Practical guide: documents for travelling with your pet in the EU

Scope of European regulations

EU rules allow owners to move their dogs, cats, or ferrets to another Member State as long as the journey is private and does not involve a change of ownership or a sale. This regulation applies to movements where the animal accompanies its owner or a person authorized in writing who travels within a maximum of five days of the animal's movement. Movements of five or fewer animals are not considered commercial.

Prior identification requirements

Before any other procedure, the animal must be unambiguously identified. This is achieved by implanting a transponder (microchip) in accordance with EU technical requirements or, in older cases, by a clearly legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011. It is essential that the transponder is implanted before the rabies vaccination so that the vaccine is valid and linkable to the animal.

Rabies vaccine conditions

Vaccination against rabies is mandatory and must be administered by an authorized veterinarian. The animal must be at least twelve weeks old before receiving the primary vaccination. After this first dose, it is mandatory to wait at least twenty-one days before travelling to ensure immunity development. If the animal is already vaccinated, it must be checked whether a booster vaccine is necessary; these must be applied before the previous one expires to maintain continuous protection, as otherwise it would be considered a new primary vaccination.

The European pet passport

The main document for travelling between EU countries is the European pet passport. This document follows a standard model, is issued by authorized veterinarians, and contains the animal's description, its transponder code, its medical history (including the rabies vaccine), and the owner's and veterinarian's data. It is valid as long as the health information, especially the vaccine, is up to date.

Specific requirements by destination

If the destination is Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway, or Northern Ireland, and the animal is a dog, treatment against the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis is mandatory. This treatment must be administered between 24 and 120 hours (1 to 5 days) before the journey, and its details must be recorded in the passport. This preventive measure is not necessary for direct journeys between these specific countries or for cats and ferrets.

Age and number of animals limitations

In Spain, the entry of dogs, cats, and ferrets under 15 weeks of age and unvaccinated is not authorized. The minimum age for vaccination is 12 weeks, and 21 days must pass since inoculation for the vaccine to be valid. Additionally, a traveler can transport a maximum of five companion animals. To bring more than five, it must be demonstrated that they are participating in a contest, exhibition, or sporting event and that they are over six months old.

Final verification and next step

Before travelling, the owner must confirm with the veterinarian that the post-vaccination waiting period has been met and that the passport is complete. Additionally, it is recommended to check if the destination country requires designated traveler entry points, especially when entering the EU from outside, where competent authorities will verify the identity and documents of the animal.