals
Pet Travel Scheme Help line:
Telephone: +44 (0)870 241 1710 (Monday to Friday - 8.30am to 5pm UK time)
Authorised Companies who will Transport Pets
Below is a list of contact details for some of the authorised travel companies – please see the DEFRA for a comprehensive list