Rabies vaccine advice please

You would be wise to get his Rabies updated three weeks before departure. In Spain Rabies is required annually ( unnecessary in my opinion..). So perhaps play safe?

We already had a rabies jab done in the UK last year but then when in Spain decided to get him an EU passport as AHC's were so expensive (£145 per trip)! As part of getting him the passport he had to have another rabies jab in Spain (Sept last year) to make the passport valid. I can obviously obtain proof from my UK vet confirming that vaccine as well.

Hi Tony,

I don't think you'll have a problem getting into Spain, as your woof needs to have been vaccinated within 1 year and 21 days before travelling here and his vaccination will still be valid.  However, as you'll be using his EU passport to return to the UK, it's the Spanish rabies jab recorded in his passport that will count, rather than the UK jab, so you need to ensure that you meet the requirements for re-entry to the UK:

https://www.gov.uk/bring-pet-to-great-britain/rabies-vaccination-boosters-and-blood-tests

Kind regards,

Kim

many thanks Kimmy for the info.

Much appreciated. We will of course get him vaccinated before our return to the UK in October. When would we need to get the rabies vaccine done in Spain for our return? We plan on returning around 18th October.

Hi Tony,

You need to read the link I included in my original post.  I can't see any time requirements for the Rabies jab, other than your woof must have had his primary course in full.  However, there are time limits for the Tapeworm vaccination, so you need to check you comply with those too.

Kind regards,

Kim

If your pet has an EU passport with vaccine due up 27th, just travel before and use your Spanish vet for annual vaccine booster, remember to take your pets EU passport with you to be updated and do this before vaccine expiry date of 27th September. phone your vet before you leave the UK to set up and ensure you have a vet appointment  before expiry date. Your UK vet could also advise you. much less expensive to keep your pets EU passport updated. good luck

Thanks for info

Hi Tony, all very good advice above but some things vary with region and even between vets.  Based upon our personal experience the initial rabies injection given in Spain will be valid for one year (that will be documented on the passport and that will be the case irrespective of whether you had a previous rabies injection in the UK).  So, your current EU issued passport will get you to Spain with no problems.   

Like you we had the second rabies injection in Spain just under 12 months after the first and assumed the validity of the passport would be seamless (I.E. we could have travelled the following day).  That wasn’t the case as the “Travel From” date was marked up as 3 weeks after the date the injection was given.   This is really important if you want to return to the UK within that period as it just takes a jobsworth at the port to scupper your travel plans.  If you are in that situation you should have the rabies vaccination given (in the EU - definitely not UK) at least 3 weeks before you intend to travel even if it means giving the injection a few weeks earlier than the anniversary of the first.  If that’s not possible speak to your vet before any paperwork is done and it’s very likely that they will pre date it for you.  In my experience they will do that if you ask - particularly post-dating tapeworm etc to allow for travel time and/or weekends or public holidays.  

The good news is that your second and subsequent rabies vaccinations should last for 2 or 3 years.   Ours is 3 years so if your vet suggests it’ll only be valid for a year I suggest you go to a different vet. (My experience was all in Javea so I can’t be sure about other areas but theres nothing to stop you travelling to see a vet who marks your passport for the 3 years).  

Sorry this post is so long but it’s important to get paperwork correct before travelling.  I would t want the stress of wondering if I’d get home or not when I turn up at the port.  

Many thanks Bob for taking the trouble to supply us with that useful info.

We will definitely now make sure we visit the vet during our first week of stay as we will be there a minimum of 4 weeks so will then have time to ensure the new rabies vaccine is valid for our return travels.

Much obliged again.