European Union pet owners are now required to have pet passports when travelling.  This passport includes the pet’s microchip or tattoo number for identification, as well as other data such as records of all vaccinations and clinical examinations.

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When travelling, the pet owner must ensure that the rabies vaccination in the passport is valid or else renew the pet’s vaccination.

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The European Pet Travel Scheme, which covers cats, dog,  ferrets, rabbits and rodents, provides proof that the animal has been vaccinated against rabies. The passport also sets out details of the pet’s tick and tapeworm treatment.

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The EU Pet Passport contains the following information:

• Name and address of the animal owner

• Description of the animal (breed, sex, age, colour)

• Number of the microchip

• Date of the rabies vaccination, period of validity of the vaccination, type of vaccine, name of manufacturer and production number

• Address and signature of the veterinarian

Unvaccinated dogs and cats less than three months old may enter a EU country, but there are additional regulations that must be met. 

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There are no "banned" dog breeds in Spain, however, dogs considered aggressive, including Staffordshire Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier, Dogo Argentino, Akita Inu, Tosa Inu, Rottweiler do come with additional responsibilities:

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• The dogs must be registered with the local council

• The dog must have third-party liability insurance covering dog attacks

• The dog must be on a lead and muzzled at all times in a public place

• Potentially dangerous dog breeds flying into Spain must be muzzled during the post-entry check

• If the dog is off the lead at home, the pet parent must make safety arrangements to ensure the dog stays within the home/garden area

• If the dog is lost or stolen, it must be immediately communicated to the local authorities

 

All other pets (birds, invertebrates, tropical fish, reptiles, amphibians, mammals such as rodents and rabbits) are not subject to the regulations on the anti-rabies vaccination but may have to meet other requirements as to a limit on the number of animals and a certificate with respect to other diseases.

 

Before travelling, pet owners are strongly advised to seek further information from the relevant authority in their country.

Pet insurance protects against unexpected vet bills in case of an injury or illness, but not all policies are the same.  Below are important things to consider:

• Does the policy cover all chronic, congenital and hereditary conditions?

• Is there a time or price limit on treatment per condition?

• How well established is the company? How is it rated?

• Ask our Mallorca Expats Facebook community for some popular pet insurance providers or visit Seguros Vetinarious (price comparison site)

Airlines generally insist that you use a special travelling ventilated container that allows the animal room to move and lie down.

 

Label your pet’s kennel carefully and prominently so it won’t get lost during transit. You’ll also need to ensure that your pet has adequate food and water for the journey.

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The rules regarding approved types of containers for cats, dogs, ferrets and birds flying in the cabin or as cargo were created by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and can be found here