Tips for traveling with pets

Now that the summer holidays are approaching, it is convenient for all citizens to be aware of the requirements they must meet to travel with their animals outside of Spain. In this case, we will focus on European destinations, to which Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL, of June 12, 2013, regarding non-commercial movements of pets and repealing Regulation (EC) No 998/2003

Said regulation establishes the animal health requirements applicable to non-commercial movements of companion animals, as well as the compliance standards for the control of said movements, meaning “movements” as those made to a Member State, from another Member State or from a territory or a third country, and by “non-commercial purpose” any movement that does not pursue the sale or transfer of ownership of a pet (such as vacation trips).

In general, any citizen of the European Union can travel freely with their animal (understood in this case by “pet or companion animal” for the purposes of the regulation, only dogs, cats and ferrets) (Annex I of the Regulation), as long as the animal has a European passport for pets, issued by a duly authorized veterinarian and in which the anti-rabies vaccination data is recorded, and is duly identified by means of an electronic microchip or a legible tattoo applied before the 3rd of July 2011, with the same code that appears in the passport.

For other animals, such as rabbits, guinea pigs or canaries, and for dogs, cats and ferrets under 3 months of age (which therefore have not yet been vaccinated against rabies), internal regulations should be consulted on a case-by-case basis. Of each country.

(i) the location of the microchip or tattoo, the date of application and its alphanumeric code;
(ii) the name, species, breed, sex, color, date of birth indicated by the owner, and any other notable or distinctive features or characteristics of the pet;
(iii) name and contact details of the owner and his signature;
(iv) name, contact details and signature of the authorized veterinarian issuing or completing the identification document;
(v) details about rabies vaccination;
(vi) date of taking the blood sample for the rabies antibody titration test;
(vii) compliance with preventive health measures against diseases or infections other than rabies;
(viii) any other pertinent information regarding the health status of the animal.

Before your pet can travel, it must be vaccinated against rabies by a licensed veterinarian. For the vaccination to be valid, your pet must be at least 12 weeks old and microchipped before being vaccinated. Your pet cannot travel before 21 days after completing the vaccination protocol. You must ensure that all additional vaccinations are given before the previous ones expire.

In addition to the standard requirements (microchip, rabies vaccination, Echinococcus tapeworm treatment where necessary, EU veterinary health certificate), your pet must be tested for rabies antibodies 30 days after rabies vaccination and no less than 3 months before departure to the EU. A blood sample must be taken by an authorized veterinarian for analysis in an EU-approved blood analysis laboratory.

The results of the rabies antibody test must be attached to the EU Veterinary Health Certificate for your pet.

You can enter the EU with your pet through a passenger checkpoint in the EU country of destination, where the competent authorities will verify your pet’s documents and identity. If the pet does not pass these compliance checks, it may be returned to the country of origin, quarantined until it meets EU health standards, or if neither of these options is possible, the animal may be euthanized.

European pet passports are only issued for dogs, cats, and ferrets. If you are traveling to another EU country with other pets, such as birds, aquatic ornamental plants, reptiles, rodents or rabbits, please check the national rules of the country you plan to visit for information on entry requirements.

Regarding the anti-rabies vaccine, it is required:

  • The vaccine has been administered by a licensed veterinarian
  • The companion animal was at least 12 weeks old on the date
  • The vaccination was administered
  • The veterinarian indicates the official date of administration of the vaccine in the corresponding section of the passport
  • The date of administration of the vaccine is not earlier than the date of reading the microchip or tattoo
  • The validity period of the vaccination begins with the establishment of protective immunity, so it cannot be less than 21 days from the completion of the vaccination protocol required by the manufacturer for primary vaccination.
  • The veterinarian who administered the vaccine must indicate the validity period of the vaccine in the corresponding section of the passport.
    In addition to the rabies vaccine, to travel with pets to Finland, Ireland, Malta or the United Kingdom, the veterinarian must have administered a treatment against the Echinococcus tapeworm to the animal, within a period of no more than 120 hours and no less than 24 hours. hours before the expected time of entry into one of these four countries, which the veterinarian must record in the corresponding passport.

Some countries accept the entry of pets that travel with an age of less than 12 weeks and therefore have not yet received the rabies vaccine or that are between 12 and 16 weeks old and despite being vaccinated, are not fully protected, depending on whether the animal comes from another Member State or from a third country.