Pet Transport from the United Kingdom to Spain

The UK-to-Spain route is one of the most popular international pet moves in Europe. Around 300,000 British nationals live in Spain, and thousands more make the move each year with dogs and cats. Since …

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Days quarantine on arrival

Airlines on this route

Step by step

The United Kingdom to Spain import process

At least 3 weeks before travel. Vaccination must be done at least 21 days before departure if it is the first dose.

Confirm microchip and rabies vaccination are current and correctly recorded

Responsible: Your UK veterinarian

4-6 weeks before travel. Ferry crossings Portsmouth/Plymouth to Santander/Bilbao fill up in summer.

Book your travel (flight cargo booking or Brittany Ferries crossing)

Responsible: You or your pet transport agent

Within 10 days of your arrival date. Book the vet appointment in advance.

Obtain your Animal Health Certificate (AHC) within 10 days of Spanish entry

Responsible: APHA-authorised veterinarian in Great Britain

Inspection at the border control post. Compliant pets are cleared quickly.

Travel day: present AHC to Spanish border vet at port or airport

Responsible: Spanish border veterinary authority

Requirements

Spain entry requirements

Every item below must be in place before your pet can enter. We verify and track each one.

Microchip

Required. ISO 11784/11785 standard (15-digit). Must be implanted before or on the same day as first rabies vaccination.

Rabies vaccination

Required. Pet must be at least 12 weeks old. 21-day wait after first vaccination before travel. Booster with no lapse in cover: no additional wait. Record must appear in AHC.

Rabies titre test

Not required for pets travelling from the UK. The UK is on the EU list of approved third countries under EU Regulation 2026/131.

Import permit

Not required for personal pet imports of dogs and cats.

Health certificate

AHC issued by APHA-authorised vet within 10 days of arrival in Spain. Valid for 4 months for onward EU travel or return trip. Covers microchip details, vaccination record, and health declaration.

Leaving United Kingdom

Export requirements

Export permit

No formal export permit required for personal pet exports from Great Britain.

Health certificate

Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian. Valid for 10 days on entry to Spain. Each trip requires a new AHC; GB-issued pet passports are no longer accepted by the EU as of April 2026.

Costs

What this route typically costs

AHC from APHA-authorised vet (typically GBP 200-400 per certificate)

Cargo fee or hold fee with airline, or Brittany Ferries pet fee (around GBP 50 each way)

IATA-compliant crate if flying cargo (required)

PPP breed municipal licence and liability insurance if pet is a restricted breed in Spain

Pet transport agent fee (optional but useful if organising first international move)

Critical points

GB-issued pet passports are no longer accepted by the EU as of 22 April 2026. You need a new AHC for every trip, even if your pet has an old-style GB passport. Book the vet appointment within the 10-day window before arrival.

If your dog is on Spain's PPP (Potentially Dangerous Dog) list, you must apply for a PPP licence within one month of arrival in Spain. The list includes Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bullmastiff, Dobermann, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu, Fila Brasileiro, Presa Canario, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, and several others. The licence requires a background check, liability insurance, and an aptitude test.

Brittany Ferries crossings to Santander and Bilbao operate once or twice per week. Book well ahead in summer. Pets travel in onboard kennels, a pet-friendly cabin (on some ships), or in your vehicle.

Airlines

Approved carriers on this route

Airline	Notes	Type
British Airways	Cargo service LHR to MAD, AGP, BCN, and other Spanish airports. Pets travel as manifested cargo via BA World Cargo. Book through a IATA-registered cargo agent. Brachycephalic breeds accepted with restrictions.	Cargo Only
Iberia	Cargo from LHR to MAD hub and domestic connections. Iberia is the largest carrier on the UK-Spain route and has well-established live animal cargo handling at Barajas.	Cargo Only
Vueling	Small pets under 8 kg (pet plus carrier) accepted in cabin on some routes. Larger pets in hold. Check current weight limits and route availability at time of booking. Low-cost carrier; pet policy can change.	Cabin and Hold

At a glance: UK to Spain vs other UK-EU moves

Requirement	UK to Spain	UK to France	UK to Italy	UK to Portugal
AHC required	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)	Yes (every trip)
Titre test	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
Quarantine	None	None	None	None
Import permit	Not required	Not required	Not required	Not required
Tapeworm treatment	Not required for Spain entry	Not required for France entry	Not required for Italy entry	Not required for Portugal entry
PPP breed rules	Yes (national PPP list)	Yes (regional BSL varies)	No national ban	No national ban
Ferry option	Yes (Brittany Ferries to Santander/Bilbao)	Yes (Dover-Calais, Portsmouth-Caen etc.)	No direct ferry from UK	No direct ferry from UK
Complexity	Low	Low	Low	Low

Note: Tapeworm treatment is required for dogs returning TO the UK (24-120 hours before UK arrival), not for entry into Spain or other EU countries.

Ferry vs flight: which works better for UK-Spain pets?

Brittany Ferries runs direct services from Portsmouth or Plymouth to Santander (northern Spain) or Bilbao (Basque Country). Crossings take 20-30 hours. Pets travel in onboard kennels, in a pet-friendly cabin on some ships, or in your vehicle during the sailing. The pet fee is around GBP 50 each way. This option suits owners who are also driving to their final destination in Spain, as you avoid the cargo system entirely and keep the pet close throughout.

For pets flying, British Airways cargo and Iberia are the main carriers on this route. Pets travel as manifested cargo in a temperature-controlled hold. A cargo agent handles the booking. The total airport-to-airport process adds several hours to what is otherwise a short flight.

Most experienced pet shippers on this route favour the Brittany Ferries option for dogs, particularly larger breeds that would travel cargo anyway.

FAQ

Common questions about this route

Yes. Since 22 April 2026, EU countries no longer recognise pet passports issued to Great Britain residents. You need an Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for every trip to Spain from Great Britain. The AHC must be issued by an APHA-authorised official veterinarian within 10 days of your arrival date in Spain. It covers your pet’s microchip details, rabies vaccination record, and a declaration of health.

No. Spain imposes no routine quarantine for compliant pets arriving from the UK. Your pet is inspected by a Spanish border vet at the port or airport. If documentation is correct and the pet is microchipped and vaccinated, the inspection is brief and your pet travels onwards with you.

No. A titre test is not required for pets travelling from the United Kingdom to Spain. The UK is on the EU list of approved third countries under Regulation 2026/131, meaning standard AHC and vaccination documentation is sufficient.

PPP stands for Perros Potencialmente Peligrosos (Potentially Dangerous Dogs). Spain classifies around 15 breeds under this system, including Pit Bull Terrier, Rottweiler, American Staffordshire Terrier, Bullmastiff, Dobermann, Dogo Argentino, Tosa Inu, and several others. If your dog is classified as PPP, you must apply for a municipal PPP licence within one month of arriving in Spain. The licence requires a background check for the owner, third-party liability insurance, and a physical and psychological aptitude test for the dog. In public, the dog must be muzzled and on a lead of no more than two metres.

Yes. Brittany Ferries accepts dogs and cats on its Portsmouth-Santander and Plymouth-Bilbao routes. Depending on the ship, your pet can travel in onboard kennels, a pet-friendly cabin, or remain in your vehicle during the crossing. The pet fee is around GBP 50 each way. Crossings operate once or twice per week and take 20-30 hours. This is a popular option for owners driving to Spain who want to avoid the cargo system entirely.

Airline guides

Breed guides

Check breed-specific airline rules and country bans.

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