What You Must Do to Move to Spain with Your Pet
New EU rules came into force on 22 April 2026. If you are planning to move from the UK to Spain and want to bring your pets, the rules have changed significantly. EU pet passports are no longer valid for UK residents — even if yours was issued by an EU vet. This guide covers everything you need to know: what has changed, the new paperwork required, costs, timings, and how Matthew James Removals Spain can help you coordinate your move.
Important: From 22 April 2026, UK residents can no longer use EU pet passports to take dogs, cats or ferrets into Spain or any EU country — regardless of when the passport was issued. The replacement document is an Animal Health Certificate (AHC). Using a pet passport after this date may result in your pet being refused entry at the Spanish border.
What has changed and why
The EU’s Animal Health Law (Regulation EU 2016/429) was passed a decade ago with a ten-year transition period that ended on 22 April 2026. Its purpose is to standardise and tighten rules around pet movement across EU borders.
The most significant consequence for UK residents is that EU pet passports — which many people living in Great Britain had been obtaining from vets in France, Ireland or other EU countries since Brexit as a convenient workaround — are now formally invalid for travel from the UK into the EU.
EU pet passports are now legally reserved for owners whose main, habitual residence is within the European Union. UK residents who happen to hold one can no longer use it to enter the EU with their pet. The APHA confirmed this position on 17 April 2026 — just five days before the deadline — after months of uncertainty.
This change is particularly important for people who are relocating permanently to Spain. Matthew James Removals Spain handles international removals across Spain and this guide is designed to give you complete clarity on what is required before your move date.
The replacement document: Animal Health Certificate (AHC)
The Animal Health Certificate is now the mandatory document for any UK resident moving a dog, cat or ferret from Great Britain into Spain or any EU country.
Key facts about the AHC:
- Must be issued by an authorised Official Veterinarian (OV) — not all vets hold this accreditation
- Must be issued no more than 10 days before your pet arrives in Spain
- Is single-use — valid for one trip from the UK to the EU only
- Once inside the EU, valid for up to four months of onward travel between EU countries
- Covers the return journey to Great Britain within the same four-month window
- Costs approximately £90–£200 depending on provider
How to get an Animal Health Certificate: step by step
Step 1: Microchip your pet first
Your pet must have an ISO-compliant microchip, and it must be implanted before the rabies vaccination is administered. This sequencing is critical — if the microchip is inserted after the vaccination, border authorities consider the vaccination invalid and the entire process must restart.
Step 2: Ensure a valid rabies vaccination
Every EU country requires a valid, in-date rabies vaccination. If it is your pet’s first rabies jab, you must wait a full 21 days before your pet can travel to Spain. Boosters given on time before the previous vaccination expired are effective immediately. If a booster was missed and the vaccination lapsed, the 21-day waiting period resets — plan your timeline accordingly.
Step 3: Book an Official Veterinarian appointment
Only an Official Veterinarian (OV) — a vet with government-authorised accreditation — can issue an AHC. Many standard veterinary practices do not hold this accreditation. Use the APHA Official Vet finder on GOV.UK to find an accredited vet. Book well ahead, particularly between May and September when appointments fill quickly.
Step 4: Get the AHC within 10 days of your travel date
Timing is critical. The AHC must be issued no earlier than 10 days before your pet enters Spain. If your move date is 1 May, your AHC appointment must be on or after 21 April. Getting this wrong means the certificate is invalid at the border.
Important for Matthew James Removals clients:
Your AHC issue date must fall within 10 days of when your pet physically crosses into Spain — not the date your furniture and belongings are collected in the UK. These are often different days. Contact our team to align your removal schedule with your vet appointment window before booking.
Step 5: Enter Spain through an approved Travellers’ Point of Entry
Your pet must arrive at an official Travellers’ Point of Entry (TPOE) — a designated crossing or port where veterinary checks can be carried out. Not all airports, ports or road crossings are approved. Verify your specific entry point before booking your route.
Travelling without the owner?
If someone else will travel with your pet rather than you, they must carry a signed written permission letter from you. Your own journey must take place within five days of the pet’s travel date.
Costs to budget for
Pet relocation costs should be factored into your overall moving budget separately from your removal to Spain quote. The key costs are:
Item |
Approximate cost |
|---|---|
Animal Health Certificate — specialist AHC provider |
£90 – £120 |
Animal Health Certificate — standard vet practice |
£100 – £200+ |
Microchipping (if not already done) |
£20 – £40 |
Rabies vaccination |
£50 – £90 |
Tapeworm treatment for dogs (return to UK) |
£15 – £30 |
Complete requirements: what your pet needs to move to Spain from the UK
The following three requirements are universal — Spain and every EU destination requires all three before your pet will be permitted entry from the UK:
- ISO-compliant microchip — implanted before the rabies vaccination
- Valid, in-date rabies vaccination — recorded in official documentation; 21-day wait required after first vaccination
- Animal Health Certificate (AHC) — issued within 10 days of EU entry by an Official Veterinarian
Spain-specific rule for young pets:
Spain does not permit entry of pets under 15 weeks of age. If you have a young animal, plan your relocation timeline carefully — you may need to wait until the animal is old enough and the vaccination has been effective for 21 days before travel.
What about the Canary Islands and the Balearic Islands?
The same AHC documentation covers mainland Spain, the Canary Islands (including Tenerife, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura and Gran Canaria) and the Balearic Islands (including Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza). No additional documentation is required for island destinations within Spain. If flying to the islands, note that some airlines have limited hold capacity for pets — book well in advance and confirm your arrival airport is an approved entry point.
Returning to the UK from Spain with your pet
The rules for bringing pets back to Great Britain remain unchanged. Your AHC covers the return journey, provided you return within the four-month validity window and the rabies vaccination has not expired.
For dogs returning to the UK, tapeworm treatment must be administered by a vet between 24 and 120 hours (one to five days) before your arrival in Great Britain, and recorded in the AHC documentation. Mistiming this treatment is one of the most common causes of delays at UK ports — do not leave it to the day of travel.
Pre-move checklist
- Confirm your pet is microchipped — and that the chip was implanted before the rabies vaccination
- Check your pet’s rabies vaccination date and confirm it will be in date at the time of travel
- If it is a first vaccination, allow at least 21 clear days before your travel date
- Find and book an Official Veterinarian — no earlier than 10 days before your move date
- Confirm your AHC issue date aligns with when your pet physically enters Spain — not your UK collection date
- Confirm your entry route uses an approved Travellers’ Point of Entry for pets
- If someone else will travel with your pet, prepare a signed owner permission letter
- Budget for the AHC cost (£90–£200) per trip, separately from your removal costs
- If your dog will return to the UK, plan the tapeworm treatment for 1–5 days before UK arrival
- Contact Matthew James Removals Spain to align your removal date with your vet appointment window
Frequently asked questions
Can I still use my EU pet passport to move my pet from the UK to Spain?
No. From 22 April 2026, EU pet passports are no longer valid for UK residents travelling from Great Britain to Spain or any EU country — even if the passport was issued by an EU vet before this date. Official government guidance states that using a pet passport after this date may result in your pet being refused entry. You must obtain an Animal Health Certificate for each trip.
How much does an Animal Health Certificate cost?
An AHC costs approximately £90–£200 per pet per trip depending on whether you use a specialist AHC provider or a standard vet practice. It must be issued by an Official Veterinarian no earlier than 10 days before travel and cannot be reused. Every trip from the UK to Spain requires a new certificate.
How long does an Animal Health Certificate last?
The AHC must be used to enter Spain within 10 days of being issued. Once inside the EU, it remains valid for up to four months for onward travel and for returning to Great Britain. It cannot be used for a second departure from the UK — a new certificate is required each time.
Does my pet need a rabies vaccination to move to Spain?
Yes. Spain requires a valid, in-date rabies vaccination. If it is your pet’s first vaccination, you must wait 21 days after the jab before travelling. The microchip must be implanted before the vaccination — if the order is reversed, the vaccination is considered invalid for EU travel purposes.
Can I still use my EU pet passport to bring my pet back to the UK from Spain?
Yes. The rules for re-entering the UK have not changed. Your AHC covers the return journey within the four-month validity window. The new restriction only applies to the outbound journey departing from Great Britain.
What does Matthew James Removals Spain do to help with pet travel?
Matthew James Removals Spain specialises in international removals to Spain and can help coordinate your removal timeline so your pet’s AHC documentation window aligns correctly with your travel date. The 10-day window must match when your pet crosses the border — which is often a different day from when your belongings are collected in the UK. Get in touch to discuss your move.
Will UK pet passports come back for travel to Spain?
In May 2025, the UK and EU began discussions about reinstating a UK pet passport scheme similar to the pre-Brexit system — reusable, multi-trip, and valid as long as the rabies vaccination remains current. No timeline has been confirmed. Until an official announcement is made, every trip requires a new Animal Health Certificate. Follow our blog for updates.
Planning a move to Spain with pets? Talk to Matthew James Removals Spain
Matthew James Removals Spain specialises in removals across mainland Spain, the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands. Our team can help you plan the logistics of your move, including timing your AHC appointment relative to your move date, confirming entry routes, and ensuring your entire household — including your pets — arrives safely and on schedule.
Get a free removal quote or complete our online self survey to get started.
This article reflects EU pet travel rules in force from 22 April 2026. Pet travel regulations are subject to change — always verify current requirements with GOV.UK and the official veterinary authority of Spain before travel. Matthew James Removals Spain is an international removal company and this article does not constitute veterinary advice.
