Moving to the Balearics with your pet: papers, ferry, plane and rules

Moving to the Balearics with your dog or cat is two subjects in one. First the paperwork, which depends on where you are coming from: if you are moving from the EU (or Ireland), your vet issues an EU pet passport. If you are moving from the UK or the US, both are treated as listed low-rabies-risk countries, so instead you need an EU Animal Health Certificate issued by an authorised vet within about 10 days of travel, not a passport. Either way you need a microchip and an up-to-date rabies vaccination, given at least 21 days before entry. Then the real specificity of an archipelago: transport. To reach the islands or move between them, your only options are the ferry or the plane, each with its own rules, and not every airline accepts pets. Finally, a few local rules worth knowing (beaches, restricted breeds, public transport).

Which papers do you need?

To enter Spain legally with your pet, you need:

• the EU pet passport (EU/Irish movers) or the EU Animal Health Certificate (UK/US movers), issued by a vet;
• microchip identification (transponder), recorded on the passport or certificate;
• an up-to-date rabies vaccination, with at least 21 days between the injection and travel.

Tapeworm treatment is not required to enter Spain (it is required for the UK or Ireland), but it is still advisable in the Mediterranean. Keep these documents with the rest of your settling-in file: our checklist of documents to prepare before moving to the Balearics covers them all.

Once you have settled: the RIACIB register

In the Balearics, identified animals are recorded on the RIACIB (the Balearic pet identification register), connected to the national network. The microchip is compulsory for dogs (voluntary for other species). If your pet is already chipped and vaccinated back home, check in with a Balearic vet on arrival so its data is correctly registered locally.

The ferry: where does your pet travel?

This is the most flexible option for a full move (you can bring your loaded car too). The two main companies offer dedicated options:

• Balearia: several options depending on the comfort you want, including "Pet Friendly" cabins (your pet stays with you), pet-friendly lounge seating, and camera-monitored areas during the crossing.
• Trasmediterranea (Armas Trasmediterranea): an animal under 10 kg in a carrier can stay inside with you (lounges, not restaurants); above that weight, it travels in the ship's kennels (with camera access), unless you book a pet-friendly cabin. Staying in your vehicle is possible if you sign a waiver.

In every case: a lead is compulsory outside the carrier, a muzzle for breeds classed as dangerous, an up-to-date health record, and above all book your pet's spot in advance (cabins and kennels are limited in number). Fares vary by route and option: ask for the pet supplement when you book. To choose your crossing, see our guide to island-hopping ferries in the Balearics.

The plane: check the airline carefully

Faster, but with one golden rule: check the pet policy before you book, it varies enormously by airline.

The classic trap: Ryanair flies to the Balearics extensively at low prices but does not carry pets at all (only certified assistance dogs, by prior arrangement). If you are travelling with your dog or cat, look at Vueling, Iberia or Air Europa instead, or take the ferry. Always check the current fare and maximum weight on the airline's own site before you buy.

Train and bus: what is allowed?

Worth knowing: no train links the islands to each other. The only rail network runs within Mallorca (the SFM Palma-Inca line and the Soller tourist train). Since 2024, dogs, cats, ferrets and small birds are allowed there, in the last carriage, dogs kept on a lead and muzzled (breeds classed as dangerous are excluded).

On buses, two rules not to confuse: the island-wide TIB interurban network has required a compulsory carrier for the whole journey since 7 June 2026; Palma's urban EMT bus has allowed dogs since 2022, without a bag, provided they are on a lead with an approved muzzle. Assistance dogs are exempt everywhere.

Local rules worth knowing

"Potentially dangerous" dogs (PPP). Certain breeds (Pit Bull, Staffordshire, American Staffordshire, Rottweiler, Dogo Argentino, Fila Brasileiro, Tosa Inu, Akita Inu) require a licence issued by your town hall: being an adult, a clean criminal record, and liability insurance of at least 120,000 euros. In public, a muzzle is compulsory along with a non-extendable lead under two metres.

Beaches. There is no single Balearic-wide rule: each municipality sets its own. A few dog-friendly beaches exist (for example Es Carnatge in Palma, Es Viver in Ibiza), but on most tourist beaches, dogs are banned in high season or tolerated only early morning and evening. Always check the signage at the beach.

National law (Ley 7/2023). It provides for liability insurance for all dogs and a compulsory course for future owners, but these obligations are still awaiting their implementing decree: they are not fully in effect in 2026. Taking out insurance remains a sensible precaution regardless.

Frequently asked questions

Ferry or plane to bring my pet to the Balearics?

The ferry is the most flexible (your pet can stay with you in a pet-friendly cabin, and you can bring your car). The plane is faster but limited to small animals in the cabin (8 kg) and depends on the airline: Ryanair, which flies here extensively, accepts no pets except assistance dogs.

Do I need to book my pet's spot on the ferry?

Yes. Pet-friendly cabins and kennels are limited in number: book your pet's spot at the same time as your own, and budget for the supplement.

Can I bring my dog to Balearic beaches?

It depends on the beach: each municipality decides. Dog-friendly beaches exist, but most tourist beaches ban dogs in high season or only tolerate them at off-peak times. Trust the signage.

Do I need a licence for my dog in the Balearics?

Only for breeds classed as potentially dangerous (PPP): a town hall licence, a clean criminal record and liability insurance of at least 120,000 euros, with a muzzle and short lead in public.

Entry requirements for pets depend on your country of departure and can change; always confirm the current rules with your vet before you travel. Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.