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Bringing Your Dog to Spain From the U.S. (2026)

To take a pet dog from the U.S. to Spain, it needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination given at 12 weeks or older and at least 21 days before travel, and an EU health certificate from a USDA-accredited vet, endorsed by USDA within 10 days of your arrival. Spain also requires you to arrive through one of its designated points of entry, which include the airports of Madrid, Barcelona, Málaga, Valencia and Palma, and to declare your dog to the Guardia Civil. Spain's ministry says the certificate must be in Spanish, while APHIS's EU form is in English, so confirm how to meet that before you go.

Last verified against official sources

Step by step

  1. ISO microchip. Your dog needs a working microchip, ideally ISO-compliant (usually 15 digits), implanted before its rabies vaccination. The vet must scan it before vaccinating.
  2. Rabies vaccination, at 12 weeks old or older. After a first (primary) vaccination, wait at least 21 days, or the vaccine maker's immunity period, before you travel. For dogs vaccinated in the U.S., a primary vaccination counts for only 1 year for EU travel, even if it's a 3-year vaccine.
  3. EU health certificate. A USDA-accredited vet issues the EU non-commercial health certificate and submits it to USDA. It's valid for 30 days after your vet issues it, and USDA must endorse it within 10 days of your dog's arrival.
  4. Sign the declaration on the certificate's last page. It travels with your dog and the certificate.
  5. Arrive through a designated point of entry and declare your dog to the Guardia Civil, showing its documents (see below).

The EU introduced new health certificates on October 1, 2026. Certificates on the old form still count for entry only if they were issued before that date.

How USDA endorsement works is in our USDA health certificate guide. Our trip checker works out the date for each step from your flight.

Sources: Pet Travel From the United States to Spain (USDA APHIS), Bringing a pet into the EU from a non-EU country (European Commission), Travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

Arriving in Spain

Dogs coming from outside the EU must enter Spain through one of the travellers' points of entry on the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture's list, and you must declare your dog to the Guardia Civil's customs office and show its documents there. The list (updated June 2, 2026) includes these airports, among others:

  • Madrid (listed as the airport's air cargo center)
  • Barcelona (Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat)
  • Málaga
  • Valencia (Manises)
  • Palma de Mallorca (Son Sant Joan)

Check the official list for your airport before you book.

If your dog doesn't meet the rules, the options listed for these points of entry are sending it back, isolation, or euthanasia.

Sources: Travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), List of travellers' points of entry for pets (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food)

Spain's paperwork rules

  • The health certificate must be presented at least in Spanish, Spain's ministry says. The EU certificate APHIS provides for U.S. dogs is in English. Ask your USDA-accredited vet, APHIS or a Spanish consulate how to meet this before you travel.
  • Bring a certified copy of your dog's identification and vaccination records along with the certificate and declaration.
  • At most 5 pets can travel with you, unless they're going to a documented competition, exhibition or sporting event.
  • Flying to the Canary Islands? APHIS has a separate page for them: check it for your trip.

Sources: Travelling with dogs, cats and ferrets (Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food), EU non-commercial health certificate for pet dogs, cats and ferrets (USDA APHIS), Pet Travel From the United States to Spain (USDA APHIS)

Traveling on to other EU countries

The EU health certificate covers travel into other EU countries for up to 6 months from the day your dog enters the EU, as long as its rabies vaccination stays valid. Dogs going on to Finland, Ireland, Malta or Norway need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before entering. See our pet passport guide for how EU pet passports fit in.

Source: Pet Travel From the United States to Spain (USDA APHIS)

Coming back to the U.S.

Your dog needs a CDC Dog Import Form receipt to come home, like every dog entering the U.S. See our CDC Dog Import Form guide.

Source: CDC Dog Import Form and Instructions (CDC)

Before you go

Entry rules change, sometimes with little notice. This page summarizes the official pages below as of September 28, 2026. Confirm the current requirements with your vet, USDA APHIS and your airline before you travel.

Want these steps with dates? Enter your flight in our trip checker for a checklist worked back from your travel date, and whether your dog fits your airline's cabin rules.

Flying there? Compare airline pet policies. For how USDA endorsement works, see ourUSDA health certificate guide.