Moving your pet from Nepal to Spain?

The Nepal–Spain route requires quarantine on arrival, so planning well ahead matters. In plain terms, this is a moderate route, meaning the requirements are relatively straightforward compared to many international moves.

Most owners start the process around 20-26 weeks before the flight date. That window is not arbitrary — it accounts for vaccination waiting periods, titre test processing, and document endorsement.

Here is how the preparation unfolds from start to travel day:

Costs vary considerably depending on your pet's size, the airline, and whether you use a pet relocation agent. The main factors to price up are:

• Airline cargo or cabin fees (varies by carrier, route, pet weight, and crate size)
• IATA-compliant travel crate (purchase or hire)
• Veterinary fees: vaccinations, microchipping, health certificate
• Rabies titre test laboratory fee
• Pet transport agent fee (recommended for complex routes)

Microchip: Required (ISO 11784/11785). Must be implanted before or on same day as first rabies vaccination

Rabies vaccination: Required. Minimum age: 12 weeks. 21-day wait after vaccination before travel. EU-harmonised rules. Vaccination must be recorded in EU pet passport or Animal Health Certificate.

Titre test: Required for: Pets from non-EU countries not on the EU listed third countries. Not required for: Pets from EU member states and EU-listed countries. Minimum: 0.5 IU/ml. 90-day wait from test date before entry

Health certificate: Required. EU Pet Passport (for EU-resident pets) or Animal Health Certificate (AHC) for third-country pets. Issued by: Official veterinarian. Valid for 10 days from issue. AHC valid 10 days from issue for entry. Then valid 4 months for onward EU travel.

Import permit: EU pet passport or Animal Health Certificate serves as the travel document

Quarantine: No routine quarantine for pets entering with correct EU-standard documentation.

Export permit: {'required': True, 'issued_by': 'DoLS'}

Export health certificate: {'required': True}

Several airlines serve routes between Nepal and Spain, each with different policies on pets in cabin versus cargo hold:

Compared to some international pet transport routes, Nepal to Spain is manageable. That said, every country’s rules are different and the timing requirements are strict.

EU member state. Follows EU Regulation 576/2013 (transitioning to Regulation 2026/131 from April 2026). Spain has one of Europe’s highest pet ownership rates. Some additional national rules for ‘potentially dangerous dogs’ (PPP list). Authority: Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentacion (MAPA).

Microchip first, then vaccinate. The microchip must be implanted before any rabies vaccination for the vaccination to count. It’s the most common and costly mistake people make.

Book the titre test laboratory well in advance. Approved labs have limited appointment slots and the blood sample processing takes time. Don’t leave this to the last few weeks.

Get the health certificate from an official (government-approved) veterinarian, not just your regular vet. Some countries have strict requirements about who can sign the certificate. Check the destination authority’s approved list.

If this is your first international pet move, consider using a registered pet transport agent. They handle the documentation, airline booking, crate sizing, and can troubleshoot issues. IPATA-registered agents are the recognised standard.

• Pet Transport Spain to Nepal