Travelling with a dog in Spain: what the Ley 7/2023 animal welfare law requires

Checked against official sources on 2 November 2026. Rules change: always check the linked source. This guide is for information only and does not replace the legal text or what your town hall or region says.

What is in force and what is still pending

Ley 7/2023 was published in the BOE (Boletín Oficial del Estado, Spain's Official State Gazette) on 29 March 2023 and came into force six months after its publication. It sets a basic framework for the whole of Spain ^[1]. The BOE consolidated text appears «sin modificaciones» (translation: “without amendments”) as of the date of this guide ^[2].

Several obligations need a regulation to apply in full. In June 2025, the Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030 (Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and 2030 Agenda) put out to public consultation a draft general regulation and another on identification ^[4][5][6]. The BOE analysis page for the law, consulted on 2 November 2026, lists no regulation implementing it: the only later rule issued under the law is Orden PJC/549/2025 (Order PJC/549/2025), on the State Animal Protection Council and the Scientific and Technical Committee (arts. 5 and 6) ^[15]. So what those drafts say is only a proposal.

Obligations that go with you away from home

Travelling does not suspend any obligation. The law applies just the same in a rural holiday home or a hotel as in your own home ^[1]:

• Supervision: you must supervise the dog appropriately and prevent it from escaping (art. 24.2.c).
• Do not leave it alone for more than 24 consecutive hours: the law prohibits leaving a pet unsupervised for more than three consecutive days, and for dogs the limit is 24 consecutive hours (art. 27.i). The Ministry clarifies that supervision can be provided by another person who ensures its welfare ^[3].
• Public spaces: it is prohibited to leave it tied up or loose in the street without the person responsible for it being present (art. 27.d).
• Dog mess: you must prevent the dog from leaving excrement and urine in places where other people habitually pass, such as façades, doors or shop entrances, and always remove or clean it up with biodegradable products (art. 26.e) ^[2].
• Identification: the dog must always be identified and traceable in accordance with the regulations in force (art. 24.2.f). For dogs, cats and ferrets, identification is by microchip ^[3].
• Loss or theft: it must be reported to the competent authority within a maximum of 48 hours (art. 24.2.g).
• Damage: the owner or the person responsible is liable for any damage caused by the animal (art. 24.3).

In the car: restraint, and never inside in the heat

Ley 7/2023 requires you not to leave the dog alone inside a closed vehicle when the temperature or other conditions may put it at risk (art. 24.2.d). It also prohibits keeping it habitually in vehicles (art. 27.e) and taking it tied to a moving motor vehicle (art. 27.f) ^[1]. The DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico, Spain's traffic authority) adds that in hot weather you must not leave it inside, whether in the shade or with the windows open ^[8].

For driving, the Reglamento General de Circulación (General Traffic Regulations) applies. Its article 18.1 requires the driver to position any animals carried properly so that they do not interfere with the driver ^[7]. The DGT states, without citing the penalty provision, that carrying an animal loose in the passenger compartment can result in a fine of up to 100 euros ^[8].

The DGT recommends these restraint systems ^[8]:

• A carrier on the floor of the car for small dogs, or in the boot, placed crosswise and with a dividing grille, for large dogs.
• A harness with double anchorage and a short connection, or a sturdy divider between the passenger compartment and the boot. A walking lead does not work as a restraint.
• Stops every two hours so it can drink, relieve itself and walk, without letting it run off when you open the door.

Third-party liability insurance and the training course: where things stand

Insurance. Article 30.3 requires the owner of a dog to take out and maintain third-party liability insurance for damage to others that also covers the persons responsible for the animal. The amount will be set by regulation ^[2]. The Ministry presents it as compulsory ^[3]. We have not found an official source clarifying from when the lack of insurance can be penalised while the amount has not been set. The draft regulation proposes at least 100,000 euros and accepts home insurance if it includes dogs ^[5]. If you are travelling, check that your policy covers the dog.

Course. Anyone wishing to own a dog will have to show they have completed a free course with indefinite validity, with content set by regulation (art. 30.1 and 30.2) ^[2]. The draft proposes a minimum of four hours on an online platform run by the Ministry. It would be required six months after that platform exists and from anyone about to acquire, adopt or register a dog ^[5]. At present there is no official course to take.

Potentially dangerous dogs. In addition to the above, they need a municipal licence and insurance of at least 120,000 euros. In public places they must wear a muzzle and be on a non-extendable lead of less than 2 metres, and each person may only handle one (RD 287/2002 (Royal Decree 287/2002)) ^[13].

Paperwork for the trip

Rabies vaccination is decided by the regions (comunidades autónomas). According to the note by the Ministerio de Agricultura (Ministry of Agriculture) and the AEMPS (Spanish Agency of Medicines and Medical Devices) (June 2026 version, which refers to the legal situation as of 1 May 2023), it is compulsory for dogs in 15 regions, as well as in Ceuta and Melilla; the note does not say which ones, and the revaccination frequency varies from one to another ^[10][11]. The DGT recommends always carrying the animal's documents: the official health booklet, up to date and stamped by a registered vet, and, if you are travelling in the EU, the passport as well ^[8]. Check what the destination region requires.

If you leave Spain for another EU country, the European pet passport is compulsory. It is issued by an authorised vet and requires a microchip implanted before the rabies vaccination. The first vaccine is given at a minimum of 12 weeks of age and you must wait 21 days before travelling. Finland, Ireland, Malta, Norway and Northern Ireland also require a treatment against the Echinococcus tapeworm given between 24 and 120 hours before the journey ^[9].

What the accommodation can require of you

The law does not oblige hotels, restaurants or bars to admit dogs. They may allow animals that do not pose a risk, outside the areas where food is handled. If they do not admit them, they must indicate this with a sign visible from outside (art. 29.2) ^[2][3].

If the accommodation admits them, you must comply with the hygiene and health conditions and the safety measures it sets (art. 29.5). That is why there is a legal basis for asking you, for example, not to leave the dog alone or not to let it on the bed. Assistance dogs may always enter with the person they assist (art. 29.6) ^[2].

Fines, in broad terms

The law classifies offences as minor, serious and very serious, and its article 76 sets the main penalties ^[1]. According to the proclamations (bandos) of the Ayuntamiento de Medellín (Medellín Town Council, Badajoz) that remind residents of the law, fines range from 500 to 10,000 euros for minor offences, from 10,001 to 50,000 euros for serious ones and from 50,001 to 200,000 euros for very serious ones ^[14][16]. Article 77 of the law also provides for «medidas accesorias» (translation: “additional measures”) ^[1]. Traffic rules and municipal bylaws have their own fines ^[8].

What changes depending on the region and the municipality

Ley 7/2023 is the common baseline, but each region has its own animal protection law and each town council its own bylaws. For example, the Castilla-La Mancha law requires dog mess to be picked up on public roads, requires dogs to be identified before three months of age and leaves access to spaces and establishments to municipal bylaws ^[12]. Beaches, parks and leads are regulated mainly by each municipality; the general obligation on dog mess is in Ley 7/2023 itself (art. 26.e) ^[2].

This guide is for information only and is not legal advice. Consult the text of Ley 7/2023 in the BOE and the regulations of the region and town council of your destination.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

1. Ley 7/2023, de 28 de marzo, de protección de los derechos y el bienestar de los animales (texto consolidado) · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
2. Ley 7/2023, texto consolidado en PDF (arts. 29 y 30) · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
3. Preguntas y respuestas frecuentes sobre la Ley 7/2023 · Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030
4. Derechos Sociales saca a exposición pública dos Reales decretos para proteger a los animales de compañía (23/06/2025) · Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030
5. Proyecto de Real Decreto por el que se aprueba el Reglamento de la Ley 7/2023 (borrador, rev. 03, junio 2025) · Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030
6. Proyecto de Real Decreto sobre identificación de animales de compañía (borrador, abril 2025) · Ministerio de Derechos Sociales, Consumo y Agenda 2030
7. Real Decreto 1428/2003, Reglamento General de Circulación (art. 18.1) · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
8. Con tu mascota · Dirección General de Tráfico
9. Viajar con animales de compañía en la UE · European Union (Your Europe)
10. Nota sobre diferencias entre la vacunación antirrábica según ficha técnica y la normativa (MAPA-AEMPS, junio de 2026) · Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación
11. Frecuencias de revacunación antirrábica para perros, gatos y hurones · Agencia Española de Medicamentos y Productos Sanitarios
12. Ley 7/2020, de 31 de agosto, de Bienestar, Protección y Defensa de los Animales de Castilla-La Mancha · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
13. Real Decreto 287/2002, que desarrolla la Ley 50/1999 sobre animales potencialmente peligrosos · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
14. Bando sobre protección animal (4/07/2025), con las cuantías de la Ley 7/2023 · Ayuntamiento de Medellín (Badajoz)
15. Ley 7/2023: análisis (referencias posteriores) · Boletín Oficial del Estado (Spain's official gazette)
16. Bando sobre protección de colonias felinas (4/01/2024), con las cuantías de la Ley 7/2023 · Ayuntamiento de Medellín (Badajoz)