Pets in the EU 2026: which countries allow entry without commercial procedures

Key data

From 20 March 2026, the entry of pets into the European Union from third countries is regulated by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2026/636, which establishes and updates the lists of countries and territories whose animal health systems for companion animals are considered equivalent to those of the EU.

This has direct and practical consequences: if the animal's country of origin is on that list, the owner can enter the EU with simplified documentation. If not, the animal may be detained at customs, subjected to quarantine or entry may be directly denied. This is not a minor bureaucratic matter: it can affect travelers, veterinary clinics advising international clients and animal transport companies.

What does this regulation establish?

Regulation 2026/636 has a specific objective: to define which third countries and territories meet health conditions equivalent to those of the EU for non-commercial movement of companion animals. This means that the regulation does not apply to the buying and selling of animals or their transport for commercial purposes, but exclusively to travelers who move with their pets.

Animals from countries included on the list can enter the EU with lower health requirements. The accepted documents are:

• Pet passport recognized by the EU
• Equivalent certificates issued by the country of origin and recognized by the European Commission

Countries not on the list do not have that health equivalence recognized. In those cases, border controls are stricter and may result in quarantine or denial of entry.

The regulation is adopted by the European Commission and has direct application in all Member States, including Spain, without the need for national transposition.

Economic and operational impact

The impact is not just administrative. For the sectors directly involved, this regulation has concrete operational and economic consequences:

• Veterinary clinics: Must update their advisory protocols for clients traveling with pets from or to third countries. An error in the recommended documentation could result in the client's animal being detained at customs, with the reputational and economic cost that entails.
• Animal transport companies: Must verify, before accepting an order, whether the animal's country of origin is on the updated list. If the animal does not meet the requirements, the company may face return of the shipment, quarantine costs and customer claims.
• Customs and entry points: Must apply differentiated controls depending on whether the country of origin is or is not on the list of Regulation 2026/636.
• Individual travelers: Ignorance of the list may result in denial of entry of their pet into the EU or its detention in quarantine, with the economic costs and personal impact that this entails.

Who does it affect?

• Travelers with pets returning to the EU from third countries or bringing animals from abroad
• Veterinarians and veterinary clinics advising on documentation for international travel with animals
• Animal transport companies managing shipments or transfers from non-EU countries
• Customs and border control personnel verifying the health documentation of companion animals
• Travel advisors and managers including animals in their services

Practical example

A veterinary clinic in Madrid receives a client who has lived for several years in a third country and is returning to Spain with his dog. The client asks what documentation is needed for the animal to enter without problems.

The veterinarian must consult the list of the Regulation 2026/636 to verify whether that country is among those with health equivalence recognized by the EU. If the country is on the list, the animal's passport or an equivalent certificate is sufficient to pass border control. If the country is not on the list, the veterinarian must warn the client that the animal may be subjected to additional controls, quarantine, or even that entry may be denied, and guide them on the steps to take to regularize the situation before travel.

The same scenario applies to an animal transport company that receives an order for transfer from a third country: before accepting the service, it must verify whether that country is on the updated list to avoid customs detention and associated costs.

What should companies do now?

1. Consult the official list of Regulation 2026/636: Access the full text published in the EU Official Journal to identify which countries and territories are on the health equivalence list.
2. Update internal protocols: Veterinary clinics and animal transport companies must review their advisory and order acceptance procedures to incorporate the updated list from 20 March 2026.
3. Train customer service staff: Staff attending to travelers or managing animal shipments must understand the distinction between countries included and not included on the list, and the consequences of each case.
4. Proactively inform clients: Before any international travel or transfer with pets, verify the animal's country of origin and communicate to the client the necessary documents or risks if the country is not on the list.
5. Monitor future updates: Lists of countries with health equivalence may be updated. Establish an alert system to detect regulatory changes affecting countries you regularly work with.