How to prepare a trip with pets outside the European Union?

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Traveling outside the European Union is complicated and requires planning and organization in advance. Remember that if you plan to return, you must also meet the requirements to enter Spain again. To know what steps to follow, read this protocol: <h2>1. Consult with the embassy or consulate of the destination country</h2>Each country sets the requirements for accepting the entry of a pet. These requirements may change without notice, so even if we check information online or with the veterinarian, it is always necessary to verify if the destination country has changed or added any new requirements.Online, we can orient ourselves on <a href="http://cexgan.magrama.es/Modulos05/Publico/InformacionMercados.aspx?proc=7" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">this website</a> but we must be clear that this is merely indicative information and does not exempt the owner from contacting the relevant embassy or consulate. <h2>2. Health certificate for the animal</h2>If we need a health certificate for the animal, our veterinarian will issue it using a model published by the General Council of Veterinary Colleges. This document certifies that the animal is free from infectious diseases, that it is fit to travel, that it is vaccinated against Rabies, and it can include confirmation of any other requirement that the destination country demands. This certificate is valid for 10 days, but the destination country may require it to be valid for a shorter period. <h2>3. Official export certificate</h2>Sometimes they also request the official export certificate. To obtain it, we must go to the official veterinary services located in the agriculture areas and government delegations and sub-delegations with the health certificate issued by our veterinarian. Exceptionally, there are some countries like Japan and Australia that have a certificate model with two signatures, meaning the same document must be signed by both our veterinarian and the official veterinarian. In this case, the health certificate described in step 2 will not be necessary. <h2>4. Hague Apostille or Consular Recognition. Few countries require these steps.</h2>The Hague Apostille is a validation from the inspector who issued the official certificate, so we must go to the General Subdirectorate of Sanitary Agreements and Border Control of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment. Consular recognition is the same validation but for countries that are not signatories to the Hague Convention. In this case, we must also go to the General Subdirectorate of Sanitary Agreements and Border Control of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment to validate the inspector's signature, but it is also necessary to legalize the official Export certificate at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation.Finally, it can be further legalized at the Consulate or Embassy of the destination country. <h2>How to return to Spain from a third country?</h2>It is important that when traveling with pets, we think about the return before leaving. To return from countries not listed in the <a href="https://www.mapa.gob.es/es/ganaderia/preguntas-frecuentes/anexoiirg_5772013_pasaporte_tcm30-104902.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">Annex II of Regulation Nº (EU) 576/2013</a>, animals must have undergone a serological test for rabies antibody evaluation and must have obtained the minimum necessary result.In this case, we have two options:<ul><li>The recommended option is to perform the test in Spain before leaving; in this case, the analysis is done on the animal once vaccinated against rabies and at least 21 days after the primary vaccination. This test must be performed in an EU-authorized laboratory.</li><li>If the animal has left Spain without having performed the test, it will be necessary to conduct it before returning, but there are requirements that may cause some headaches:</li><li class="ql-indent-1">The test must be conducted in an EU-authorized laboratory, and not all countries have one. You can consult the list of authorized laboratories <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/food/animals/pet-movement/approved-labs_en" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(102, 102, 102);">here</a></li><li class="ql-indent-1">In this case, three months must pass from the time the blood is drawn until the animal is authorized to return to Spain.</li><li class="ql-indent-1">If during your trip to a third country you find a pet you want to adopt, it must also meet the requirements; it must be vaccinated against rabies, after one month it must undergo the antibody titer test, and three months later it will be authorized to enter Spain (which means no animal under 7 months can be imported!).</li><li>This test, if vaccination against rabies is always properly followed, will not need to be repeated and will be valid for the entire life of the animal.</li></ul> Failing to comply with regulations when traveling can result in the animal being immobilized in quarantine, repatriation to the country of origin, or even euthanasia for health reasons. Any economic expenses incurred will be the responsibility of the owner.

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