General Requirements imports of dogs, cats and ferrets into Spain

The following rules apply to the non-commercial importation into Spain of pet animals exclusively from the United States or Canada. Please read also the section relevant to your specific animal. (The requirements to bring animals into the U.S. are available online at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's web site)

Please note: The regulations governing the entry of pet animals into Spain will change as of October 1 , 2004. If you plan to travel to Spain on or after October 1, 2004, please check the new regulations.

Travelers with Continental Airlines: the airline informs that it does not transport pets to Spain.

The animals must be accompanied by their owners or their owners’ duly authorized representatives. In addition, the animal will be accompanied by a certificate, signed by the owner, stating the following:

• The animals have been kept under their owners’ supervision for at least three months prior to their introduction in Spain or since birth in case of animals younger than three months (cats and dogs younger than three months will not be admitted)
• The animals are not intended for trade, and the owner(s) or their representative(s) agree to the all veterinary checks deemed necessary by the Spanish Veterinary Services, to be performed at the consigned address(es), in accordance with the rules in force regarding animal health.

Click here to obtain the certificate form in PDF format.

(In order to print the certificate, you will need to install Acrobat Reader, available for free at Adobe's web site).

Please be aware that if your animal belongs to an exotic species, it might be protected by international agreements. In the case of exotic species, it is advisable to check if the animal is listed by the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES), in which case the animal's international travel may be restricted or even banned. When in doubt, please check.

The contact information for CITES is: