Pets
Spain’s animal welfare law in 2026: what pet owners must know
Spain’s animal welfare law for pet owners in 2026: microchips, time-alone limits, dog insurance status, Andalucía rules and bringing pets to Spain.
Updated: October 2026
Moving to Spain with a dog or cat, or thinking of adopting one once you are settled? Spain’s national animal welfare law has applied since 2023, and in Andalucía older regional rules still sit on top of it. This guide explains what owners must do today, which headline rules are still waiting for regulations, and how to bring a pet into Spain from the EU, the UK or elsewhere.
Ley 7/2023 in a nutshell
Ley 7/2023 on the protection of the rights and welfare of animals took effect on 29 September 2023. It sets minimum standards across Spain for companion animals, while regional laws continue to apply alongside it. The Ministry of Social Rights publishes a questions-and-answers guide to the law (in Spanish) that is worth keeping to hand.
Not every animal is treated the same. Bullfighting falls outside the law, and dogs used for hunting and certain other working activities were excluded from its scope after a long political debate, so they remain mainly under regional rules.
Everyday obligations for owners
- Microchip: dogs, cats and ferrets must be identified with a microchip by a vet and registered to you. Pet birds must be ringed.
- Time alone: a dog may not be left without supervision for more than 24 consecutive hours; for other companion animals, including cats, the limit is three consecutive days. A relative, neighbour or paid pet sitter can provide the supervision.
- Cats: cats must be sterilised before six months of age, unless a vet gives a justified reason not to. Cats kept for registered breeding are treated differently.
- Breeding at home: anyone breeding, even occasionally, has to be registered as a breeder and record the breeding animal in the official register.
- Buying a pet: online purchases from unregistered sellers are not allowed. Since the transition period ended on 29 September 2024, pet shops can no longer sell dogs, cats and ferrets – buy from a registered breeder or adopt from a shelter.
- Town hall rules: many ayuntamientos also run a municipal pet census and set by-laws on leads, mess and beaches. Some coastal towns, especially on the Costa del Sol, have designated dog beaches.
Dog insurance and the owner course: status in October 2026
These are the two points that cause most confusion. Both are written into the law, but both depend on an implementing regulation (reglamento) that sets the details.
- Third-party liability insurance: the law says dog owners must hold insurance for damage their dog causes to others, with the minimum cover to be fixed by regulation. Shortly before the law took effect in September 2023, the ministry stated that the insurance would not be compulsory until that regulation is developed. As of early October 2026, three years later, it still has not been published, so there is no general fine for not having it.
- Free dog-owner course: the law foresees a free online course, with no expiry date, for anyone who wants to own a dog. A draft royal decree proposes a minimum of four hours on an online platform, with six months to complete it once the platform launches. The decree has not been approved yet, so the course cannot be demanded in practice.
Our advice is still to have cover. A regional or local rule can require it, many rental contracts and communities ask for it, and an accident without insurance can be expensive. Many home insurance policies already include pet liability or can add it for a small extra cost – ask your insurer to confirm in writing. See our guide to insurance in Spain.
Andalucía: registry and dangerous dogs
Andalucía still has its own animal protection law, Ley 11/2003, which applies together with the national law. A new regional law has been discussed for years but has not replaced it.
The RAIA pet register
In Andalucía, pets are registered in the RAIA, the regional companion animal register run with the Andalusian council of veterinary colleges. Any authorised vet can microchip your dog, cat or ferret and enter it in the RAIA. Puppies must be chipped before they are three months old. If you move to Andalucía with a pet chipped in another region or country, ask a local vet to add it to the RAIA, and update your details whenever you change address or phone number.
Potentially dangerous dogs (PPP)
Owners of dogs classed as potentially dangerous (perros potencialmente peligrosos) need a licence from their town hall under Decreto 42/2008. Unlike the general dog insurance, these rules are fully in force:
- Who can apply: adults with no relevant criminal record or recent sanctions, and a psychological and physical fitness report from an authorised medical centre.
- Insurance: third-party liability insurance with at least 175,000 euros of cover per incident.
- Validity: the licence lasts five years and can be renewed.
- In public: a suitable muzzle and a non-extendable lead of no more than one metre, one dog per person, and the handler must carry the licence and registration document.
Fines and offences
The national law sets three levels of administrative fines:
| Level | Fine | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Minor (leve) | Warning or 500 – 10,000 euros | Leaving a cat alone for more than three days without harm |
| Serious (grave) | 10,001 – 50,000 euros | The same, if the animal suffers harm |
| Very serious (muy grave) | 50,001 – 200,000 euros | The most serious breaches of the law |
Regional and municipal fines can apply on top, and serious cruelty is a criminal offence that can lead to prison. If you see an animal being mistreated or in danger, call 112 or contact the local police or the Guardia Civil’s SEPRONA unit.
Bringing a pet to Spain
From another EU country
Dogs, cats and ferrets need a microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and an EU pet passport issued by a vet. You can travel with up to five pets; more than that is only allowed for competitions or shows. If someone else travels with your pet, you must authorise them in writing and be reunited with the animal within five days. The European Consumer Centre in Spain has a short guide to travelling with pets.
From the UK or outside the EU
Pet passports issued to people living in Great Britain have not been valid for entering the EU since 2021. Instead you need an animal health certificate from your vet for each trip. According to the UK government’s pet travel guidance:
- Have your pet microchipped before or at the same time as the rabies vaccine.
- Vaccinate against rabies from 12 weeks of age, then wait at least 21 days after the first vaccination before travelling.
- Get the animal health certificate. It must be used to enter the EU within 10 days of issue and is then valid for onward travel within the EU, and for returning to Great Britain, for up to six months.
- Enter through a travellers’ point of entry and carry the certificate and vaccination records.
Arriving from other non-EU countries works in a similar way: an official EU health certificate issued within 10 days before arrival and a written declaration that the move is not commercial. Some countries also require a rabies antibody blood test months in advance, so start planning early. Once you live here, register your pet with a local vet and ask about a Spanish or EU pet passport.
Useful links
- Ministry FAQ on Ley 7/2023 (Spanish, PDF)
- Decreto 42/2008 on potentially dangerous animals in Andalucía (BOJA, PDF)
- GOV.UK: taking your pet dog, cat or ferret abroad
- European Consumer Centre Spain: travelling with pets (Spanish, PDF)
- Renting in Spain as a foreigner (check the pet clause)
- How to become resident in Spain
- Volunteering in Spain – animal shelters always need help
FAQ: pets and the animal welfare law
Is dog insurance compulsory in Spain in 2026?
The law requires it, but the regulation setting the minimum cover had still not been published in October 2026, and the ministry has said it is not compulsory until then. Insurance is already mandatory for potentially dangerous dogs and may be required by local rules.
Do I have to take a course before getting a dog?
Not yet in practice. The free course is in the law, but the decree defining it is still a draft. Once the online platform launches, owners are expected to get a period to complete it.
How long can I leave my dog or cat alone?
No more than 24 consecutive hours for a dog and three consecutive days for a cat or other pet. Someone can check on the animal for you.
Can I use my UK pet passport to bring my dog to Spain?
No, if you live in Great Britain. You need an animal health certificate from your vet, issued no more than 10 days before you enter the EU.
Disclaimer: This article is general information only and is not legal or veterinary advice. Animal welfare rules vary by region and town, and parts of the national law still depend on regulations – always check with your vet, town hall or the official source before you act.
