Pet Transport Spain to Latvia: 2026 Guide

Latvia is in the EU, and the Spain-to-Riga move follows the EU Pet Travel Scheme. Your dog or cat needs an EU pet passport with a valid ISO microchip and current rabies …

1-3 wks

Preparation needed

None

Quarantine on arrival

Low

Route complexity

Managed

Full door to door

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What's required

MicrochipISO 11784/11785 (15-digit) microchip …

Rabies vaccinationCurrent rabies vaccination required. …

Rabies titre testNot required. Spain and Latvia are both …

QuarantineNot required for compliant arrivals from …

Import permitNot required for non-commercial …

Health certificateEU pet passport. Valid throughout the EU …

Step by step

The import process, in full

Before other preparations.

Confirm ISO 15-digit microchip

Responsible: Spanish official vet

First vaccination: 21-day wait. Booster: no wait.

EU pet passport with current rabies vaccination

Responsible: Official vet in Spain

4-6 weeks before. Check Vueling direct availability.

Book direct or via-AMS routing from Spain to Riga

Responsible: Owner or agent

Direct (if available): approximately 4-5 hours. Via AMS: 5-7 hours.

Travel day: Madrid to Riga approximately 4.5-7 hours depending on routing

Responsible: Owner

Checklist

What your pet needs

Every item below must be completed and verified before your pet can travel. Expand each category for the detail.

Microchip

ISO 11784/11785 (15-digit) microchip required, recorded in the EU pet passport.

Rabies vaccination

Current rabies vaccination required. First vaccination: minimum 21 days before entry. Booster within valid period: no wait.

Rabies titre test

Not required. Spain and Latvia are both EU member states. No rabies antibody titre test needed.

Quarantine

Not required for compliant arrivals from other EU member states.

Import permit

Not required for non-commercial companion animal movements within the EU.

Health certificate

EU pet passport. Valid throughout the EU including Latvia.

Export permit

No export permit required for companion animals moving between EU member states.

Health certificate

EU pet passport issued by an official veterinarian in Spain. Records microchip number, rabies vaccination history, and owner details. No additional export health certificate needed for intra-EU travel.

We handle the regulations for every animal, every country, every airline, so nothing on your Spain to Latvia move gets missed.

Pet Transport Global

Airlines

Carriers on this route

Not all airlines accept live animals on this route. We know every carrier policy for this corridor.

Vueling direct Madrid to Riga (when available)

Vueling operates Madrid Barajas (MAD) to Riga (RIX) as a seasonal or scheduled direct route. Check current Vueling schedules. Cabin pets accepted under Vueling pet policy (generally under 10kg including carrier). Confirm cargo/hold pet policy with Vueling directly.

Cabin Only

KLM via Amsterdam

Iberia/Vueling from MAD to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS), then KLM direct AMS to Riga (RIX). Strong cargo option via Schiphol's IATA-accredited live animal handling. Cabin pets and cargo available.

Cargo and Cabin

Ryanair (cabin only, secondary airports)

Ryanair connects some Spanish secondary airports to Riga seasonally. Cabin pets only under their standard policy. No cargo service.

Cabin Only

Lufthansa via Frankfurt

Iberia from MAD to Frankfurt (FRA) with Lufthansa connections to Riga. Frankfurt Animal Lounge handles live animal cargo. Suitable for large dogs in cargo.

Cargo and Cabin

Costs

What this route typically costs

EU pet passport: EUR 50-100 from Spanish official vet

Cabin pet fee MAD to Riga: EUR 50-150 (direct Vueling) or EUR 100-200 (via AMS)

Cargo fee for larger dogs via AMS: EUR 500-1,300

IATA travel crate: EUR 60-250

Total for small cabin pet: EUR 100-280

Total for large dog via cargo: EUR 700-1,700

Critical points

Latvia bans Pit Bull-type dogs. This is a national legal prohibition. American Pit Bull Terrier and similar breeds cannot enter Latvia. Check pvd.gov.lv before booking.

A direct Madrid-Riga service (Vueling) may exist depending on the season. Check current schedules before defaulting to a connection. A direct service is easier on the animal.

Ryanair and budget carrier cabin pet policies allow small animals only. For larger dogs, the KLM via Amsterdam cargo route is the main option.

Spanish EU pet passports require an official vet. Confirm your vet's MAPA authorisation status.

Latvia's Pit Bull ban: the key restriction for Spanish dog owners

Latvia prohibits American Pit Bull Terrier and similar Pit Bull-type dogs from entering the country. This ban is part of Latvian national law and is enforced at Riga Airport by the PVD (Food and Veterinary Service).

For Spanish owners of Pit Bull-type dogs considering a move to Latvia, the options are limited: seek legal advice on breed reclassification (generally not productive), choose a different Baltic or EU destination, or make alternative arrangements for the dog. There is no appeal or exemption process for the ban.

For owners of all other breeds, Latvia applies standard EU pet travel rules. The PVD website at pvd.gov.lv confirms current requirements and has contact details for specific questions.

Flying from Spain to Riga: direct vs via Amsterdam

Vueling, Iberia’s low-cost arm, has operated Madrid-Riga routes. A direct service is the most comfortable option for the animal, avoiding connection stress and reducing total journey time to around 4.5 hours. Check current Vueling schedules as these routes can be seasonal.

When a direct service is not available, the Amsterdam connection via KLM is the most reliable option. Iberia or Vueling from Madrid to Amsterdam takes about 3 hours, and KLM’s direct Amsterdam-Riga leg adds another 2 hours. Schiphol has good live animal cargo handling, which matters for larger dogs that must travel in cargo.

Budget carriers including Ryanair serve some Spain-Riga routes from secondary airports but only accept small cabin pets. For large dogs, they are not an option.

FAQ

Common questions

No. Spain and Latvia are both EU member states. No rabies antibody titre test is required for intra-EU movements under EU Regulation 576/2013. A current rabies vaccination and valid EU pet passport are sufficient.

Vueling has operated direct Madrid (MAD) to Riga (RIX) routes seasonally. Check current schedules at the time of booking. When direct services are not available, the standard routing is via Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) with KLM.

Latvia bans American Pit Bull Terrier and similar Pit Bull-type dogs. Other breeds such as Rottweiler are restricted (requiring muzzling in public) but not banned from entry. Check pvd.gov.lv for the full current list.

No. Latvia does not impose quarantine on pets from other EU member states. A valid EU pet passport with current microchip and rabies vaccination is sufficient. Source: EU Regulation 576/2013.

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