Short answer: your dog can come to Spain with a European pet passport, a microchip and a valid rabies vaccination. The chip must be implanted before the vaccination, and after a first vaccination you wait 21 days before you leave. If you are going to live in Andalusia, you register your dog with your town hall and in the Andalusian pet register RAIA, within three months of moving.
For many people the dog is simply family, so it comes along. On the Costa del Sol that works well: long walks along the promenade, the mountains behind Benahavís and more and more terraces where your dog is welcome. There are rules, though, and since April 2026 a few European rules have changed. In this guide you will read what to arrange before you leave and what to do once you live here.
Before you leave: passport, chip and vaccination
- Microchip: your dog must have a chip that meets the ISO standard. The chip is implanted before the rabies vaccination.
- Rabies vaccination: a puppy can be vaccinated at 12 weeks at the earliest. After the first vaccination you wait 21 days before crossing the border. A booster given on time counts straight away.
- European pet passport: your vet fills it in, with the chip number and the vaccinations.
New European rules since 22 April 2026
Since 22 April 2026, Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131 applies to the non-commercial movement of pets. The main points:
- you travel with a maximum of five animals per person;
- if your dog travels with someone other than the owner, that person needs a written authorisation from the owner, and owner and animal travel within five days of each other;
- chips get a country code; a chip implanted before 1 January 2028 remains valid.
The journey
By car the journey is easiest for most dogs: plan breaks and choose dog-friendly hotels along the way. If you fly to Málaga, a small dog often travels in the cabin and a larger one in the hold. Each airline has its own rules and a maximum weight, so check in advance. In summer some airlines refuse animals in the hold in extreme heat.
Living with your dog in Andalusia
If you live here, you register your dog with your town hall and in the RAIA, the Andalusian pet register. Your vet usually does this for you. Anyone coming from another region or from abroad has three months to do so. A dog without a chip or registration is a serious offence: in Andalusia the fine can range from 10,001 to 50,000 euros.
The Spanish animal welfare law, Ley 7/2023, has applied since 29 September 2023. Among other things it provides for compulsory liability insurance and a course for dog owners, but in October 2026 not all the implementing rules are ready yet. Liability insurance for your dog is wise in any case, and for certain breeds it has been compulsory for longer.
Health: two things to know
- Leishmaniasis: is transmitted by sand flies and occurs in southern Spain. Ask your vet about a vaccine, a collar or a repellent, especially from spring to autumn.
- Processionary caterpillars: in late winter and spring, nests of processionary caterpillars hang in the pine woods. The hairs are dangerous for dogs. Keep your dog on a lead in pine woods at that time and go straight to the vet if it has sniffed at them.
Beaches, walks and terraces
Dogs are not allowed on most beaches in high season, but several municipalities have a dog beach, such as Marbella. Rules and zones change regularly, so check the municipality's website before you go. All year round you can walk your dog on a lead along the promenades of Marbella and Estepona, and inland there are plenty of walking trails.
A home with your dog
If you buy an apartment, check the rules of the owners' community: sometimes there are restrictions in the communal garden or pool. A ground-floor home with its own garden, or a villa with a fenced garden, makes life with a dog much easier. If you rent, the contract states whether pets are allowed. Let us know and we will filter straight away for homes where your dog is welcome.
Your checklist
- Chip implanted and registered
- Rabies vaccination valid, and 21 days waited after a first vaccination
- European pet passport filled in by your vet
- Journey planned and the airline's rules checked
- In Spain: registered in the RAIA and with your town hall within three months
- Liability insurance taken out
- Protection against leishmaniasis discussed with your vet
Looking for a home where your dog will feel at home too, with a garden or close to nature? Tell us what you are looking for.
Tell us your planSend us a WhatsAppRead also: moving to Spain, retiring to Spain, moving to Spain with your car and moving to Marbella.
Frequently asked questions
What does my dog need to travel to Spain?
A microchip, a valid rabies vaccination and a European pet passport. After a first vaccination you wait 21 days before you leave.
Do I have to register my dog if I live in Andalusia?
Yes, with your town hall and in the Andalusian pet register RAIA, within three months of moving. Your vet will help you with this.
What changed in April 2026?
Since 22 April 2026 you travel with at most five animals, another traveller needs written authorisation from the owner and chips get a country code. Chips from before 1 January 2028 remain valid.
Can my dog go on the beach in Marbella?
Not on most beaches in high season, but yes on the dog beaches that some municipalities designate. Check the current rules with the municipality.
Sources
- Regulation (EU) No 576/2013 and Delegated Regulation (EU) 2026/131, applicable since 22 April 2026, explained by Law & Trends (2026)
- Andalucía Informa, rules for registering pets in Andalusia (14 October 2026)
- Ley 11/2003 de Protección de los Animales de Andalucía
- Ley 7/2023 de protección de los derechos y el bienestar de los animales, and que.es on the status of the implementing rules (18 October 2026)
Written by the Imagine Marbella editorial team. Updated October 2026. This is general information: ask your vet about the right vaccinations and papers for your dog.
