With its sunshine and heat, not to mention beautiful beaches and affordable dining, it’s no surprise that Spain is a popular destination for travellers (and retirees) from the United Kingdom. And for most travellers it’s also an easy and cheap destination to fly to. But if you’re a pet owner, it’s a trickier affair travelling between the UK and Spain.
This is especially true if you’re not intending on taking a car, as dogs aren’t allowed in the cabin or as checked baggage on flights back to the UK, and the Eurostar train doesn’t allow dogs (except guide dogs) on services to and from London.
Instead, I’ve put together this list of what travel options are available for taking your dog to Spain from the UK and back.
Note: If travelling to Spain over the summer, don’t forget to protect your dog from Leishmaniasis
Note: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive commission if you make a purchase using the links. See my full disclaimer.
Flying to Spain from the UK with a Dog
Dogs flying into the UK can only travel as cargo, not in the cabin or even as check-in baggage. With the expense and hassle, not to mention being separated from your dog, this is not a recommended option for travelling from Spain to the UK with your dog.
However, there’s no similar prohibition against dogs flying in the cabin or as check-in baggage on flights out of the UK to Spain! However, there are only a limited number of airlines that offer this option – don’t just book with any airline then try to book your dog.
To help you out, I’ve put together this guide to everything you need to know about flying a dog to Spain from the UK, including airlines that allow dogs to fly in the cabin (both direct and indirect options) and the approximate costs.
Also remember, you’ll need to make plans to travel an alternative route when you return to the UK with your pet dog, assuming it’s not a one-way trip.
Driving to Spain from the UK via the Channel
If you’re wanting to keep your car for your Spanish holiday (or extended stay), just simply drive from the UK to Spain with your car. (Click on the link for lots of tips and suggested itineraries!)
It’s a long journey and once you add up all the costs it’s generally more expensive than flying, but it’s worthwhile if you want to have your own car and is a straightforward option for taking dogs to Spain.
Lucky for you, it’s easy to cross the English Channel with your dog in your car. Choose between two options: the Eurotunnel or taking a ferry, such as between Dover and Calais. (Dogs generally need to stay in your car on the ferries, so it’s best to choose the shortest route, particularly if it’s summer time, although P&O have recently introduced pet lounges onboard.)
If taking the Eurotunnel, it costs an extra £22 per pet, while most shorter ferries charge a similar price. For more information, check my extended post on travelling with a dog from the UK to Europe.
Once you cross the channel, you’ll have one or two long days of driving before you arrive in Spain. Calais to San Sebastian is just over 1100km (700 miles), while Calais to Barcelona is about 1300km (800 miles).
Petrol prices aren’t cheap in France (about €1.47/L for Unleaded 95 Octane and about €1.35/L for Diesel, as of April 2018 when I last visited, and certainly higher in 2023). Prices are usually around €0.20 more expensive on the motorway compared to cheaper supermarket outlets.
Also factor in the cost of tolls on the motorways: most motorways in France are tolled, about €10 per 100km (60 miles). Once you cross the border to Spain, only a few motorways have tolls and petrol is cheaper.
Taking Brittany Ferries to Spain with Your Car
To skip on the long and expensive drive through France, you can instead take one of the ferries directly from the UK to Spain, run by Brittany Ferries. The available routes are from both Portsmouth and Plymouth to Santander, plus Portsmouth to Bilbao, and return.
Sailings vary between 20 and 36 hours in length, depending on which ports you are sailing between. Note that sailings don’t run during most of November and December.
Unfortunately, this is not an option for people travelling to Spain with a dog but without their car. Foot passengers are not allowed to take dogs on any of the Brittany Ferry routes.
If you are taking your car, you can choose between pet-friendly cabins and kennels, depending on the ship. Most of the ships that sail with Brittany Ferries to Spain have pet-friendly cabins available, that can accommodate a single pet. However, they do usually book out very quickly!
There are also both small and large kennels, along with exercise areas. The exact number of cabins and set-up varies between each ship. For full details of what is available on each ship, to help you take a ferry to Spain with your dog, check out this guide.
The cost for taking a pet with Brittany ferries is £45 each direction. Note that a muzzle is required for all pets for their transfer between your car and either your cabin or the kennels, plus when visiting the exercise areas.
For more details, see my guide to taking a ferry to Spain with a dog.
Taking a Ferry as a Foot Passenger then Flying or Taking a Train
If you’re travelling as a foot passenger, without a car, unfortunately many of the ferries won’t allow you to take a dog with you. As the Eurostar to London doesn’t allow dogs (except guide dogs) and the Eurotunnel doesn’t take foot passengers at all, there’s limited options, with three ferries available.
Stena Line Ferry from Harwich to Hook of Holland
My recommended option is to take the Stena Line Harwich to Hook of Holland ferry, then fly from Schiphol to your final destination in Spain. The ferry offers either an overnight or shorter day sailing.
Recently, the ferry added pet-friendly cabins, with both two-berth and five-berth pet-friendly cabins available. Additionally, you can also check your dog into the well-equipped kennels for a fee of £21. Car passengers can also leave their dogs in their car. Read my review about taking this ferry.
From the ferry dock in Hook of Holland, it’s then fairly easy to get to Schiphol by a combination of bus and train. From there you can choose between the many dog-friendly airlines operating in Europe.
Alternatively, especially if you’re travelling with a larger dog who can’t go in the cabin, you could also travel to Spain by train. Note that once you reach the Spanish border, larger dogs are technically not allowed on most trains in Spain (unlike in the Netherlands, Belgium and France), only smaller dogs in a pet carrier bag, although I’ve heard reports of this rule being ignored.
DFDS Seaways Ferry from Newcastle to Amsterdam
If you’re travelling from northern England or Scotland, instead consider taking the longer ferry crossing from Newcastle to Amsterdam, operated by DFDS Seaways. This ferry also has dog-friendly cabins, although they can’t be booked online for foot passengers.
From Amsterdam, you could either fly or take the train to Spain, as discussed above.
DFDS Seaways Ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe
An alternative for foot passengers travelling to Spain with a dog is to take the DFDS Seaways ferry from Newhaven to Dieppe. This is the only ferry option between Great Britain and France that allows foot passengers to take a dog with them, to be left in a kennel down on the car deck, although you will need a carrier to transport your dog onto the boat.
The departure dock in Newhaven is accessible by train from London. In Dieppe it’s a short taxi ride to the local train station then a couple of hours on regional trains to Paris. From Paris, either fly to Spain or continue your journey by train.
The first time I travelled from Barcelona to London, I took this option in reverse, after firstly taking a flight from Barcelona to Paris (as it was cheaper than buying a train ticket close to the departure date) and spending a few nights in Paris.
Be warned that the trip from Paris to London via train, ferry and train does take all day – around 12 hours. I’d recommend breaking up the journey with a night in Paris, unless you can book a convenient flight. Read more about my experience here.
Crossing the Channel with Your Car then Flying
If you have a car that you’re happy to drive across to Europe, but don’t want to drive it all the way to Spain, a good compromise would be drive to an airport close to the English Channel and then fly.
This means that you have the option of taking the Eurotunnel or the quick ferries between Dover and Calais, that you can’t take as a foot passenger, but can arrive in Spain a lot quicker than driving for over 1000km.
From Calais, it’s just over 200km (125 miles) to Brussels Airport, the closest major airport, and will take about 2 hour to drive. Charles de Gaulle Airport is slightly further away, around 265km (about 165 miles), but is still under a 2.5 hour drive. Most pet owners prefer Brussels Airport over the gigantic CDG.
You’ll need to pay for parking at the airport or nearby, which means this is best for shorter trips, unless you know someone who can look after your car. From either airport, you’ll be able to fly with multiple dog-friendly airlines to your destination in Spain.
Any Other Options?
One other option if you’re travelling without a car, is to use a taxi service to take the Eurotunnel with your dog. I’ve discussed this in more detail on my extended post about travelling between the UK and Europe with a dog. Once across the channel, continue by train on your journey to Spain, or consider flying, like discussed above.
I’ve also recently come across Pet Courier, a Spanish company that specifically transports pets between the UK and Spain, and vice versa. Their Facebook page lists upcoming trips, but hasn’t had any posts since 2021. Let me know if you’ve used this company or another similar company!
Paperwork to Travel to Spain with Your Dog
Prior to Brexit, there was no special paperwork required to travel to Spain from the UK with your dog, as long as you already had an EU pet passport and an up-to-date rabies vaccination.
However, with UK-issued pet passports no longer being recognised, if you don’t have a a valid EU pet passport issued elsewhere in the EU or in Northern Ireland, you will need to visit an accredited veterinarian to be issued with an EU animal health certificate, within 10 days of travel.
Prior to being issued the animal health certificate, your dog will require a microchip and valid rabies vaccine, from at least 21 days before your date of travel. Note that the cost for some vets to issue the pet health certificates can be quite expensive!
I’ve heard recommendations for Abbeywell Vets located in Folkestone, close to the Eurotunnel terminal and the Dover ferry port, thanks to their reasonable prices. You can request an EU animal health certificate online for collection when you arrive in Folkestone.
Paperwork to Return to the UK
When returning to the UK, make sure you visit a vet to have your dog wormed. This needs to be done between 5 days (120 hours) and 24 hours before returning to the UK, based on your arrival time in the UK.
If you travelled to Spain using an EU pet health certificate and it has been less than 4 months since it was issued (meaning it is still valid for your return to the UK), the tapeworm treatment can be recorded by an EU vet on the certificate.
Alternatively, it should be recorded in your EU pet passport, whether an existing pet passport or if you get a new pet passport during your time in Spain.
I’ve heard reports that this can be expensive at the local vets around Calais (and you’ll still need to wait 24 hours), so I recommend getting it done earlier, such as before you leave your accommodation in Spain.
You May Also Like
- How to Travel with a Dog Between the UK and Europe
- Taking a Ferry to Spain with a Dog
- Travelling in Spain with a Dog
- Pet-Friendly Hotels in Madrid
Shandos Cleaver is the founder of Travelnuity: Dog-Friendly Travel. She has travelled extensively with her Miniature Dachshund, Schnitzel, including to 33 countries across Europe, every state and territory of Australia except Tasmania, and 10 of the United States. She’s passionate about providing inspiration and information to others wanting to travel with their dogs, whether close to home or internationally.
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What a lovely editorial. Thank you.
Thanks Bryan!
Hi, would you advise crating you dog for a journey from Scotland ( probably sail from the north of England) across Europe to Spain. We will be using our own car.
Many thanks,
Bernadette
Bernadette – Crating is definitely an option. My small dog used to always travel in his crate on our car trips when he was younger. Double check what is required for the ferry. If you don’t crate your dog, make sure they are harnessed to the seat belt or restrained another way in the car.
This was so helpful! Thank you!
Great to hear Carol-Ann!
So helpful, thank you! Have you any recommendations for travelling from Spain to Tenerife? I can’t seem to find much online about it, apart from really bad reviews!
If you’re travelling with a small dog it’s quite easy, as you can fly from mainland Spain with your dog in the cabin. We did this on Vueling with our small dog. However, if you have a larger dog, it’s trickier. There are ferry companies that make the crossing, although it’s a long one – about 36 hours. Check out FRS. I saw some reports that you have limited opportunities to visit your dog, but this page mentions that some of the kennels are on deck. I would email to find out further details. (Luckily rules sometimes change for the better, so maybe the conditions are better than they used to be.) It may also be worthwhile considering flying your dog in the hold, probably with Iberia. I try to avoid this, but it may be better to have a quick flight rather than a long ferry trip.
Thank you so much for so much information.
Dear Shandos,
As usual the British government have left it too late to stop confusion and costly chaos arising post 29th March.
Whilst telling us the options the UK may become post a no-deal Brexit I cannot see anything on my travel situation with my two dogs. That is I will drive with them to Spain, through France, before the 29th March BUT will not return until after 29th March. They are seasoned travellers, with pet passports and up to date rabies inocculation. Can you help?
Roger – the current rules in place will apply to you. You’ll be fine to head to France using your existing pet passport and just the rabies vaccinations (no titre test) before 29 March. And there is no change to returning to the UK, although of course you’ll need the usual worming treatment. Thanks for asking!
How much is a pet transport for two small Dogs as I would like to go to Benidorm next year, middle of May until August, under the 90 days rule if Brexit comes in. As I can not leave them in England as I would miss them both to much. Thank you any advice/help is much needed.
Tracy – This will depend on how you transport your dog. I don’t have full figures here, as I haven’t done each of these options personally, so it’s best to contact the relevant transport companies directly.
This was so helpful and got me started on the right path! Just an update to this wonderful information — I spoke direct with LUFTHANSA and they DO ALLOW dogs in-cabin from UK to Barcelona (that was the specific travel route that I was taking, so I would assume they allow throughout Spain). Always call to confirm for your specific flight, but as of today that’s what I was told.
… and airlines that DON’T allow UK to Spain travel: I spoke with KLM and as of March 2019 they (and several airlines) have changed their policies and do not allow dogs in-cabin for UK to Spain travel (or for destinations within Europe). However, they (and many) do allow if it’s direct to/from USA. Other airlines that I contacted directly that don’t allow UK to Spain:
Vueling
Norweigan
Happy travels, pet parents!
Tiffany – thank you so much for sharing this information, it’s tough to find out when the airlines don’t list these details online. I’m sure this will be really useful to others in the future.
Great info. Any comments on how you get a dog back to the UK from Barcelona?
Unfortunately that’s a bit trickier. The two most popular options are flying to Amsterdam and taking a ferry, or flying to Paris and using a pet taxi on the Eurotunnel.
I am looking to fly my dog to Spain from England in September and have found that I have to go through shipping agents to do this. Does anyone know if I can just do it myself please?
Thank you Shandos for the wealth of information and suggestions!
Trisha – Thanks! I had previously heard it was possible to fly with Iberia Express out of the UK to Spain, but I’ve heard some mentions lately that some of these options are disappearing. Hope you find something!
Hey, I live in Spain and have a Yorkshire terrier, less than 3kg. I’m wanting to travel to Uk with my dog, but Iberia and Vueling said I have to cargo my dog, and it’s very expensive! Any ideas on how I can get to Uk easily and cheaply? Thanks
I recommend instead flying to Amsterdam, then taking the Stena Line ferry across to Harwich. Dogs need to go in a kennel, but there is a CCTV channel to view from your cabin and it’s a lot cheaper. The other alternatives are flying to Paris and the DFDS ferry from Dieppe to Newhaven, or getting a taxi for the tunnel. I’ve got more details and links above.
Thanks for this advice. We’re planning to drive to Spain via France using Eurotunnel with our dog in early October. We knew he had to have tapeworm treatment before re-entering the UK, but do you know if he needs to have one BEFORE leaving the UK and going into France and Spain?
Beverley – No need for the treatment before heading to France and Spain, only before returning to the UK. The other countries in Europe where this applies is Malta, Ireland (but not between the UK and Ireland), Norway and Finland. Enjoy your trip!
My vet recommended tapeworm treatment and sand fly before travelling to Spain. Better safe than sorry
Definitely good to do! I’ve written a separate article about leishmania, which is an issue in Spain in the warmer months, and how to protect your dog – click the link up the top.
Hello, I currently live in Gibraltar and I am wanting to take my dog to the Yorkshire, UK next Christmas for two weeks holiday. Would anyone have any advise. Just my dog to be as comfortable and stress free as possible so we are considering all options.
Amy – That’s a tricky one! You could consider flying your dog in cargo, with the extra expense, if you think they would be okay in the hold. Just because the whole journey is over so much more quickly. Otherwise, it’s a long journey using the other options I’ve described.
Thank you for such helpful information. We are planning to live in southern Spain (Andalucia) with our 4 standard poodles. It sounds like ferry cabins are set up to accommodate only 1 dog and we have 4 so I was wondering what options we have?
I would double-check with the ferry company about the cabins. Sometimes the rules vary between different ships, and sometimes the companies will be more generous than what is stated on their website – I’ve heard of this mainly with hotel rooms, although they’re more likely to stretch to 2 small dogs rather than 4 dogs. Additionally, the ferries have kennel options for additional dogs, although I understand it can be stressful to have your dog in a separate kennel. Many dogs though cope fine for this, especially in mild weather.
We are moving to Spain in September this year and to lessen the stress on our two dogs we were looking to travel with them with hire motor home from the UK to Spain via ferry. Any advice anyone is able to provide would be gratefully appreciated. The www is a minefield of information.
Kerry – If you’re travelling with a motorhome, you have the option of the shorter ferries from Dover to Calais or else there’s the longer ferries directly to Spanish ports. I’m not sure of the rules (or costs) for taking motorhomes on these ferries, or your preference for either a longer ferry trip or more time driving. Most people I’ve spoken to who are driving have usually taken the ferry to Calais and then a couple of days to drive across France. The pet-friendly cabins on the ferries to Spain do sell out quite early, and most dogs are more used to driving than being cooped up on a ferry.
Please help.ive tried every avenue,to fly a dog to Spain to Alicanti…
Which Airport in the north of England will do this.
We live in Leeds..
Sorry, but I don’t know which airlines fly out of Leeds airport, or other nearby airports. It’s mainly up to the airline. It might also be necessary to transit through Madrid or another city. I recommend speaking directly to the airlines that fly out of Leeds. Also try Manchester.
I am travelling to Malaga from Edinburgh with a large dog (42 kgs) and am exploring my options. Is there an airline which would transport my dog directly from Edinburgh to Malaga? Would he need to be crated? If so, will the airline supply the crate?
Corinne – Unfortunately the only 2 airlines I can find that fly this route non-stop are Ryanair and Jet2, neither of which allow dogs on board (in the cabin or in the hold), except for assistance dogs, which doesn’t help.
As your dog is 42kg (and I assume not an assistance dog), he would need to fly in the hold and be crated. Flying back to Edinburgh, your dog would need to fly as cargo, due to UK regulations. However, flying out of the UK, some airlines also allow dogs to fly as excess baggage (which is usually simpler and cheaper, and can be booked directly through the airline rather than the airline’s cargo company). However, some airlines, such as British Airways, only allow cargo.
You generally need to supply your own crate. However, it might be worthwhile contacting a pet transport company, as often they can supply a crate for you (including renting crates). They might also be able to suggest alternative options – sometimes there are options to transport dogs in vans between the UK and Spain.
Hope this helps you out – getting dogs in and out of the UK is a tricky affair!
Hello, good morning.
I am Spanish and live in England, south of London is a small town. since 1 month ago I have a puppy that I rescued from a shelter in Romania. my puppy has passport, chip and everything up to date. I want to go this summer to Benidorm, my land. Normally my daughter and I fly with the low cost flight companies, but as we are now a member of the family, I would love to know how I can go on holiday to Spain with my puppy, and then come back. thank you very much
Sonia – That’s wonderful to hear about your puppy and thanks for rescuing a dog! Unfortunately, travelling to Spain with a dog is more complicated, especially if you’re used to flying with a lowcost airline. Only a few airlines fly dogs in the cabin or as excess baggage out of the UK to Spain, and when flying back all dogs must fly as cargo. In this post, I’ve detailed the options for ferries and driving, I hope this helps.
Hi, thank you so much for an informative article. I hope you and Schnitzel are having a wonderful time on your travels!
Could you tell us what the situation is upon returning from Spain to the UK. Is it possible to take a Brittany ferry directly from Spain with our dog (as it is on the way to Spain), with the necessary visit a vet to have our dog wormed, with the worming recorded in the Pet Passport, done between 5 days (120 hours) and 24 hours before our return to the UK, as you mentioned in the article?
Thank you so much in advance.
Monika – I’m not sure of the current situation, as many things have been disrupted, so I would check with Brittany ferries. But normally you can take your dog back to the UK on Brittany Ferries, that same as travelling to Spain, with the worming test done before departure. I haven’t done this personally, as I didn’t have a car and they don’t accept pets for foot passengers, but I know of other people who have done this.
Hi Shandos, I hope you and your family are keeping safe and well. Thank YOU so so much for all the information – very useful. Since I don’t have a car & can’t hire a car in the UK, I will likely go with the DFDS ferry option. My boyfriend currently resides in Madrid so my dog and I plan to stay with him for a month or so once the measures ease up in Spain (early July). From Dieppe, we may take a train or rent a car (in FR I can rent ;)). We were hopeless as Iberia confirmed that they don’t fly pets in hold anymore from UK – they said ‘they have not updated their website.’ and the BA carrier agency quoted us a ridiculous amount.. After reading your posts, we are just so excited. It will be a long journey but hopefully a fun adventure with much planning in advance! Hopefully a quick one if okay.. I already got my dog’s EU pet passport – we live in London so via our local vet. Do we have to get it signed by them once we book our ferry tickets? I see from the comments that you haven’t used the ferry route to return to the UK? EU pet passport + deworming treatment are all that we need to return safely to our London home? Looking forward to hearing from you. Stay safe! Very Best, Celine
Celine – Thanks so much, I really appreciate your kind words and hope you have a wonderful trip.
Once you book the ferry, you won’t need to take the passport to the vet. Just make sure the rabies vaccination is included in the passport and it is at least 21 days before your crossing. Although when I took the Stenaline ferry from UK to Netherlands I don’t think they even looked at it, they tend to be stricter going to the UK.
I’ve taken the Dieppe ferry from France to the UK and they carefully checked all the details. I wrote about this crossing here: http://www.travelnuity.com/dfds-ferry-dieppe-newhaven-dog/. Yes, all you need to return to the UK is the EU pet passport, including rabies vaccine, and the deworming treatment that the vet needs to record in the passport (at least until the Brexit changes start at the end of the year).
Can you tell me if my dogs are vaccinated against rabies and all the other requirements needed to go to Spain , can we go for a month and come back ok
I’m not sure of the travel restrictions for humans at the moment, but for dogs as long as they have a microchip, valid rabies vaccine (at least 21 days in advance) and get the health certificate, then they’re fine to travel to Spain. Use the same health certificate to return to the UK (as long as it’s under 4 months), plus you’ll need the tapeworm treatment. For more information, see: https://www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-an-eu-country-or-northern-ireland
Hi – thank you so much for this info – I’ve been searching for weeks to get some of the things included that you have covered here! I don’t suppose you know the best way for me to get our 16 weeks old Cavapoo to Lanzarote in August – we are relocating so only needs to be one way but I want it as stress free for her as possible being so young!
The best option will depend on her weight. I’ve flown to Tenerife with my small dog in the cabin on Vueling. (Note that Vueling don’t accept dogs on flights leaving the UK, but do within Spain.) For larger dogs, it might be good to investigate the ferry options, although a quick flight might be just as good.
Hi
Has anybody travelled from France to Spain with an eu pet passport. We live in France and want to drive to Spain to catch a flight to the Canary Islands. Our french vet said his 3 year rabies jab is ok but a Spanish vest says he needs a booster (even tho is rabies jab lasts for 3 years). Any advice anybody. I can’t get hold of Vueling or Iberia for love nor money at the moment
Thanks
Before visiting the Canary Islands, I was told by a German vet that yearly shots are required for the Canary Islands, but haven’t seen that information anywhere else. I ended up getting the shot, as we were considering visiting some non-EU countries in Eastern Europe, and I hadn’t fully researched whether they recognized 3 year shots.
I would love to hear about your flight with Vueling. Can I ask re the rabies jab. Our dog had a 3 year one on a french dog passport, but the Vueling website says the dog needs to have had one between 30 days and 12 months of travel ! I can’t get hold of the airline at the moment to ask the question. We want to drive from France to Barcelona and catch the flight from there.
I can’t remember that being a requirement the last time I flew with Vueling (2018). In any case, I got a rabies booster after a year, as we were potentially going to Eastern Europe and I wasn’t sure if some of those countries didn’t recognize 3 year shots. I was also told by a German vet that yearly shots are required for the Canary Islands, but haven’t seen that information anywhere and no one is sure!
This website is an absolute Godsend! My family has a house near Barcelona and I’m thinking of going there for October through the new year (I can easily work remotely). As I understand it, as long as I drive, I can take my dog Morty (jackchi, 4.5 kg, champion) provided I have his animal health certificate? I’d take the Eurotunnel. Do you have any tips for how often to take a break and let him walk / go to the toilet? I imagine I’d try to do the drive over a long weekend, so breaking it down into 5-6 hours a day.
Obviously I appreciate you can’t be certain with the Covid rules, given the U.K. government’s unparalleled propensity to annoy EU countries.
That sounds great, Covid rules permitting. It depends on the individual dog. As a rule of thumb, I try and stop every 2 hours (for both dogs and humans), but I know some people who stop more or less frequently.
Thank you for all the helpful information. We will be travelling soon to Spain with Brittany ferries to Bilbao with the car and small dog. We then drive to Javea. We are both finding the journey tiring now a we get older, although we do stop off during the journey. We are trying to find out if there is another way to travel but would hope to keep our dog with us. I think things will improve gradually.
It would be amazing if the UK started to allow dogs in the cabin, but we can only hope!
Hello, I’ve read through all these helpfull coments. We’ve drove to spain twice now with our dog but would like to explore the option of flying her out. Everything i’ve read so far is that its not the best/advised way to transport your dog. the risks are huge. Has anyone any experience in placing their dog in the hold?
I’ve personally flown my pet in the hold multiple times, when flying to and from Australia, as I didn’t have any other option. If you’re careful about avoiding hot temperatures and don’t have a snub breed dog, the risks are not that high, although higher than flying in the cabin.
If flying to the UK, there is also the issue that dogs must fly as cargo, booked through an airline cargo department or a pet transport company, with additional hassle and costs.
I just called Iberian Express who say they do t allow pets on flights from UK amd only suggest using woofairlines.com. Had anybody got experience of them or can they recommend other UK to Spain airlines. I’m struggling to find anybody doing it now.
I’m really sorry, there’s been a lot of changes over the last couple of years with Covid and Brexit, and I’m not sure when they stopped this. I recommend asking in my Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dogfriendlytravelrtw/
Thanks for this excellent website. We are hoping to travel several times a year from the North West to Costa del Sol with our 14kg working cocker in winter months (avoiding Easter and most school hols) for up to 8 weeks at a time. We don’t fancy the long drive but air travel seems equally tortuous for us, particularly coming back. What can you recommend to make for easiest options? We would probably hire a car in Spain if we did not drive there.
It’s unfortunate that flying is so difficult. I’d recommend taking your own car and looking into the ferries to Spain. Alternatively, the long drive through France is a common choice.
Thank you. We’ve looked into flying our dog as cargo. TUI seems an option but it’s around £400 to Spain and £950 return plus our flights….not cheap.
We have decided to drive via France (as no ferries to Spain before March) and return from northern Spain. Do you have any recommendations for overnight dog friendly stops for the long drive through France ( up to 3 hours from eurotunnel) or Spain (we think near Bilboa and Madrid)?
All the best with your drive! Sorry, but I can’t think of any great stops along the way. However, there are many affordable pet-friendly hotels in France and Spain, you’ll be able to easily find somewhere.
Can you please tell me if I can take two dogs on the ferry from England to Spain as I have tried to add another dog and it won’t let me
I recommend calling up their customer service number. I had thought multiple dogs were allowed, but potentially there is a limit of one dog per person, like on most flights.
Hi All
Im completing on my house sale 7 Jan 2022 but ive booked eurostar. not allow in france
how can i travel to costa del sol
the ferry are booked until march
And the airline BA contractor asking £2500.
pet transport £3600 plus vat
It looks like im going to be homeless or pay one of the above, then im with out a car at the other end .
I’m really sorry to hear about your situation. Pet dogs are not allowed on board the Eurostar, but there are two ferries with pet-friendly options, including one to the Netherlands. I’m not across the current travel restrictions in Europe due to Covid – is it okay to travel to the Netherlands then fly to Spain? Alternatively, is it possible for you to travel directly to Spain at this point to complete the house sale, leave your pet behind with a trusted friend or relative, then re-unite at a later date when the situation improves?
Hope you got there. We are in a similar position but complete next month.
If you have delayed things try TUI group, they gave me a contact for their cargo, [email protected] who were very helpful…. “Cost from Manchester to Malaga was based on a container measuring 91x63x68cms was £553.95 based on a weekday flight from Manchester, for the return cost will be around £915.50 again based on a weekday flight and will have to be into Manchester.”
Although we’ve decided to travel by car now France has lifted the travel ban.
Can anyone reccomend a good pet friendly hotel between Calais and Murcia for an overnight stop. We have two small dogs and are looking for a midway stopover. Be very grateful for any information.
I’ve stayed before in Millau in southern France, and noticed it was popular with Brits driving from Calais to Spain. There’s multiple reasonably priced budget hotels good for an overnight stay that are pet-friendly, including a Campanile and Ibis. Don’t miss also checking out the viaduct – it’s really impressive!
We are English, live in England but have a holiday home in Spain. Our dog has a Spanish passport, does he need a Animal Health Certificate. ?
Also he had a Rabies vaccination last year will he need another when we travel this year. We are traveling by ferry Portsmouth to Santander.
If his latest rabies vaccine was recorded in his Spanish passport and is still valid, he can just travel with the Spanish passport. Otherwise, he needs an AHC.
Whether he needs a new vaccine depends on whether his last one was a 1yr or 3yr vaccine.
If possible, have him vaccinated in Spain and recorded in his Spanish passport – vaccines done outside the EU cannot be recorded in it.
Hi Shandos and Schnitzel – great article
We are trying to get to the bottom of using recently issued EU pet passport in Spain (cheap) versus having previously had to use AHC form (expensive)
We can’t find anything ‘formal’ that says EU pet passport (issued in EU and up to date) can be used – have you come across anything ?
Thanks
Sean – Here’s the relevant government rule – scroll down to the Exceptions section: https://food.ec.europa.eu/animals/movement-pets/eu-legislation/non-commercial-movement-non-eu-countries_en. Naturally the passport needs to have an up to date rabies vaccine, and only vets in the EU can record vaccines in the passport.
Just back from my trip from Barcelona to UK! Followed your recommendations and everything was just so smooth! Also could go with the dog on lead inside DFDS Dieppe reception and to bring him inside the kennels! Prioritised myself and doggy as were the only ones being foot passenger! Literally excellent trip. Thank you so much for the recommendation as was driving me crazy how difficult it is!
That’s great to hear Andrea, that your dog could be taken onboard with just a leash. Glad to hear that all went well!
Hi,
Does anyone have any advice please on travelling from London to Malaga with a puppy in January time? I want to go there for around a month to my place. My cavapoo is around 9kgs now. Has anyone done the ferry (plus return) from UK to Santander or Bilbao? I had thought of train to France and then flying, but that doesn’t seem to be an option? Thanks!
With the ferry, you may want to check it is running – I believe it stops for a month or so over the winter. Additionally, only those with a car can take pets on board, with the pet spots booking up very quickly. It might be best to look into the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry, then take a train or fly with your pet in the hold. (If your puppy is already 9kg, I don’t think they’ll fit the weight limit of 10kg for dog plus carrier on Vueling in January, and most other airlines have an 8kg limit.)
Hi, I wondered how you got on finding options as I would like to take my miniture Dachshund (3kg) to Spain for 4-6 weeks. Malaga or Gibraltar are perfect airports for us to fly to from the UK. Any advice would be appreciated !
Hi Shandos, thanks so much for your reply! I appreciate it. I called Iberia and I can travel with my dog in the hold with them on a flight from Heathrow to Madrid, where I could rent a car. The option I now need is to get back to the UK as they can’t bring her back. I will look at your suggestion in reverse thank you! If there are any other thoughts on this that would be great too 🙂
Hi Shandos,
Thank you for your blog,
Quick question, I thought your dog could only enter Spain from the UK via port or airport, but after reading your blog you could just go by car crossing the Eurochannel right?
Yes, the route using the Eurotunnel is an approved route to enter the EU.
Hi,
FYI (July 2023)
I need to bring a puppy from UK to Spain and I will travelling with him in the plane cabin.
Iberia allows to do that if you call in advance and secure a place for your pet (there are maximun number of pets allowed per fligth)
The dimensions for the bag are a bit narrow 45x35x25 and max 8kg including the bag.
But it is possible to bring it by plane!!!
Coming back to UK is what is not possible in the cabin with ANY company. 🙁
Thanks for the heads up! Iberia used to allow this, but then stopped. It’s great they allow it again!
Hey Shandos, thanks for all information, your post is very very useful!
I’m right now organising my move from London to Seville (south Spain) and trying to figure out the best and possible way to do that. My dog Olivia is 14kg, so I believe she won’t be allowed to travel by train between France and Spain, Am I right? And we don’t want to go by flight because she can’t be in the cabin with us (again due to her weight).
Do you think the only option to cross the border will be by car?
The best and easiest option would be by car. However, you might be able to get away with using trains. The number of routes with trains that allows large dogs is increasing, and includes Barcelona to Madrid and Madrid to Malaga (which I believe goes through Seville). (See: https://www.renfe.com/es/en/viajar/informacion-util/mascotas) Also, the weight limit for small dogs in a carrier is 10kg, and depending on your dog – your dog may pass as a small dog. (Our dog wasn’t weighed and I haven’t heard any reports of dogs being weighed, although sometimes things change.)
What a fantastic informative webpage which has been very helpful in providing me a steer with regards to travel options from Uk to Spain with my dog ,which I don’t want to put in the hold or place with pet couriers. I don’t have access to a car so driving is t an option.
I note that you make mention of onwards flights having arrived in Europe by train or ferry having entered the EU using a AHC.
It is my intention to travel via pet taxi on le shuttle to Calais, train to Paris and flight l to Malaga, Spain, with my dog (6kg) in the cabin. The airlines I have contacted have all stated that a European Pet Passport is mandatory. The indication I get from your experiences is that a AHC would be accepted and would not prevent me from travelling on the airlines nor being accepted at the airport in Malaga either.
I would really appreciate if you could clarify the ability to travel using a valid AHC on flights within EU
Many thanks
Sean – On my first flight in Europe, from Barcelona to Paris, my dog only had an AHC and not yet a pet passport. It wasn’t an issue at check-in with Vueling. Technically, an AHC should always be fine in place of a European pet passport, but not all airline staff are as familiar with AHCs, so I would allow extra time at check-in.
Thank you Shandos, could you kindly advise if this was recently… I am assuming it was given Brexit 🙁 was only a few years ago… also did you need it in both French and Spanish ? Many thanks for you help
This was pre-Brexit (well, prior to the transition), as we flew from Australia (my home country) to Spain. But the rules for pet travel in Europe haven’t changed since (only the rules for the UK.) The AHC was in both English and Spanish.