Taking your dog to Andorra from Britain

Taking a dog to Andorra from Britain is very doable, but the paperwork runs on a timetable and it’s easy to get the order wrong. You’ll cross France or Spain to get there, which means EU rules for the journey, Andorra’s own rules at its border and the British rules for coming home. Here’s how they fit together.

What Andorra itself asks for

Andorra Turisme lists the requirements for dogs, cats and ferrets. They must be identified with a microchip, or with a clearly legible tattoo applied before 3 July 2011. They must be vaccinated against rabies, and after a first vaccination protection only counts once 21 days have passed. Animals from the EU and a short list of neighbours, Switzerland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar, Greenland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican, need a pet passport. Anyone else, and that includes pets from Great Britain, needs an official health certificate.

If you have a specific question, the tourist board points to the Andorran government’s agriculture department on (+376) 875 703.

The British side, before you leave

Because you’ll enter the EU through France or Spain, the UK government’s rules for EU travel apply. Your dog must be microchipped before or at the same time as its rabies jab, and after the first vaccination you wait at least 21 full days before travelling. Then an official vet issues an animal health certificate. It’s valid for 10 days for entry into the EU, then for 6 months of onward travel within the EU and re-entry to Great Britain, and you need a new one for every trip.

One detail catches people out. Pet passports are no good for residents of England, Scotland and Wales entering the EU, even if the passport was issued inside the EU. Tell your vet you need the certificate when you book the rabies jab, so it’s ready in time.

Coming home to Great Britain

The return is the part people forget. From most countries, a vet must treat your dog for tapeworm and record it on the certificate between 24 and 120 hours before you arrive back in Great Britain. On a road trip, that means finding a vet in Andorra or on the drive north at the right moment. I’d book it before you leave home.

Getting there with a dog

I’d drive. The dog stays with you, you stop when it needs to and you can reach any valley. Coaches are harder. Andorra Direct Bus, one of the Barcelona lines, doesn’t carry animals on board, only underneath, in a proper crate and with its documents, though guide dogs travel with their owners. I haven’t read the rules of other operators, so check before booking. In winter, from 1 November to 15 May, you’ll need chains or winter tyres, all covered in driving to Andorra.

Where to stay and where to walk

There’s no general rule for hotels or apartments, as each sets its own. I’d filter for pet-friendly places and confirm in writing, including your dog’s size and any supplement. I’d base myself somewhere quieter near the valleys, such as La Massana or Ordino, rather than the shopping streets of Andorra la Vella. Each area gets its own section in where to stay in Andorra.

On walks, I couldn’t find general official rules on dogs on trails, in nature parks or around lakes, so I won’t tell you what’s allowed. I’d keep yours on a lead near livestock, huts and other walkers, and ask the local tourist office. Spain’s foreign ministry advises telling someone your route, carrying a phone with location sharing and going properly equipped, and with a dog I’d add water and avoid the hottest hours in summer. Routes and grades are in hiking in Andorra.

In winter, the same ministry warns that nights at altitude can easily drop to between -10 and -20 degrees, which is hard on a short-coated dog. I’d never leave one in the car, and if you’re skiing, plan who looks after it while you’re on the slopes. If you’re travelling in the cold months, read Andorra in winter before you pack, and keep the dog’s certificate with your own passport, since there are customs checks in both directions.