Getting There with Your Pet in Spain
Flying into Spain's airports, Renfe's new 40kg train policy, ferries to the Balearics and Canaries, and driving in over the French border.
- Since 21 July 2026, dogs up to 40kg ride on every Renfe service, including AVE — a flat €40 fare on the high-speed lines.
- Iberia and Vueling both cap cabin pets around 8kg; Vueling offers no hold option at all.
- No extra document is needed driving in from France — the same EU pet passport or health certificate covers the land border.
Guides in this topic
5 guides · updated October 2026
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Flying into Spain
Iberia's cabin cap sits around 8kg including the carrier, with a per-flight fee; Vueling only carries pets in the cabin and doesn't offer hold travel at all.
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Renfe Trains: The New 40kg Pet Policy
A genuinely new rule: since July 2026, dogs up to 40kg travel on every Renfe service, not just a handful of AVE routes — muzzled, leashed, and capped at two per train.
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Ferries to the Balearic & Canary Islands
Baleària's main options are a seat mat beside you, a pet-friendly cabin, or an on-deck Calm House — but unlike a Channel crossing, pets generally can't just stay in the car.
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Driving into Spain from France
No separate Spanish paperwork for a land crossing from France — the same EU pet passport or health certificate that got you into France carries straight through.
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City Metro & Bus Rules
Small carried pets are the easy case almost everywhere; a larger leashed dog's rules — and whether a muzzle is required — are set city by city.