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Bringing a cat from the United Kingdom to Spain

Yes — taking a cat from Great Britain to Spain follows the standard EU third-country route. Your cat needs a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination with the 21-day wait after the first dose, and an animal health certificate (AHC) issued by an official vet within 10 days before entering the EU. The United Kingdom is on the EU's list of third countries under Regulation (EU) 2026/636, so there is no rabies blood test. Enter through an authorised point of entry for third-country pets.
21 days
Wait after first vaccination
Counted in full days after the rabies jab
10 days
AHC validity for EU entry
From the day the official vet issues it
No test
Rabies titer
UK is an EU-listed country — exempt
15 weeks
Practical minimum age
12 weeks to vaccinate + 21 days to wait

Step-by-step checklist

Requirements — Cat · the United Kingdom → Spain
StepWhat to doWhen
MicrochipYour cat must be microchipped before, or at the same time as, the rabies vaccination — vaccinate first and the vaccination does not count. ISO 11784/11785 chips are read across the EU; carry your own reader if the chip is not ISO. Before anything else
Rabies vaccinationVaccinate against rabies once your cat is at least 12 weeks old, with an approved inactivated or recombinant vaccine. After a first vaccination, wait at least 21 full days before travelling; on-time boosters with no break in cover need no new wait. Spain grants no exceptions for cats under 15 weeks, because a younger cat cannot have completed this sequence. At least 21 days before travel
Animal health certificate (AHC)Book an official vet (OV) to issue an AHC for this trip — GB-issued pet passports no longer work for GB residents entering the EU. One certificate covers up to 5 pets travelling together, and your vet will give you a non-commercial declaration to sign. After entry, the same AHC stays valid for 6 months of onward travel inside the EU and for re-entry to Great Britain while the vaccination remains valid. Within 10 days before you enter Spain
Enter through an authorised point of entryPets arriving from a third country must enter through a travellers' point of entry authorised by the Spanish agriculture ministry (MAPA) — for air arrivals, an authorised airport — and be declared to customs or the Guardia Civil, who read the microchip and check the certificate. Arrival

Your preparation timeline

  1. 13+ weeks out — Microchip (if needed), then rabies vaccination; start the 21-day clock
  2. 2Final 10 days — Official vet issues the animal health certificate
  3. 3Travel day — Fly or drive; keep the AHC with the person travelling with the cat
  4. 4Arrival — Chip and document check at the authorised point of entry
The mistake that causes trouble on this route: Landing at the wrong airport. Spain only accepts third-country pet arrivals at airports authorised by the agriculture ministry; a small regional airport that is not on the list can mean your cat is refused or held. Check your arrival airport is authorised before you book.

Costs you can plan for

Neither the UK nor Spain charges a government fee for this trip. The cost is your official vet's charge for issuing the AHC — vets set their own prices and GOV.UK publishes no official figure, so we do not quote one. Add the airline's or ferry's pet charge.

✈️ Government rules are only half the trip. Airlines set their own pet carriage rules (crate size, breed limits, seasonal embargoes). Re-confirm carriage with your airline after you meet the rules above.

Questions people ask about this route

Does my cat need a rabies blood test for Spain?

No. The United Kingdom is on the EU's listed third countries (Regulation (EU) 2026/636), whose pets are exempt from the antibody test and the 90-day wait that applies to non-listed countries.

Can I use my cat's EU pet passport instead of an AHC?

Not if you live in England, Scotland or Wales — GOV.UK states GB residents cannot use a pet passport to enter the EU, even one issued inside the EU. You need a fresh AHC for each trip.

Are any cat breeds restricted in Spain?

No. Spain sets no breed restrictions on cats entering the country.

How many pets can travel on one AHC?

Up to 5 pets travelling together with the same owner for non-commercial purposes. More than 5 is treated as a commercial movement with different rules.

Related guides

✓ Last verified: 2026-11-12

Official sources for this page

We check each rule against the exporting country's official page and the destination country's official page. If the two disagree, we show the disagreement instead of guessing.

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