Spain

Specific Information

Plastic packaging tax (as of 1 January 2024): A tax on non-recycled plastic is due on applicable products. Consult the destination agent for products that trigger this levy.

Special territories: The Canary Islands, Ceuta, and Melilla have separate customs regimes and are not part of the EU customs territory. Shipments to these destinations are subject to different (and in some cases more complex) import procedures than mainland Spain. Always consult the destination agent for shipments destined to these areas.

Inheritance: Inherited household goods require a valued list, death certificate, testament or certificate of right to inheritance, and certificates from both the country of origin and the Spanish Ministry of Finance confirming tax payment or exemption. All documents must be authenticated by the Spanish Consulate at origin and translated into Spanish if not already in Spanish.

Household goods qualify for duty-free entry when the following conditions are all met: the goods have been owned and used by the importer for a minimum of 6 months; the importer has lived outside Spain (outside the EU for the purpose of this exemption) for at least 12 consecutive months; and the shipment arrives within 12 months of the date of issuance of the Change of Residence Certificate (for Spanish nationals) or within 12 months of the first Spanish Residence Permit issuance (for foreign nationals).

Goods cannot be sold or transferred within one year of importation.

If a Spanish Residence Permit is not yet available at the time of customs clearance, a Bank Guarantee equal to 40–60% of the total declared value of the inventory will be required. The Bank Guarantee is released once the permit is regularized, which must occur within 6 months. The owner's employer, company, or a person already registered at the Spanish Tax Office (AEAT) must represent the owner at Customs if a Residence Permit is not in hand.

All documents must be available when the shipment arrives at the Spanish port. If customs clearance cannot be initiated, the shipment will be declared abandoned one month after arrival and may be auctioned.

Electrical appliances, carpets, and works of art should be stowed conveniently near the container door to facilitate inspection if Customs orders it.

Unpredictable additional expenses — including transport to a special customs inspection area, unstuffing/restuffing, and inspection fees — are not included in standard destination rates and are collected from the shipper locally.

Duties & Taxes

Wedding trousseaux: Foreign citizens marrying Spanish nationals or foreigners residing in Spain may import new items duty-free within reasonable quantities, with wedding certificate and residency documentation.

Prohibited & Restricted Items

Importing a Used Personal Vehicle

Required Documents

• Photocopy of passport
• Original vehicle registration card
• Vehicle purchase invoice
• Car must have been in the shipper's possession for a minimum of 6 months
• Technical details sheet (manufacturer's technical documentation for the specific brand, model, and year; if unavailable, equivalent official documentation obtained online from the manufacturer is accepted)
• If the vehicle model is not sold within the EU: a document from the manufacturer confirming which EU model the vehicle corresponds to (for homologation purposes)

Specific Information

Vehicles imported under the transfer-of-residence exemption are duty-free when all conditions are met. If the vehicle does not meet all requirements, taxes and duties are assessed at 32% of the CIF (cost, insurance, freight) value.

All vehicles must comply with EU technical standards. Non-EU vehicles require homologation: the vehicle must be brought to EU type-approval specifications, which can be a complex and costly process. Owners of right-hand-drive vehicles or vehicles with non-EU specifications should consult the destination agent and the DGT (Dirección General de Tráfico) well in advance. After clearance, the vehicle must be registered with the DGT and pass an ITV (Inspección Técnica de Vehículos) — the Spanish equivalent of an MOT — before it can be driven on Spanish roads.

Pets

• ISO 11784/11785-compliant 15-digit microchip (implanted before or at the time of primary rabies vaccination) **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
• Current rabies vaccination (administered at the same time as or after microchipping; 21-day wait after primary vaccination before travel) **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
• EU Pet Passport (for resident EU pets) or EU Health Certificate (for non-EU-resident pets) or government-issued Pet Passport from a Part 1 listed country **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
• Health certificate issued and signed by a government-authorized veterinarian **From EU Member States or Part 1 Listed Countries (e.g., USA, Canada, Australia, Japan, New Zealand)**
• ISO-compliant microchip **From the United Kingdom**
• Current rabies vaccination **From the United Kingdom**
• Animal Health Certificate (AHC), valid for 6 months — do not use an EU Pet Passport for UK-origin pets **From the United Kingdom**
• ISO-compliant microchip **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries (higher-risk rabies status)**
• Current rabies vaccination **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries (higher-risk rabies status)**
• Rabies titer test (Rabies Neutralising Antibody Test, RNAT), taken no earlier than 30 days after vaccination and at least 3 months before travel **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries (higher-risk rabies status)**
• EU Health Certificate **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries (higher-risk rabies status)**
• Additional documentation as required by EU import regulations for unlisted countries **From Part 2 Listed or Unlisted Countries (higher-risk rabies status)**

Spain is an EU member state and follows EU pet import regulations for dogs, cats, and ferrets. The EU modified its non-commercial pet transport regulations in April 2026, with a transition period until March 2027.

No quarantine is imposed if all requirements are met. If requirements are not met, the animal will be quarantined (if facilities are available), returned to the country of origin, or euthanized. The importer bears all associated costs.

Microchip must be implanted before the rabies vaccination — if vaccinated first, the vaccination does not count for EU purposes. Only ISO 11784/11785-compliant microchips are accepted; it is advisable to bring a scanner if the pet has a non-standard chip. After 1 January 2028, all EU-bound pet microchips must be ISO-compliant.

Pets entering Spain must do so with their owner. Non-commercial transport applies to a maximum of 5 pets per passport/vehicle (proof of competition or show participation required for more than 5).

Some Spanish municipalities require dogs to be registered and pay an annual dog tax or licence. Muzzles are required for dogs in certain areas. Confirm local requirements with the destination agent.

Ferrets must also be vaccinated against rabies. All pets may be subject to examination by a customs veterinarian on entry.

Wolves, wolf hybrids, Savannah cats, and Bengal cats (unless 5th generation removed from the wild) cannot be imported under standard pet travel regulations.