Taking your dog or cat to Spain from the UK: dated AHC timeline
Spain — mainland, Balearics and Canaries — is one of the busiest UK to EU pet routes. Enter your travel date below and get the exact dates to book, working backward from your trip.
Entry requirements for pets travelling to Spain
- Your pet needs an ISO-compliant microchip, implanted before their rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination must be at least 21 clear days old before travel (first travel-eligible day is day 22 after the injection).
- The AHC must be issued by an Official Vet (OV) no more than 10 days before you travel.
- No inbound tapeworm treatment is required to enter Spain — including its Balearic and Canary Islands. This rule only applies to Finland, Ireland, Malta and Norway.
- Dogs do need a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before you cross back into the UK — this applies on every return route, including from Spain.
AHC timeline calculator — Spain
Destination is preselected to Spain. Dogs, cats and ferrets.
Spain — frequently asked questions
Does my dog need tapeworm treatment to enter Spain?
No. Spain does not require tapeworm treatment before arrival. Your dog does still need a vet-administered tapeworm treatment 24-120 hours before you return to the UK.
How far in advance can I get my pet's AHC for a flight to Spain?
No more than 10 days before travel — the AHC is only legally valid for that window. AHC Ready recommends booking within an 8-day window before your Spain flight to leave a 2-day safety buffer.
Do the Balearic and Canary Islands have the same pet travel rules as mainland Spain?
Yes. The Balearic Islands (Mallorca, Ibiza, Menorca) and the Canary Islands follow the same EU pet-travel rules as mainland Spain — same AHC, rabies-wait and tapeworm-before-UK-return requirements.