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Traveling with our beloved pets is a different experience in itself, especially when traveling abroad, there are many rules and procedures that we need to pay attention to. I will try to give you all the information you need to travel to Spain with your pet.
Things to Do Before Traveling
First and foremost, I recommend starting preparations at least three months in advance if you plan to travel to Spain with your pet. Veterinary check-ups, vaccinations, and document preparations take time, so it’s important not to rush this process—we experienced similar situations with our cat.
To enter Spain, your pet must have a microchip. If your pet doesn’t already have one, this should be your first step. Once the microchip is implanted, the rabies vaccination needs to be administered, followed by starting the passport process.
Required Documents and Health Conditions
Here are the essential documents you need to have with you when traveling to Spain with your pet:
EU pet passport: This is actually the classic passport of the pet, make sure that all vaccinations are recorded in it.
Microchip: Pets cannot go abroad without a microchip. Therefore, make sure that they have a microchip and that it matches the passport. Our microchip was scanned and compared with the documents upon entry to Spain.
Vaccinations: Make sure that all vaccinations, such as internal and external parasites, are done on time. Although our vaccinations were recent, we renewed them and went to the district agriculture in this way.
Current rabies vaccination certificate (Rabies titration test): Blood is first taken for this test and this sample is sent to Ankara. The response may vary between 1 and 3 months, it came to us 1 month later. It would be a good idea to complete this process before the travel date.
General health report: Some places say that such a document is required, but this is not true, it is enough to get the document below.
Before the trip: You go to the nearest provincial or district agricultural directorate with your rabies titration test and your pet 48 hours before the flight to get a travel document. This costs around 2,300 TL. The document is valid for 48 hours, after which it becomes invalid.
Special Rules for Dogs
There are some additional rules that dog owners should be aware of. Special permits may be required for dogs classified as particularly dangerous breeds. Additional documents and special insurance are required for breeds such as Pitbulls and Rottweilers to enter Spain.
Special Rules for Cats
Things are a little easier when traveling with cats. There are no additional requirements other than the basic documents. However, if you are going to travel on a plane, I recommend that you learn the airline’s cat cabin rules in advance. For example, breeds such as Van Cats cannot leave the country.
Things to Consider During Flight
To ensure a comfortable journey with your pet, you need to make some preparations in advance. First, thoroughly check your airline’s pet policy. While some airlines allow pets in the cabin, others only permit transport in the cargo hold. The cargo hold is, of course, out of the question for many pet owners, but Pegasus and Turkish Airlines are quite flexible in this regard.
If you are traveling with your pet in the cabin, you’ll need to get a carrier that meets the airline’s specified dimensions. The carrier should have good ventilation and enough space for your pet to move comfortably inside. We flew with Pegasus and after purchasing our own tickets, we informed the call center that we would be flying with our cat and paid an additional fee of around 50€.
Traveling by Plane with a Cat
We were not sure whether Mr. Münir would be able to stay calm. Therefore, we consulted the vet and started giving him a sedative herbal pill a week before, but it was not very effective. Afterwards, on the advice of a friend who had gone through a similar process, we took Sedapet with us just in case. However, we were told many times that this is a strong sedative, so if you are considering using it, be sure to do this under veterinary supervision.
Although we were told we could give 0.5mg, we gave 0.3mg before boarding, which would be much less. Mr. Münir slept next to us throughout the flight, extremely calm and docile.
*If you are considering giving your pet Sedapet or any other sedative, be sure to consult your veterinarian, considering the possible side effects.
Life with Pets in Spain
Spain is a pet-friendly country, especially in big cities, many parks, cafes and restaurants accept pets. However, there may be some restrictions on public transport, this does not apply to Barcelona. You can travel with your pets on the metro and buses without any problems.
Veterinary and Emergencies
I recommend that you research veterinary clinics in the area where you will be staying in Spain in advance. It is important to know where to go in case of an emergency. It would also be wise to have pet insurance. Additionally, you may want to review the article Cost of Living in Barcelona for average pet care costs in Barcelona.
