Pets
Vets, vaccinations and pet passports in Spain
Routine vet care for pets in Andalucía: yearly rabies vaccine, compulsory treatments, microchip and RAIA register, EU pet passport and insurance basics.
Once your dog or cat has settled into life in Spain, the next question is how routine vet care works here. Which vaccines are compulsory, how often, and what does the vet need to register? Animal health rules are partly set by each region, so this guide focuses on the rules in Andalucía and on everyday care: finding a vet, the yearly check-up, the microchip register, the EU pet passport and how insurance fits in. If you are still planning the move itself, start with our guide to moving to Spain with a dog or cat.
Finding a vet and the first visit
Vet clinics (clínicas veterinarias) are private in Spain, and you can choose any one you like. On the Costa del Sol, some clinics have staff who speak English or other languages. When choosing, it helps to ask:
- whether the clinic can register microchips and issue EU pet passports
- where to go for emergencies at night and at weekends, as not every clinic is open 24 hours
- whether they do blood tests, X-rays and surgery in house or refer you elsewhere
Bring all your pet’s records to the first visit: vaccination booklet or passport, microchip number and any medical history. The vet will check whether your pet’s vaccinations meet the local rules and whether the microchip is registered in Andalucía.
Compulsory treatments in Andalucía
Andalucía’s rules on compulsory treatments for pets are set out in an order from the regional government (Orden de 19 de abril de 2010). The key points are:
- Rabies vaccine: compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets. The first dose is given from three months of age, followed by a second dose 30 days later, and then a booster every year.
- Tapeworm treatment: deworming against echinococcosis is compulsory for dogs, cats and ferrets at least once a year. The vet prescribes it and records it in the health booklet.
- Leishmaniasis: if a dog is diagnosed with the disease and the owner chooses to keep it, the full treatment prescribed by the vet is compulsory.
The yearly rabies booster surprises some newcomers, because some rabies vaccines are licensed for longer than a year. In Andalucía, the rule is still a booster every year. Only an authorised vet can give it, and it is recorded both in your pet’s documents and in the regional register.
Microchip and the RAIA register
Dogs, cats and ferrets in Andalucía must be identified with a microchip implanted by an authorised vet. According to the Junta de Andalucía, the deadlines are:
- within the first three months of the animal’s life, or
- within one month of getting the pet or moving to a new home within Andalucía.
The pet is then registered in the municipal register of the town where it lives. Together these municipal registers form the Andalusian central register, known as RAIA, which is linked to the national network. The vet gives you an official identification certificate (Certificado Oficial de Identificación Animal, COIA) with the chip number and the details of the pet, owner and vet.
Keep this certificate up to date. If you move house, change phone number or give the pet to someone else, ask your vet to update the register. An up-to-date chip is what gets a lost pet back to you. Spain’s national animal welfare law also adds duties for owners, explained in our guide to Spain’s animal welfare law.
Getting an EU pet passport
If you live in Spain and want to travel with your pet to another EU country, you need an EU pet passport. According to the EU’s Your Europe portal:
- Any authorised vet can issue it, but only to owners resident in the EU.
- It records the microchip number, a description of the pet, the rabies vaccinations and the contact details of the owner and vet.
- The chip must be implanted before the rabies vaccine, and the pet must be at least 12 weeks old for the first vaccination.
- After the first rabies vaccination you must wait at least 21 days before travelling. If a booster is given late, the waiting period starts again.
- Dogs travelling to Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway or Northern Ireland also need a tapeworm treatment 1 to 5 days before arrival.
The passport is valid for life as long as the rabies vaccination is kept up to date. If you came from the UK, a passport issued in Great Britain can no longer be used for travel into the EU, so ask your Spanish vet to issue a new EU one.
What a typical year of vet care looks like
Beyond the compulsory treatments, most vets on the coast recommend a yearly plan that includes:
- A check-up: weight, teeth, heart and skin, usually combined with the rabies booster.
- Other vaccines: for dogs, typically against diseases such as distemper and parvovirus, and for cats against diseases such as feline panleukopenia. Your vet decides the schedule based on age and lifestyle.
- Parasite protection: against fleas, ticks and worms, often all year round in the mild southern climate.
- Leishmaniasis prevention for dogs: repellent collars or spot-ons in the warm months, and in some cases a vaccine or a yearly blood test. Ask your vet what fits your dog.
Vet prices vary between clinics. Ask for the price of a consultation and the yearly vaccines before you book, and ask whether the clinic offers a yearly health plan that bundles them.
Pet insurance basics
Routine vet visits are usually affordable, but accidents, surgery or a long illness can be expensive. There are two main types of cover. Liability insurance covers damage your pet causes to others, and the national animal welfare law plans to make it compulsory for dog owners. Health insurance covers vet bills for illness and accidents. Read our full guide to pet insurance in Spain to see what is compulsory and what is worth having.
If you want to compare health cover, Petplan (ad) offers pet insurance in Spain. As with any policy, check the excess, the age limits and whether existing conditions are excluded.
FAQ: vets and vaccinations in Spain
Is the rabies vaccine compulsory every year in Andalucía?
Yes. In Andalucía, dogs, cats and ferrets must be vaccinated against rabies from three months of age, with a second dose 30 days later and then a booster every year.
Do cats need a microchip too?
Yes. In Andalucía, dogs, cats and ferrets must be microchipped by an authorised vet and registered in the municipal register, which is part of the regional RAIA register.
Can my Spanish vet issue an EU pet passport?
Yes, if the vet is authorised to issue passports and you live in the EU. Your pet needs a registered microchip and a valid rabies vaccination.
What should I do if my pet’s chip details are out of date?
Ask your vet to update the register. In Andalucía you should do this within one month after moving house within the region or getting a new pet.
Useful links
- RAIA: rabies vaccination in Andalucía (Spanish)
- Junta de Andalucía: pet identification (Spanish)
- Your Europe: travelling with pets in the EU
Disclaimer: This article is general information, not legal or financial advice. Rules and prices change, so check with the official source before you decide. Links marked “(ad)” are affiliate links – NewInSpain may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
